UNC Health Wayne

04/23/2026

Celebrating excellence in every corner of nursing 💙

Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Nurse Excellence Award winners. These individuals represent the very best of what nursing stands for, from compassionate patient care to strong leadership, advocacy, and teamwork.

Nurse Leader
Bristina Sigmon (Manager, CVU/Emergency Department)

Support Nursing
Lynsey Carr (Certified Surgical Scrub Technologist, OR)
Clinical Care Nursing
Alyssa Spangler (ICU)
Terresyna Artis (3rd Floor Medical)
Teresa Whitfield (Nursery)
Logan Keene (Peri-Anesthesia Services)
Lauren Harrell (6th Floor)
Lindley Schultze (Employee Health)
Cortney Keim (ICU)
Abigail Lee-Richter (Peri-Anesthesia Services)
Marissa Parks (4th Floor Oncology)

Non-Traditional Nursing
Alicia Velazquez (Educator, Learning & Organizational Development)

Excellence in nursing is more than clinical skill. It is reflected in the decisions made, the voices that advocate for patients, and the teamwork that drives better outcomes every day.
Thank you for all that you do for our patients, our teams, and our community.

04/23/2026

This Health Information Week, we’re proud to recognize the incredible teams behind the scenes who keep healthcare running smoothly and accurately.

From our Health Information Management professionals who safeguard and manage patient records, to Clinical Documentation Improvement teams who ensure clarity and accuracy in every chart, their work plays a vital role in patient care.

Our Clinical Denials, Charging, and Revenue Integrity teams work diligently to ensure services are documented, billed, and reimbursed correctly, helping maintain compliance while supporting the financial health of our organization.

While we’re excited to spotlight some of these team members, we also want to recognize the many others who make this work possible, including more than 30 team members who support these efforts remotely.

Together, these teams ensure that every detail matters, every record is protected, and every patient story is told accurately. Thank you for the essential work you do each day to support our patients, providers, and community.

04/21/2026

We’re proud to recognize Dr. Tate Saurey as UNC Health Wayne’s 2025 Exceptional Physician Award winner.

This award honors a physician who consistently delivers high-quality, patient-centered care while showing compassion, professionalism, and a deep commitment to both patients and the care team. Dr. Saurey embodies these qualities every day through the standard he sets and the personalized care he provides.

As an ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon with Waynesborough Ophthalmology, Dr. Saurey is dedicated to bringing advanced eye care right here to our community. He performs over a thousand cataract and glaucoma surgeries each year, offering leading-edge procedures such as sutureless cataract surgery, premium lens implants, astigmatism correction, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. His expertise also extends to treating complex eye conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

Dr. Saurey’s work ensures that patients don’t have to travel far to receive exceptional, specialized surgical care. His commitment to restoring vision makes a lasting impact on the health and quality of life in our community.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Saurey on this well-deserved recognition.

04/20/2026

Celebrating an incredible milestone 👏

Jacqueline Thomas, HT(ASCP), has been honored with the 2026 North Carolina Society of Histotechnology (NCSH) Lifetime Achievement Award for Histotechnology. With 33 years of dedication to the field, Jacqueline has built a legacy defined by leadership, mentorship, education, and innovation.

For more than two decades in a supervisory role, she has led with a commitment to quality and growth, while inspiring future healthcare professionals through hands-on mentorship and education. Her impact reaches beyond the lab through advancements in processes, collaboration across departments, and even a patent-pending innovation in histology.

Why this matters to our community: histotechnology plays a critical role in diagnosing diseases and guiding treatment decisions. Behind every accurate diagnosis is the careful work of professionals like Jacqueline, helping ensure patients receive timely, precise care close to home. Her dedication strengthens the quality of care our community relies on every day.

This prestigious recognition reflects not only her years of service, but the lasting difference she has made in patient care and the profession as a whole. Student, teacher, mentor, and leader, Jacqueline wears every role with pride.

Please join us in congratulating Jacqueline on this well-deserved honor 🎉

04/17/2026

Happy Wound Care Week! We’re proud to recognize the incredible team behind our Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center. Their dedication, compassion, and expertise make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients across our community every day.

Our providers are all wound care certified, bringing a high level of specialized knowledge and skill to every patient they serve. Our team is led by Dr. Lintzeris, the only American Board of Wound Management Certified Wound Specialist Physician (CWS-P) in the area. Alongside him are two CWS-certified nurse practitioners and three CWS-certified nurses, making this the highest concentration of certified wound care specialists under one clinic roof in the region.

Staffed by a team of seasoned professionals, our center offers unmatched expertise in wound care in Wayne County. From inpatient to outpatient services, they provide comprehensive care for those with non-healing wounds, helping patients heal and get back to what matters most.

Thank you to our wound care team for your commitment to excellence and for the vital role you play in caring for our community

04/15/2026

Today we wear purple in honor of Purple Up Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and supporting military children from all branches of service. Purple represents the combined colors of each military branch, symbolizing unity and the shared sacrifices these families make.

We are proud to stand together in appreciation of the strength and resilience of military-connected children. To all the families in our community, thank you for your service and for all that you give, both seen and unseen.

04/13/2026

Please join us in congratulating Heather King, on becoming a Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse at UNC Health Wayne.

While certification was not required, Heather took the initiative to further her expertise through a rigorous year-long program that included extensive coursework, 120 clinical hours alongside a CWOCN, and successfully passing exams in wound, ostomy, and continence care. UNC Health Wayne was proud to sponsor and support her throughout this journey, investing in both her growth and the care we provide to our patients.

Heather shares that she is incredibly grateful for the support from her coworkers and department along the way. Earning her CWOCN has expanded her knowledge and strengthened her ability to support best practices, helping us continue to deliver high-quality care to our community.

We are proud to have Heather leading the way and look forward to the impact she will continue to make as she grows in her role.

04/10/2026

Connecting today’s students with tomorrow’s careers

We loved spending time at Wayne Community College alongside our current apprentices, sharing real stories about growth, opportunity, and success through Apprenticeship Wayne.

Apprenticeship Wayne is a program that combines classroom learning with paid, hands-on job experience, helping students build skills while working toward a career. With eight of our teammates currently participating, we’re seeing firsthand how this partnership is creating strong pathways into healthcare and strengthening our local workforce.

04/09/2026

Celebrating a legacy of care.

Last night we had the honor of hosting a special retiree dinner to celebrate the incredible teammates who have dedicated their careers to serving our community. It was a wonderful evening filled with gratitude, stories, and familiar faces we were so glad to see again.

Together, these retirees represent hundreds of years of service, compassion, and commitment:

Robin Benson 34 years
Michael Biggins 34 years
Johnny Outlaw 33 years
Laurenda Underwood 32 years
Shana Edwards 31 years
Michael Howell 31 years
Kathryn Kneeshaw 30 years
Phillip Cox 29 years
Annette Casey 25 years
Michele Johnson 23 years
Sandre White 21 years
William Kearney 20 years
Darrell Lanham 18 years
Connie Keel 14 years
Kimberly Merideth 13 years

We are so grateful for the lasting impact each of you has made on our patients, our team, and our community. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter.

04/09/2026

We’re growing our team at UNC Health Wayne

If you’re looking to make a difference in the lives of patients and families in our community, we have several opportunities available across nursing and support roles

Current openings include:
Registered Nurse I, part time evenings, Med Surg and Float Pool
Registered Nurse, WISH program
Nurse Practitioner, Wayne Initiative for School Health
Nursing Assistant I, Staffing Pool, 7am to 3pm
Nursing Assistant I, Staffing Pool, 3pm to 11pm
Nursing Assistant I, Staffing Pool, 11pm to 7am

Whether you’re just starting your career or ready for your next step, you’ll find purpose, support, and a team committed to compassionate care

Explore opportunities and apply here

Search 99 Wayne UNC Health Care Careers available at UNC Health Care.

04/06/2026

This week we are celebrating our Patient Access team and recognizing the incredible teammates who are often the first friendly face our patients see.

Patient Access professionals play a vital role in the healthcare experience by welcoming patients, guiding them through registration, helping navigate insurance and billing, and making sure everything is in place for a smooth visit. Their work sets the tone for every patient interaction that follows.

Thank you to our Patient Access team for your compassion, professionalism, and dedication to caring for our community. You make a difference from the very first moment.

04/02/2026

Today we were able to deliver $1,000 donations to the schools of each Holiday Card Art Contest winners! This money will go towards supporting each schools art program to help with future projects, supplies, and more!

Through our partnership with Wayne County Public Schools, these talented students not only had their artwork featured on this year’s UNC Health Wayne holiday cards, but also earned support for their school’s art programs.

Congratulations again to:�
✨ Skylar Bedford, 11th grade – Charles B. Aycock High School�
✨ Alondra Velasquez, 6th grade – Brogden Middle School
✨ Alexis Thompson, 4th grade – Brogden Primary School

Pictured here with their art teachers, these students are helping inspire creativity across our community. We enjoyed meeting the winners, their art teachers, and principals, and getting a photo together to celebrate this special moment—we’re proud to support the arts and the educators who make it all possible.