East Carolina Heart Institute

02/25/2026

Today’s Grand Rounds featured our very own Dr. Carabello, who delivered an outstanding session on Preoperative Risk Stratification in Elective Non-Cardiac Surgery. The conversation was thoughtful, practical, and grounded in what matters most, making safe, evidence-based decisions that protect our patients before they ever reach the operating room.

Grateful to our leaders who not only advance cardiovascular care for eastern North Carolina but also invest in educating and strengthening our teams.

02/25/2026

❤️ February is American Heart Month ❤️

At the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU Health, every month is about heart health — but February gives us a special opportunity to shine a brighter light on prevention, early detection, and life-saving care.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. The good news? Many heart conditions are preventable and manageable with the right knowledge, screening, and partnership.

This month, we encourage you to:
• Know your numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar
• Move your body most days of the week
• Choose heart-healthy foods
• Quit to***co
• Schedule your routine checkups
• Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke

Our multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses, and support staff are proud to care for the people of eastern North Carolina — from prevention to advanced structural heart procedures, heart failure management, vascular surgery, and beyond.

Your heart works hard for you every single day. Let’s take care of it together.

02/13/2026

While heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, Dr. Ben Degner, a cardiothoracic surgeon with ECU Health, spoke with WNCT to discuss steps for prevention.

"When we think about heart disease in eastern North Carolina, we know a lot of our patients may not have access to primary care physicians like elsewhere in the country,” Degner said. “So it’s all that much more important that patients be their own advocate. They recognize this disease in themselves. They recognize this disease in their friends and family."

Learn more and watch the full story here: https://go.ecuhealth.org/4quWTiZ

02/03/2026

ECU Health is committed to providing comprehensive heart and vascular care to the people of eastern North Carolina. When you choose ECU Health Heart & Vascular Care in eastern North Carolina, you’ll receive the high-quality cardiology care you expect, with the added benefit of seamless access to a...

10/10/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Degner and Dr. Nifong on these distinguished honors! Their dedication to teaching and innovation in cardiac surgery continues to make a lasting impact on our patients, learners, and community.

Teaching is our why. Here are two of the greats, Drs. Benjamin Degner and Wiley Nifong. Dr. Degner is the new Travis and Cassandra Burt Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences. Dr. Nifong is the inaugural Dr. and Mrs. Douglas C. Privette Distinguished Professor of Cardiac Surgery. Thank you, Burt and Privette families, for investing in tomorrow's top docs in NC.

09/24/2025

This year’s ECU Health Aortic Awareness event was an incredible success! 🎉 We doubled our attendance from last year, welcoming more than 150 patients and staff to the East Carolina Heart Institute.

Thank you to everyone who participated and to the team members who worked hard to make this event possible. Together, we’re shining a spotlight on aortic disease risks and the care and support available right here in eastern North Carolina. 💜💛

09/02/2025

08/05/2025

👏 We’re proud to be part of a team that delivers exceptional care, right here in eastern North Carolina! ECU Health's East Carolina Heart Institute has earned four 3-star ratings (the highest possible) from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for excellence in adult cardiac surgery. 🫀💜

These ratings reflect the skill, dedication, and teamwork that go into every procedure. Congratulations to everyone involved!

At ECU Health, we take your care to heart. We're to share that ECU Health's East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) has earned four 3-star ratings, the highest rating possible, from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for excellence in adult cardiac surgery. The STS star rating system is widely considered one of the most reliable tools for evaluating cardiothoracic surgical outcomes.

“Achieving top-tier ratings across multiple procedure categories speaks not only to the expertise of our team members but also to our ability to bring high-quality cardiac care to the 1.4 million people who call eastern North Carolina home,” said Dr. Michael Bates, professor and chief for the division of cardiac surgery at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

Learn more about the rating here: https://go.ecuhealth.org/3IXnG7p

07/22/2025

🚨 Check out our latest Cardiac Surgery Newsletter!
We're excited to share highlights from the Cardiac Surgery Team, including recent awards, new clinic updates, events, and more.

📰 Read the full newsletter here: https://t.e2ma.net/message/jyxevk/zio1jyvd

Thank you to all the incredible team members who continue to push the boundaries of excellence in cardiac care at ECU Health!

Congratulations Dr. Nifong! The mitral valve program has achieved 3 stars, positioning us among the top 10% of programs nationwide. With this success, we now hold 3 stars in 4 out of 6 categories.

05/27/2025

Please join us in welcoming Ashley Elks, our new Director of Clinical Operations, to the team!

Ashley brings a strong background in leadership and a deep passion for advancing healthcare. She is currently pursuing a dual-track Doctorate in Nursing and an MBA, an impressive combination that highlights her commitment to both clinical excellence and strategic innovation.

We’re excited to have her leadership guiding us forward at ECU Health and the East Carolina Heart Institute. Welcome aboard, Ashley!

Ashley Elks, director of clinical operations, is taking on the challenge of becoming the first person to pursue ECU's new graduate program, a dual-track Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Business Administration. Through the program, she'll have the opportunity to expand on her unique perspective in her leadership role.

“From a nursing standpoint — the innovation, the strategy — we already have some of that within the structure of ECU Health as a whole thanks to the leadership of Dr. Trish Baise, our chief nursing executive, but to have that expertise from (Elks’s) studies will be very beneficial as well,” said Pam Rudisill, vice president of nursing excellence at ECU Health.

Learn more about the program and Elks' journey here: https://go.ecuhealth.org/3ZubHn8

05/14/2025