East Carolina Heart Institute

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

07/30/2025

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

05/08/2025

ICYMI: ECU Health Medical Center is bringing cutting-edge treatments for tricuspid valve regurgitation with EVOQUE™ and TriClip G4™ technologies. These procedures offer new hope for patients previously ineligible for surgery providing significant symptom relief and improved quality of life.

Learn more about how we're transforming heart care in eastern North Carolina, visit: https://go.ecuhealth.org/3GOCt30

04/17/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Lynn Morris, Professor and Program Director for the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, has been awarded as Master Educator in Outstanding Teaching or Mentorship Contribution by Brody School of Medicine. This recognition highlights Dr. Morris’ unwavering dedication to fostering an engaging, dynamic, and supportive learning environment for our physician and student learners.

Throughout his career, Dr. Morris has consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment to educational innovation, mentorship, and success. He has inspired countless learners to reach their full potential, providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in their academic and professional pursuits.

The Master Educator Award is a testament to Dr. Morris’ passion for teaching and his impactful contributions to the academic community. We are proud to have him as a member of our faculty and look forward to his continued contributions to the advancement of education.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Morris on this well-deserved honor!

https://medicine.ecu.edu/faculty-development/master-educator-winners/

04/15/2025

ECU Health's experienced surgeons and knowledgeable surgical team are ready to guide you through your procedure and recovery.

Learn more about surgery services at ECU Health here: https://www.ecuhealth.org/services/surgery/

03/21/2025

ICYMI: ECU Health recently launched a new telecardiology program in Edenton designed to help patients who may otherwise have to travel long distances for appointments or experience long wait times between appointments.

Learn more about the program and hear from Dr. Sivakumar Ardhanari here: https://go.ecuhealth.org/41HxbNS.

03/18/2025

Dr. Cantanzaro discusses the increase of heart disease in rural areas.

A new study from the Journal of The American College of Cardiology found heart disease is rising in young people in rural areas. Hear from Dr. John Catanzaro, Division of Cardiology chief at ECU Health Medical Center, as he discusses the trend.

"People actually studied the death certificates and age over 11 million adults and they found that the cardiovascular deaths increased among 25-year-olds to 64-year-olds but decreased among people aged 65 and up," Dr. Catanzaro said. "But if you look in rural communities — those increases occur at a faster rate and decrease at a slower rate than in the urban counterparts."

Learn more: https://go.ecuhealth.org/4hsVvZp

03/18/2025

At ECU Health, we are committed to bringing expert care close to home for the patients and families we serve. We're proud to share the launch of a new telecardiology program at ECU Health Chowan Hospital, designed to help patients who may otherwise have to travel long distances for appointments or experience long wait times between appointments.

“This program allows us to assess patients in real time, conduct detailed evaluations, and coordinate necessary next steps—all without requiring them to leave their community," said Dr. Sivakumar Ardhanari, a cardiologist with ECU Health.

Learn more about the program here: https://go.ecuhealth.org/43J1qGv

03/12/2025

We offer lifestyle medicine services at ECU Health! The ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic provides resources to help with a comprehensive range of weight loss and lifestyle medicine services tailored to individual needs.

If you're starting a weight loss journey or seeking support to maintain progress, we offer personalized, evidence-based solutions to help people succeed.

Take the first step toward a healthier you with ECU Health by learning more about the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic: https://go.ecuhealth.org/3QNjYhe