East Carolina Heart Institute

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

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.