Washington, N.C. – More than 20 ECU Health Beaufort Hospital providers (physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) were recently honored with ECU Health Provider Patient Choice Awards, recognizing those who rank in the top 10% in the nation for creating a caring environment that helps patients heal, according to Press Ganey’s database.

Established in 2023, Patient Choice Awards recognize and honor ECU Health team members and providers for their dedication, effort and support to eastern North Carolina and the patients and families ECU Health serves. Winning teams and providers are chosen based upon commentary and feedback collected from patient surveys. Recognition events are held throughout the system in the fall and winter to showcase the people and teams who go above and beyond in support of our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. Attendees of the event, both in-person and virtual, heard from ECU Health leadership as they thanked the winners for their work and discussed how compassionate care impacts patients, families and the health system.

“The Patient Choice Award holds incredible honor at ECU Health as it is bestowed by those we serve—our patients,” said Dr. Dennis Campbell II, president of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. “This recognition from our patients demonstrates the compassionate environment our physicians and nurse practitioners foster. We extend heartfelt gratitude to all our providers for their daily dedication and acknowledge how much our patients value and appreciate them.”

The following local providers were recipients of the 2024 Provider Patient Choice Award:​

• Deepti Ananthula, MD – ECU Health Internal Medicine – Washington
• James Barwick, MD – ECU Health Orthopedics – Washington
• Teresa Bazelow, FNP – ECU Health Internal Medicine – Washington
• Cindy Cherry, ANP – ECU Health Pulmonology – Washington
• Elisabeth Cooke, MD – ECU Health Internal Medicine – Washington
• Caddie Cowin, FNP – ECU Health Women’s Care – Washington
• Johnna Cowin, FNP-BC – ECU Health Women’s Care – Washington
• James Harbin, MD – ECU Health Women’s Care – Washington
• John Inzerillo, MD – Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center
• Pamela Lepera, DO – Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center
• Michael Joyner, ANP – ECU Health Cardiology – Washington
• Manoranjan Muthukanagaraj, MD – ECU Health Behavioral Health – Washington
• Franklin Niblock – ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic – Belhaven
• Melissa O’Neal, MD – ECU Health Women’s Care – Washington
• Kaitlyn Peele, AGNP – ECU Health Family Medicine – Belhaven
• Tracey Respess, FNP-BC – ECU Health Family Medicine – Chocowinity
• Matthew Romine, MD – ECU Health General Surgery – Washington
• Viswanathan Swaminathan, MD – ECU Health Behavioral Health – Washington
• Carrie Tingley, AGNP – ECU Health Internal Medicine – Washington
• Danielle White, FNP – ECU Health Women’s Care – Washington
• Anita Woolard, FNP-BC – ECU Health Family Medicine – Washington
• Richard Young, MD – ECU Health Internal Medicine – Washington

About ECU Health

ECU Health is a mission-driven, 1708-bed academic health care system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is comprised of more than 14,000 team members, nine hospitals and a physician group that encompasses over 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 185 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 110 locations. The flagship ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, and ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital serve as the primary teaching hospitals for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine share a combined academic mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina through patient care, education and research. For more information, visit ECUHealth.org.