Greenville Reporter

In the third year of their studies, medical students transition from the classroom to clinical settings for hands-on training. To acknowledge their experiences with patients, ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University organized the sixth annual Legacy Teachers Celebration on April 4. Fourteen students participated by sharing stories, poems, drawings, and other forms of gratitude for their time with patients and families—experiences that have shaped their perspectives as future physicians.

Dr. Christina Bowen, who serves as the chief well-being officer at ECU Health, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “We have spent the last six years celebrating these relationships between students and patients. With each year’s celebrations, I have seen an increase in the well-being of our medical students as they practice gratitude for patients, and they’re able to reflect on the impact that those relationships have on how they’ll practice medicine.”

A noteworthy story from the event featured Andrew Cunningham, a third-year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine, and patient Jovanna Martin from ECU Health Medical Center. Martin experienced a severe health issue in February 2024, when her hemoglobin levels dropped significantly, requiring her to receive seven units of blood. Initially, Martin expected a routine appointment but ended up meeting Cunningham during an emergency room visit. Despite the serious situation, Cunningham found Martin to be in high spirits, supported by her family.

Cunningham recounted, “I remember walking into your room, and you were there with your son, and it didn’t matter how bad your labs looked, you were just happy and bubbly. I could tell you were going to be a mom to him before anything else.” Martin described Cunningham as a comforting presence during her hospital stay, saying, “Every time there was an uncomfortable, or a scary moment—and there were a lot of scary moments—whenever he would come in the room with that smile, I was like, ‘He’s here!’”

The event allowed Martin and Cunningham to reunite, reflecting on their shared experiences. Martin found the video of their story shown during the celebration emotional, and she appreciated discussing their past interactions with Cunningham. For Cunningham, the occasion provided a meaningful connection to his future role as a physician, expressing that the event was “a great chance to reflect on everything and bring the lessons from the last year back to where we are now.”

The Legacy Teachers Celebration at ECU and ECU Health highlights the importance of the bond between patients and healthcare providers and acknowledges the lasting impact patients have on medical students. Through these interactions, students learn essential qualities such as care, compassion, and communication, which they will carry into their medical careers.