As she nears three years at the helm of UNC Health Lenoir, Dr. Crystal Hayden says her work is guided by a simple conviction: people in rural communities deserve the same standard of care patients expect anywhere else.
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Celebrating Women’s History Month and the all-female surgical team at UNC Health Lenoir
Every March, Women’s History Month reminds us to pause and celebrate the women who have changed the world, especially those who’ve done it by healing others. Medicine hasn’t always been an easy field for women to break into, but from the first female doctors in the 1800s to today’s surgical leaders, women have pushed through barriers with intelligence, compassion, and grit.
UNC Health Lenoir Welcomes Two New Women’s Health Providers to UNC Complete Care
UNC Health Lenoir is pleased to announce the addition of two dedicated women’s health providers to UNC Complete Care: Dr. Shannon Huff, board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, and Cierra Rowe, AGNP, certified nurse practitioner.
UNC Health Lenoir Welcomes Dr. Ythan Webster to Orthopedic Team
UNC Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Lenoir is pleased to welcome Dr. Ythan Webster, a highly skilled podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon dedicated to providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages.
Former NFL Player Chris Draft to Visit UNC Health Lenoir to Promote Cancer Exercise Program
Former NFL player and lung cancer awareness advocate, Chris Draft will visit UNC Health Lenoir on Tuesday, January 27, to spotlight the Get Real and Heel exercise oncology program at the Minges Wellness Center.
UNC Health Lenoir Receives the 2026 Women’s Choice Award® as one of the Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience
UNC Health Lenoir has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award®, placing it among the top hospitals in the country for the care patients receive outside of an overnight stay.
UNC Health Lenoir Introduces Aquablation Therapy for Advanced Treatment of Enlarged Prostate
UNC Health Lenoir is proud to announce the addition of Aquablation® therapy to its urology service line, offering patients a leading-edge, minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as enlarged prostate.
UNC Health Lenoir: Only Hospital in NC to Receive Top Award
December 16, 2025 — UNC Health Lenoir has been recognized as a Top Rural Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization known for setting the highest standards for patient safety, quality, and transparency in the United States. This prestigious honor is awarded to a select group of hospitals that demonstrate exceptional performance across a range of safety and quality measures.
UNC Health Lenoir elevates care through robotic innovation
UNC Health Lenoir is proud to announce the arrival of the state-of-the-art da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of surgical care for Kinston, Lenoir County, and the surrounding region.
UNC Health Lenoir names Rachel Garris 2024 President’s Service Excellence Award of the Year Winner
UNC Health Lenoir is pleased to announce that Rachel Garris has been named the 2024 President’s Service Excellence Award (PSEA) of the year winner. Awarded annually, the PSEA of the year is presented to an employee selected by their peers who exemplifies superior performance, strong leadership, effective communication, and service excellence.
UNC Health Lenoir Earns an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade
UNC Health Lenoir earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
One Light, One Story, One Powerful Impact
UNC Health Lenoir Cancer services would like to thank our community for making heartfelt donations to the Lights of Love in 2024!
UNC Health Lenoir Partners with Wake Emergency Physicians, PA to Enhance Emergency Department Services
UNC Health Lenoir is proud to announce a new partnership with Wake Emergency Physicians, PA (WEPPA) to provide staffing and clinical leadership for the hospital’s Emergency Department.
Community mourns the passing of longtime emergency room physician and EMS leader Dr. Aaron Cotten
The Lenoir County community is mourning the passing of Dr. Aaron Cotten, a beloved physician, educator, and leader whose impact spanned decades in medicine, emergency services, and public health.
UNC Health Lenoir’s Sports Medicine Team Keeps Eastern NC Moving
Whether it’s a high school athlete, a weekend runner, or someone getting back on their feet after an injury, UNC Health Lenoir’s Orthopedics and Sports Medicine team has become a trusted destination for advanced, local care.
UNC Health Lenoir Inducts Eight New Members into Hall of Honor
UNC Health Lenoir proudly welcomed eight outstanding individuals into its prestigious Hall of Honor during a ceremony celebrating their extraordinary service to healthcare and the community.
UNC Health Lenoir’s Dr. Joel Rose honored with Cayman Connection Making Waves Award for health excellence
UNC Health Lenoir proudly announces that Dr. Joel Rose, General and Bariatric Surgeon at UNC Health Lenoir and Executive Medical Director of UNC Physicians Network, has been honored with Special Recognition in the Health Category at the 2025 Cayman Connection Making Waves Awards, a prestigious program celebrating outstanding achievements by Caymanians living overseas.
UNC Health Lenoir Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Heart and Stroke Care
UNC Health Lenoir has once again been nationally recognized for its commitment to high-quality care, earning four prestigious awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® initiative for excellence in the treatment of heart failure, stroke, and resuscitation, with an emphasis on reducing rural health disparities.
UNC Health Lenoir honors dedicated team members at annual Service Award Banquet
UNC Health Lenoir celebrated its outstanding team members during the annual Service Award Banquet on June 10th, recognizing 74 employees for their unwavering dedication, with milestones ranging from five to an exceptional 50 years of service.
UNC Health Lenoir Welcomes Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Lawrence “Sonny” Larabee
UNC Health Lenoir is pleased to welcome Dr. Lawrence “Sonny” Larabee to our Orthopedic and Sports Medicine team.