People of ECU Health: Jennifer King Congleton

To truly tell the story of ECU Health, you must look beyond the buildings and medical technologies. We are defined by people. We are a united team of incredible people providing incredible care – every day. We are the People of ECU Health.

Meet Jennifer King Congleton, M.A. Ed, the administrator of chaplaincy & volunteer services at ECU Health Medical Center. Jennifer shares her experience and perspective of working at the medical center over several decades. She started her career in Education and only planned to stay at the medical center for a few years—at least that was the plan. Then she fell in love with her job and the healthcare community.

?“Believe it or not, I have been here for 35 years, going on 36 and never thought I would be in a place for this long. My intention was to be here for about five years and move on,” said Congleton. “But I got here and really loved it. I enjoyed being a part of the team.”

As a native of eastern North Carolina, Jennifer planted her Greenville roots by attending East Carolina University.

The journey to ECU Health

“My undergraduate degree is in public health and my graduate degree is in adult education with a concentration in community college systems – I worked as the director of admissions for Beaufort Community College in Washington. I did an internship and some part-time work at Pitt Community College, which prepared me for the educational experience I had at the medical center. I began my career in what was then called the education department at the medical center. I served as allied health education coordinator. I worked with all allied health departments and planned education experiences for team members. So, that was the beginning of my journey and from there I went to the guest relations department and held several other positions for the 35 years that I've been here. All of my positions have been in either allied health or human resources.

Employee recognition and retention was one of my roles for a number of years. I then transitioned into volunteer services and became ‘volunteer services and pastoral care. About six years ago, I inherited pastoral care. It has been a really interesting combination and one that is very good. I never thought about managing chaplains here but I've learned a lot. They've taught me a lot and it's been a great opportunity. We haven’t finished yet. I have so many things I want to do before I leave.”

A passion for service

Community service and engagement are passions for Jennifer. Since her initiation into the Theta Alpha Chapter at East Carolina University, Jennifer has been a dedicated member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, serving faithfully on the local, regional and international levels.

Jennifer is also a graduate of the Pitt-Greenville Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute, a member of the East Carolina University and the Elizabeth City State University boards of visitors, the Pitt Community College Foundation Board, the National Council of Negro Women, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was selected and honored for her community engagement in the 2018 AT&T Heritage Calendar and was the 2015 Volunteer of the Year at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. She was also honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the North Carolina Office of the Governor in March 2022.

“One of my passions is working with the community and definitely now with the clergy community. With my community service relationships, I’ve been able to plan educational initiatives for the clergy team and see to it that we meet their needs. I've been able to get volunteers and work with foundation endeavors through my sorority and other service groups I've worked with.”

Evolution of ECU Health

Jennifer has witnessed the medical center transition through many changes over the years, including name changes and rebranding.

“I have experienced every name change that we've had over the past 35 years, and now today, I am convinced that the new brand is exactly what it should have been 48 years ago. The new brand says a lot about us as an organization –that we value education and are aligned with East Carolina University’s mission.”

Recognizing Black History Month

As we recognize Black History Month, Jennifer shared her thoughts about what this month means to her.

“Black History Month really needs to be Black History Year. It is an opportunity for African Americans to spotlight individuals who made a difference in the community, in the world or even in your neighborhood. It is an opportunity to help our younger folks see those who have transformed communities, and who've made a difference that they never hear about or would not hear about—it’s the little things that make the difference.

When we rewind our recordings, so much history has been lost. We have not done our very best to preserve that. So it's time to reflect on local history, state, national and international history, to see the impact African-Americans have made on us in this world. And we've done so much that has been overlooked. So when I see an individual that's being spotlighted that I didn't know about, it makes me proud and it makes me want to do more and to do better.”