Sponsor comments.

• Author: Horns, Phyllis N.
• Position: SPONSORED SECTION

When I travel across our state, I meet many people who know of East Carolina University's leadership in educating primary care physicians. Many also know our College of Nursing produces graduates who work in nearly every county in the state.

They know our College of Allied Health Sciences is the states largest university provider of allied health professionals--the fastest-growing segment of the health care workforce. And they've heard about our School of Dental Medicine and its unique community service-learning centers, where patients from 99 of the state's 100 counties have received care.

But educating health professionals isn't all we're doing at ECU. We're also looking for answers to the real and potential health issues that face North Carolinians.

For example, with funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, medical and public health researchers at ECU are investigating the health effects of the chemical GenX, which has been found in the Cape Fear River. Other published research looks at estrogen and how menopause increases women's susceptibility to certain health risks. Another study funded by the National Institutes of Health is investigating the side effects of statin drugs used by millions to control cholesterol.

And we don't forget our state's vital relationship with the military. For example, ECU students built a unique simulator that mimics the MV-22 Osprey, where they...