Duke Raleigh Hospital

On July 8, 2021 Duke Raleigh Hospital officially opened the South Pavilion, an extension of the existing hospital—the North Pavilion. The multi-million dollar project allows the Duke Raleigh Hospital to make the necessary advancements for our patients, their loved ones, and each other as our community grows and its health needs evolve.

To mark the grand opening, Duke Raleigh Hospital held a ribbon cutting ceremony. Interim President Leigh Bleecker opened the ceremony, and Rev. Adrian Dixon, Director Chaplain Services & Education, blessed the space. Then, seven of Duke Raleigh Hospital’s most tenured team members, touching services across the hospital, cut the ribbon. Preeti Gundecha represented Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council.

You can watch the full ribbon cutting ceremony on Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Facebook page and learn more about the team members below.

Linda O’Neal | Pharmacy Tech II | 42 Years

• What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
  • I came to Duke Raleigh because I was seeking a job as a Pharmacy Tech. There was a position open the day I applied and I was given the job the same day.
• What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?
  • My favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital is that I have learned so much about health care and I like the fact that what I do makes an impact on patients and their wellbeing.
• What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
  • The thing that excites me about the South Pavilion is how all the new rooms and services will make us an even better place to get care and give care.

Wilbert Moore | Surgical Attendant | 38 Years

• What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
  • I started working at Duke Raleigh Hospital May 23, 1983. At the time I was looking for something different and new.
• What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?
  • My favorite part of working at Duke Raleigh Hospital is the people I work with, the feeling of family and the care that we give together.
• What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
  • I am most excited about seeing the future unfold in our new state-of-the-art operating rooms.

Kimberly Hinton | Cardiovascular/EP Invasive Specialist | 36 Years

• What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
  • I came to what was Raleigh Community Hospital at the time from another hospital in Tarboro. My husband and I had just gotten married in Wilson, and since he was from Raleigh, we decided we wanted to live here instead of Wilson.
• What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?
  • The best part of working at Duke Raleigh Hospital is definitely the people! I work with the very best physicians and nurses and techs and entire team! I have made some of my best of friends here. I have lost some great friends as well. I would not have stayed this long if it wasn’t for the people I work with. To be able to work with teams who honestly care about the welfare and safety of the patient is just such an honor! There is so much compassion! The people I work with are my family, not just co-workers.
• What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
  • To be honest, I’m most excited about the bigger elevators and the new cafeteria.

Bobby Leach | Supply Chain Associate | 33 Years

1. What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
   1. My mom worked at a hospital and she wanted one of the seven children to also work at a hospital, so I was the one to do so.
2. What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?
   1. Working with the entire Duke family and making sure every department gets the supplies they need every day.
3. What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
   1. The new, larger loading dock in the big beautiful building.

Shannon Clifton | Assistant Director, Engineering | 32 Years

1. What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
   1. After graduating from a technical community college, I worked in a manufacturing setting. I felt like there was not much to learn in that setting, and I was bored. I wanted to find a place to learn and grow and I thought a hospital would be interesting, and I’m still learning new technology daily. I started as a HVAC/Boiler Tech in 1989 and worked my way up to Assistant Director of Engineering.
2. What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?   
   1. We still have that small hospital feel even though we continue to grow. We know everyone by their first name and work well together.
3. What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
   1. There is a lot of new equipment to learn, new processes to create. We built a new Central Utility Plant, with new controls for our whole department to learn and make it our own. This will be a fresh start with some of the systems that keep the hospital going.

Angela McClendon | Clinical Lead RN, PACU | 31 Years

1. What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
   1. My family located back to Raleigh from Atlanta in 1989. When we returned, I applied for a position in PACU at what was then Raleigh Community Hospital. There were no openings so I accepted a position in Telemetry which was on the 4th floor at that time.  Within 3 months, PACU had an opening and I was chosen. The unit expanded from 8 spaces to 18.  I worked as a staff PACU nurse for about 10 years and then was asked to be the Clinical Lead.
2. What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?             
   1. My favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital is caring for the patients and working with a great team of people. The Administrative personnel come by the department each day to make sure your day is going well and make sure you have what you need to safely care for patients.
3. What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
   1. I am most excited about the space and new rooms in the South Pavilion as well as the added privacy.

Cary Wright | Nurse Manager, Operations | 30 Years

1. What brought you to Duke Health/Duke Raleigh Hospital?
   1. I originally was recruited to Duke University Hospital as a Pharmacy Technician. I relocated to Duke Raleigh Hospital about 10 years ago. My family relocated to Zebulon and I wanted to stay in the Duke University Health System.
2. What is your favorite part about working at Duke Raleigh Hospital?             
   1. My favorite part of working at Duke Raleigh Hospital is the closeness of all of the people that work here.
3. What are you most excited about with the South Pavilion expansion?
   1. I am most excited about the enhanced quality of care we will be able to provide to our patients and their families.