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The ELSO Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes those centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care. UNC’s ECMO Director is Anthony Charles, MD, MPH.


The ECMO program at UNC Medical Center has received a Gold ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support for its use of ECMO — extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

The Excellence in Life Support Award, given by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), recognizes those centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care.

The UNC ECMO program is a team of physicians, surgeons, respiratory therapists and registered nurses dedicated to providing ECMO support for infants, children, and adults experiencing acute cardiorespiratory failure. ECMO allows time for the patient’s lungs or heart to heal over a period of time by using a heart-lung machine to oxygenate the blood outside the body.

“We are honored to be the recipient of such a prestigious award regarding the critical care services and life support equipment and training provided to our patients,” said Anthony Charles, MD, MPH, Director of the UNC ECMO Program. “The Gold Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes those centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care. The ECMO Center accomplishments reflect the dedication to advancing health care that we continuously strive to achieve at UNC.”