New day for specialized healthcare: Novant Health rings in new women's facility at EC Medical Ctr.
Moultrie News. June 12, 2026.
Community leaders, healthcare providers and residents gathered June 11 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Novant Health Center for Women's Health at Novant Health East Cooper Medical Center.
The new 40,000 square-foot, two-story facility in Mount Pleasant represents a significant expansion of women's healthcare services in the Lowcountry. Once open, it will bring a range of specialties under one roof, including obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, advanced breast diagnostics and mammography, urogynecology, breast and general surgery, and neonatology, among other services.
Opening the ceremony, Kirsten Royster, president of Novant Health's Charleston market, reflected on the impact the center will have on women and families across the region. She noted that women often serve as caregivers for others, sometimes delaying care for themselves in the process.
"This new Women's Center allows us to continue a tradition of excellence and make sure we're caring for women in this community and their families for generations to come," said Royster.
The facility was designed to make care more accessible by bringing multiple specialties together in one location, she added. By prioritizing women's health, said Royster, the center aims to remove barriers that have historically prevented many women from seeking care as quickly or readily as their counterparts.
Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie, who joined Royster and other leaders for the ribbon cutting, described the center as an important asset for both the town and the broader region.
"What a privilege it is to be here today," Haynie said. "We are a blessed community to have supported women's healthcare for decades, and not every community has access to facilities like this."
Haynie also shared his personal connection to East Cooper Medical Center, recalling care he received for a heart rhythm issue in 2023 and treatment his wife received several years earlier.
"These are not just town and chamber of commerce platitudes," he said. "I've been a patient here and experienced the care firsthand. This hospital has cared for my health and my soul."
He concluded by recognizing the many people whose efforts helped make the project possible.
"What makes a community great isn't always the headliners," Haynie said. "It's the people who take that extra step every day to make a difference in the lives of others. I extend my gratitude to each of them."
Representing two of the specialties that will be housed within the center, Dr. Laura Stickler and Dr. Heather Barbier spoke about the impact expanded access to women's healthcare will have on the community.
Stickler, an obstetrics and gynecology provider, reflected on her experience caring for patients throughout different stages of life and the benefits of bringing services together in one location.
"I've had the privilege of caring for women through so many different phases of their lives," Stickler said. "As women's healthcare needs change, this center brings together the physicians, specialists and services needed to support them every step of the way."
Barbier, an OB/GYN and urogynecologist who recently joined the East Cooper team, said the facility will provide patients with access to specialized care that is not available in every community.
"Not all communities are fortunate enough to have facilities like this nearby, and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it," Barbier said.
Looking ahead to the center's opening, Barbier said she is eager to begin caring for patients in the new space.
The program also featured remarks from Diane Vincent, an East Cooper arts advocate, who discussed plans to incorporate arts programming and therapeutic creative experiences into the patient environment, highlighting the role creativity can play in healing and wellness.
Following the ceremony, attendees toured the facility and learned more about the services that will soon be available within the center.
For those gathered at the ribbon cutting, the event represented more than just the opening of a new healthcare building. It reflected a sustained investment in women’s health, prioritizing care that is often overlooked and reaffirming a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the growing Lowcountry community.
