Our “Kudos & Recognition” feature highlights team members and others from across Ballad Health who have earned honors, awards, professional certifications or done other notable things worth recognizing. If you know a team member who might qualify, email information to doug.janz@balladhealth.org.
Chris Chamberlain named Greene County Outstanding Team Member
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Congratulations to Chris Chamberlain, RN, in the Greeneville Community Hospital East (formerly Laughlin Memorial) emergency department, for being named Greene County Outstanding Team Member.
A few weeks ago, a critical situation with a patient impacted the staff, other patients, and families for several hours, and Chris went above and beyond in communicating with the patient to trust him and convinced the patient to let him provide care and keep the patient and everyone else in the unit safe. Chris ended up staying well past his time off because he genuinely cared about the patient’s outcome.
Thank you, Chris, for the care and compassion you demonstrate to patients.
Christy Johnson named DAISY Award winner at Holston Valley
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Congratulations to Christy Johnson, RN, D5/ICU at Holston Valley Medical Center, for being honored with the DAISY award.
Nurses are selected for this award by providing exceptional care and going above and beyond for their patients and families. Christy’s nomination stated: “Not only was Christy a dedicated caretaker to my husband on his final days, she also took care of me. She answered all of our crazy questions, explained every step she took and helped me feel at ease and confident he was being treated by the best set of hands and a caring heart. My husband understood that Christy wasn’t just a nurse to the man in the bed, but also to the loved ones surrounding him.”
As the award recipient, Christy received a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse,” a DAISY Foundation tote bag, a beautiful hand-carved sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” a reserved parking place for the quarter, and cinnamon rolls to share with her department.
Doctors Elmore, Kommaraju, Cusano honored by Virginia ACP chapter
Several Southwest Virginia physicians from Ballad Health were recently honored by the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Physicians.
- Karen Elmore, MD, in internal medicine in Emory was a winner of the 2019 Academic Teaching Award at the Resident competition and gala in February.
- Kaushik Ram Kommaraju, DO, a resident physician at Johnston Memorial Hospital, was honored at the resident abstract competition in February. He won first place in the Quality Improvement and High Value Care category for his presentation entitled “Reducing Chest Pain Observation Utilization.” As part of the prize, he received $500 plus an invitation to be a presenter in the ACP’s 2020 national conference.
- Matthew Cusano, MD, in Norton was awarded the Community Teaching Award at the ACP Virginia Chapter’s annual meeting in March.
King University honors Fleenor with Commitment Pillar Award
BRISTOL, Va. – Sharron Fleenor, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Ballad Health’s corporate director of Healthpro Staffing, was recently honored with the King University School of Nursing Graduate Program Commitment Pillar Award.
The Nursing Pillar Award is based on the School of Nursing professional pillars of integrity, commitment, service, accountability, civility and compassion. Each School of Nursing program nominates a student who exemplifies an individual pillar while in the program.
Sharron plans to finish her Doctor of Nursing Practice in August.