We’re putting the spotlight on our winners of the Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest award. It was created to honor team members, physicians and volunteers who display the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community.
The award was named in honor of Scott and Nikki Niswonger. Scott is a Greeneville businessman and philanthropist who is the chief benefactor of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, and a member of the Ballad Health board of directors. The Niswongers have a long history of serving others throughout the region, with a strong focus on education highlighted by the creation of The Niswonger Foundation.
We’ve also started our nominations for next year’s winners; to make a nomination, click here.
Phyllis Smith
For her team at Franklin Woods Community Hospital’s intensive care unit, Phyllis is much more than her title. Though she excels as a team coordinator and registered nurse, Phyllis is most well-known for making spiritual connections with patients and going out of her way to help everyone on her team. She goes above and beyond to care for each patient’s mind, body and spirit, and we’re pleased to honor her compassion with a Servant’s Heart Award.
It’s not uncommon to find Phyllis at a patient’s bedside in their final moments, holding their hand and singing “Amazing Grace” or other hymns. She has touched many lives while providing comfort during one of life’s most difficult experiences. Her ability to provide spiritual and nursing care provides her patients with an invaluable level of comfort, and she is the embodiment of our value of Faith.
Phyllis takes time to pass on her expertise to new nurses, teaching them how to have challenging conversations with patients and their families. Her role goes beyond the floor where she works and impacts the entire hospital. Everyone is familiar with Phyllis and the daily connections she forms with patients.
Phyllis’s team members also credit her with keeping morale high with her upbeat personality and willingness to help others. When she’s not building bridges between a patient and their medical team, she comes in on her days off to attend meetings and assist with audits.
Over the years, Phyllis has become a staple of the hospital and the community, giving to her patients and their families and putting others’ needs before her own. She finds room in her heart for everyone, and we are proud to have team members like Phyllis caring for our patients.
To hear more about Phyllis’s story, watch this inspiring video below, or you can access it on YouTube here.
See profiles on our other Servant’s Heart Award winners for 2022:
