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.
Robin Wilson
A longtime respiratory therapist, Robin Wilson has served Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia, for nearly 40 years and now serves as director of pulmonary care and sleep services for Johnson Memorial, as well as Russell County Hospital in Lebanon.
She is a passionate advocate for her patients and for her team, fostering a culture that is compassionate, attentive and professional. Her department has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, fighting through the staffing challenges that have impacted hospitals nationwide – but she has led by example, jumping in to help lighten an already-heavy load for her team.
She willingly volunteers to help with other facilities across Ballad Health that have identified respiratory needs, and she served as the clinical leader for the systemwide implementation of a new ABL blood gas system – a critical testing function that provides fast results from blood samples primarily needed in the emergency department, intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit.
Robin also proactively created a ventilator lab at the start of COVID-19 at Johnston Memorial, to help ensure doctors and nurses had the opportunity to revisit the technology in preparation for potential surges. Her work truly makes a difference in the lives of people in our region. We congratulate Robin on being named a 2022 Servant’s Heart Award winner!
To hear more about Robin’s story, watch the video below, or check it out here on YouTube.
See profiles on our other Servant’s Heart winners this year:
