Introducing our Servant’s Heart Award winners: Ronnie Alley

Team member profile

We’re in the process of 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 volunteer 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.

Ronnie Alley

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.

Ronnie Alley

Ronnie Alley is a volunteer at both Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital. Ronnie splits his time volunteering at these two hospitals five days a week, seven hours a day, and he has done so for the past 20 years. He rides the bus from Gate City, Virginia, to each facility, and he has accumulated more than 24,000 volunteer hours since 2002.

Ronnie has a physical disability that necessitates a walker, but he hasn’t once let this slow him down. In fact, the team members Ronnie works with say it’s a joy and an inspiration hearing him come into work every morning. Ronnie gladly works in any department where he’s requested, from pre-admissions, human resources to clinical engineering, and he’s currently serving in endoscopy at Holston Valley, as well as the surgery waiting room at Indian Path.

He is loved and respected wherever he works, and he cheerfully helps out any way that he can: answering phones, sorting paperwork and helping people find their way around. He often handles inquiries from hospital team members who need a repair, then calls the technician and directs them to the problem.

Ronnie’s has a joyous determination help people. When volunteers were allowed back after the COVID-19 surges, Ronnie was among the first to show up. He will even call in to another department if it’s a slow day where he’s assigned. He brings a spirit of joy and compassion wherever he serves, and he is a friend and an inspiration to countless people at both hospitals. Ronnie is courteous, dependable and a huge NASCAR fan. Everyone enjoys talking with him and hearing his stories of racing drivers both past and present.

Ronnie is a kind, dedicated volunteer with a servant’s heart and a smile that lights up a room. He doesn’t let anything slow him down from helping others, and he always goes wherever he’s needed – rain or shine.

Independently from the Servant’s Heart Award, Ronnie was the subject of a film about his passion for volunteering and serving others. It is basically a day in the life of Ronnie as a volunteer at the two Kingsport hospitals.

Check out that inspiring video below, and click here to read Alan Levine’s Thanksgiving message to team members that also put a spotlight on Ronnie!

See profiles on our other Servant’s Heart winners this year: