We’ve been 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.
Also, nominations for our 2023 Servant’s Heart winners can be submitted through Saturday, Dec. 31; to make a nomination, click here.
Susan Bowers
Taking the concept of “sharing smiles and joy” to a whole new level makes Susan Bowers, a devoted pet therapy volunteer, a well-deserving 2022 Servant’s Heart Award recipient. The honor can be shared with her two assistants – Freddy, a terrier mix, and Leo, a dachshund.
For many years, Susan has spearheaded the pet therapy program at Holston Valley Medical Center. Susan and her furry friends make an excellent team who always knows how to make people feel better.
Susan goes above and beyond her daily duties as a pet therapy handler. She provides treats, cards, and pins for the staff and signs them as though they are from the dogs, and she organizes pet therapy visits daily, weekly and on special holidays. When it’s time for handlers to say goodbye to their pets, she writes a loving letter for each dog who crosses the rainbow bridge.
Susan has taken on a significant leadership role, helping train new volunteers and their dogs, mentoring them, taking photos and keeping the hospital’s pet therapy bulletin boards up to date.
Susan continued to work behind the scenes when the pandemic prevented pet therapy volunteers from coming to the hospital. She became certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to be a tester to help others join. When infection prevention protocols allowed dogs to visit team members but not patient rooms, Susan still made the rounds so team members could relieve stress by petting the loving dogs.
Outside the hospital, Susan stays active with the pet therapy team, organizing community activities, parades and visits to colleges and schools when students are stressed, even before exams.
Susan knows the impact she makes as a volunteer, and she knows she’s even more effective when she supports the system as a whole and recognizes that we’re all in this together.
See profiles on our other Servant’s Heart winners for 2022:
