Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our 2023 Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award winners in Ballad Health News, as well as on Ballad Health social media. The award honors 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, as nominated by their peers.
Click on the video player below to see a brief profile of our first winner, Shane Duncan. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award.
Shane Duncan is the Consumer Contact Center director for Ballad Health – an important resource for thousands of people in the region. In addition to his day job, he serves as the chair for one of Ballad Health Foundation’s biggest fundraising events – the annual Night of Hope and Miracles, which benefits Niswonger Children’s Hospital.
Shane’s role as the Consumer Contact Center director makes it possible for people to have immediate access to more healthcare resources. Having a dedicated and well-trained team to handle patient inquiries and provide prompt and efficient service through the call center and online chat service helps patients get the information they need quickly and easily. Shane manages the center’s operations, ensuring access to help is seamless and readily available.
He goes above and beyond every year – on a volunteer basis – to assist with the Night of Hope and Miracles. The 2022 event raised more than $240,000 to benefit the expansion of Niswonger Children’s Hospital, which will include the J.D. Nicewonder Family Perinatal and Pediatric Institute and create a regionwide opportunity to serve children with complex medical needs, ensuring more families can receive specialty care close to home.
“The support and momentum Shane generates through Night of Hope and Miracles has a palpable, real-world effect on healthcare.”
The project is ambitious and requires successful fundraising – so the Night of Hope and Miracle is a crucial event. Shane leads the committee planning meetings and then directs things on the night of the event.
He creates the layout of the room, works with the lighting and production team, assists in decorating ideas and much, much more. He also uses his own personal time to take off and set up the entire week of the event. Shane has served in this volunteer role for years.
On top of that, he purchased an 18-foot Christmas tree several years ago that he keeps in his personal storage unit, and every year for Night of Hope and Miracles, he and his volunteers put it together in the event space. However, it’s so beautiful, MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center requested to keep it in their atrium for the holiday season – so, the day after one of the largest events on Ballad Health Foundation’s calendar, Shane painstakingly transports the tree to the atrium and packs up event materials for the next year.
The support and momentum Shane generates through Night of Hope and Miracles has a palpable, real-world effect on healthcare, as the foundation is constantly raising money so every child has access to the comprehensive, quality healthcare they deserve. Thanks in part to Shane, children in our region will get the special care they need.
More about the Servant’s Heart Award
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.
Nominate someone!
Do you know someone who has the heart of a servant and deserves recognition for their great work? If so, nominate them for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award!
