JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Cindy Elkins, a longtime pharmacist and leader in Wise County, has been selected to serve as the next administrator and assistant vice president for Lee County Community Hospital and Lonesome Pine Hospital.
Elkins, who transitioned into her new role in January, will lead the day-to-day administrative operations for Lee County Community and Lonesome Pine. She will also coordinate service line functions for those facilities and serve as a key member of Ballad Health’s market leadership team in Lee, Wise and Dickenson counties.
“We are excited to have Cindy join our leadership team in Southwest Virginia,” said Shannon Showalter, chief executive officer for Ballad Health operations in Dickenson, Lee and Wise counties.
“Cindy’s clinical experience as a pharmacist, coupled with her unwavering commitment to patient care and community well-being, make her an ideal leader for Lee County Community Hospital and Lonesome Pine Hospital. Her proven dedication to excellence and compassionate service align seamlessly with our mission, ensuring a bright future for the patients and communities we serve.”
Most recently, Elkins served as the multi-facility director of pharmacy for Ballad Health Cancer Care in Norton, Dickenson Community Hospital, Lee County Community, Lonesome Pine and Norton Community Hospital.
In that role, which she held since 2015, she oversaw compounding, mixing and packaging of medications, supervised pharmacy policies and procedures and acted as a pharmacy representative to physicians, nursing staff and members of the administrative team. She also helped prepare pharmacies for regulatory and state inspections and led various committees, including the Medication Management Committee and the Controlled Substance Stewardship Committee.
Elkins’ service as a pharmacist in Southwest Virginia dates back to 1992. She started her career as a retail pharmacist for Rite Aid and eventually transitioned to the hospital setting in 1995, becoming a staff pharmacist for the former St. Mary’s Hospital and eventually moving to Norton Community Hospital in 2003. During that time, she worked as the pharmacist in charge of the retail pharmacy and a hospital pharmacist.
“I grew up in Norton, so serving the people of Southwest Virginia has been the cornerstone of my career, and I am excited to continue this journey in this new capacity,” Elkins said.
“I am committed to upholding the highest standards of patient care, fostering a culture of compassion and collaboration, and working tirelessly to enhance the health and well-being of our community. Together with our dedicated team, I look forward to advancing healthcare excellence at Lee County Community and Lonesome Pine and making a meaningful impact in the lives of the people we are privileged to serve.”
Elkins’ promotion to administrator fills a position vacated by Mitch Kennedy, who was selected last summer to serve as the chief operating officer at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Elkins earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia, and holds a board certification as a pharmacotherapy specialist. She is married with two adult children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, friends and her church family.
More information about the leadership, services and facilities of Ballad Health is available at www.balladhealth.org.
