Ballad Health honors a select group of team members each year with the Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, the organization’s highest honor. These recipients have been recognized by their peers for displaying the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community. Ballad Health has been featuring the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award winners through videos, stories and photos — and has opened the nomination process for the 2025 awards.
When it comes to serving patients at the Rural Health Clinic in Lebanon, Virginia, physician assistant Kelsey McCoy believes patients should “never leave empty-handed,” a philosophy she learned from her
longtime mentor, Norman Rexrode, MD.
Kelsey began her career in healthcare at Russell County Hospital’s emergency department, working alongside Dr. Rexrode. Her dedication to the community was evident from the many long hours she spent caring for patients there, and when the opportunity came to serve as a primary care provider at the Rural Health Clinic, she embraced it wholeheartedly, making it her new home.
Kelsey’s roots run deep in Southwest Virginia, as she grew up in a legacy farming family in Lebanon. Her high school peers recognized her excellence early on, voting her “best all-around,” a title she continues to embody in her professional role at Ballad Health.
As a local, Kelsey has the unique ability to connect with her patients on a personal level, particularly those who are skeptical of preventive treatment and follow-up care. Her professionalism, compassion and respect for the rural community are unparalleled.
Kelsey has tirelessly ensured that socioeconomic status does not diminish the outcomes for anyone seeking care at the clinic. Her dedication is evident in her efforts to refer patients to specialists, consult with experts and continuously educate herself to improve the lives of her patients.
A notable example of her commitment is the case of a local farmer with unusual symptoms. Kelsey worked tirelessly to find a definitive diagnosis and create a treatment plan to help the man continue farming.
Balancing her professional and personal responsibilities, Kelsey is also a dedicated mother and medical examiner, and she operates a small farm with her husband, the chief of Lebanon’s fire department. Despite these demands, her commitment to the Rural Health Clinic remains steadfast.
Kelsey personifies her mentor’s philosophy by ensuring patients leave her clinic with confidence and a sense of being cared for. Her dedication, compassion and professional excellence make her an exceptional professional leader for Ballad Health in the Rural Health Clinic. She is truly “the best all- around,” and her contributions to the community she serves are immeasurable.
Nominate someone for 2025!
Do you know someone who has the heart of a servant and deserves recognition for their great work? If so, nominate them for the 2025 Servant’s Heart Award through the nomination form that is now open through Tuesday, Dec. 31!
