A nurse in the intensive care unit at Johnson City Medical Center, Tiffany Hodge serves as a shift leader who is ready to handle any situation that comes up, from medical emergencies to helping train new nurses. Her family’s horse stable also supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a fundraising event. Her giving nature is why she is a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Watch a short video about Tiffany here to learn more of her story.  

Sharon Farley has served as a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) for many years at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, and has become one of the MVPs of the operating room. Her vast experience includes many anesthesia environments and cases, giving her a level of knowledge and expertise few attain – and she also goes the extra mile to treat both her patients and her fellow team members with kindness. She is a winner of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Watch this video to learn more about Sharon’s story.    

Physical therapist Alisia Askew is known for doing everything in her power each day to help people at Greeneville Community Hospital East. That’s why she was selected as a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Alisia’s generous, humble nature compels her to go out of her way to ask others how their day is going, and she is quick to give a pep talk when someone needs encouragement that things are going to be okay. Alisia comes in early and stays late in order to meet her patients’ needs. She takes the time to get to know each individual and genuinely cares about their well-being and quality of life. Alisia is always looking for an opportunity to show her patients she cares about them personally. She inspires her patients to work hard in therapy and recover physically, and pediatric patients are rewarded with stickers or treats…

Nurse Donna Abel serves at the Johnston Memorial Hospital Cancer Center in Abingdon, Virginia. Known for her compassionate care, she showed her servant’s heart by volunteering to drive a patient 600 miles to attend a baby shower for the patient’s son and his wife in New York. The visit was a special moment for the patient, who passed away not long afterward. Acts of kindness like this are why Donna was selected as a 2019 winner of the Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. She dedicates her Servant’s Heart Award to that patient. Hear more of Donna’s story in this short video.  

A central sterile technician at Indian Path Community Hospital, David Williamson is responsible for keeping the surgery environment sterile – crucial for patient safety. His attention to detail is impressive, and he also finds ways to go the extra mile to help his team members. David is a deserving recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Learn more about David’s story in this quick video.  

Dr. Erick Bulawa, who serves at Greeneville Community Hospital West through Ballad Health Medical Associates Internal Medicine, helped establish the Metabolic, Weight Management & Lifestyle Center in Greeneville, where he is an ardent champion of a healthy lifestyle. Always working to increase his medical knowledge, he has a vision for improving his patients’ health by not just treating their problems but by helping patients manage their health issues and prevent the problems. That’s why he is a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Hear more of Dr. Bulawa’s story through this short video.  

Dr. Mark Howell, surgeon with East Nose & Throat Associates in Johnson City, serves Franklin Woods Community Hospital and several other Ballad facilities. With more than 35 years of experience, he’s known for his clinical expertise, deep well of knowledge and compassionate manner with patients. He is a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Check out Dr. Howell’s story in this video.  

Carol Edmiston, a volunteer at Smyth County Community Hospital and Francis Marion Manor Health & Rehabilitation, is a true giver in every sense of the word. That has earned her a 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Eight years ago, Carol read about a local man with polycystic kidney disease who was in need of a new kidney. He was a total stranger, but once Carol heard about him, she donated her kidney and saved his life. While Carol never paused and has never thought twice about this donation, the gentleman who received her kidney thinks about her every day. He even calls her his “little angel.” Carol’s volunteer work with Ballad Health doesn’t require her to give up an organ, but she definitely gives it her all every day. In the past five years, Carol has volunteered 2,230 hours, serving at the front desk, leading activities for patients…

As long as Bob Isaac is around, no patient, visitor or team member at the Southwest Virginia Cancer Center in Norton is left in want of anything. This calling to help others is why he is a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. When he started as a volunteer in 2008, Bob realized many of the cancer center patients were weak from their treatment, not to mention from their illness. Making a lunch or going out to eat often required more energy than they could muster. At the time, nothing was set up to meet this need, so Bob reached out to the community. He helped recruit various restaurants and food businesses in Wise County to supply the Southwest Virginia Cancer Center with hot, nutritious lunches. Bob continues to support this program through our foundation, and he ensures the businesses receive recognition by thanking them in…

Marie Cope and her Shih Tzu, Lucy, are regular visitors to all Ballad Health’s Washington County, Tennessee, hospitals as part of Ballad Health’s pet therapy program. Marie began volunteering her skills and time to the hospitals of Johnson City in 2005, and she and Lucy are among the most well-known members of the pet therapy program. Her commitment to service is why she is a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. She and Lucy regularly visit Johnson City Medical Center, Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Niswonger Children’s Hospital, Woodridge Hospital and Princeton Transitional Care Unit. In addition, Marie has been instrumental in training new pet therapy volunteers and establishing pet therapy services at Woodridge. Marie and Lucy have also participated in the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Spooky Trail event at Halloween, aimed at lifting the spirits of kids in the hospital. She makes costumes for Lucy to wear…

Terry Higginbotham is one of the many generous volunteers who serve at Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee. He volunteers there in numerous ways, performing a variety of vital tasks, and whenever there’s a problem that needs fixing or a job that needs doing, Terry finds a way to do it. This calling to serve is why Terry is a recipient of the 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest honor. Terry has become not just a jack-of-all-trades at Franklin Woods, but more like a master-of-all-trades. He and his wife, Susan, began volunteering at the hospital in 2010, shortly after the facility opened. They are both outstanding volunteers. Terry’s can-do attitude probably comes from his military background. He served in the United States Army as a medic and field artillery officer, was a pilot, reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and received a Purple Heart. Like most military veterans,…

If you’re participating in the Ballad Health wellness program and you still need to get a health screening, there are only a few opportunities remaining. The last scheduled screening was June 5, and there will be no makeup dates scheduled. To see a schedule in PDF format on the HR Wellness Program page, click here. Remember: If your spouse is on the Ballad Health insurance plan, they also need to complete a wellness screening in order to get lower premiums. Also, don’t forget to complete your online health assessment as part of the wellness program. Here’s the link.   Thursday, May 30, 7-11 a.m. Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Summit Room   Friday, May 31, 7-11 a.m. Unicoi County Hospital, Board Room   Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Johnston Memorial Hospital, Cancer Center   Monday, June 3, 7-11 a.m. Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, Conference Room   Wednesday, June 5, 3-7 p.m. Dickenson Community Hospital, Conference…