“He truly has a heart of gold. He’ll sit out in the lobby and speak to everyone that’s going or coming… and give them a smile.” We’re talking about Charlie Castle, our beloved volunteer, for achieving an astounding milestone — surpassing 24,000 volunteer hours at Bristol Regional Medical Center! We are very proud of Charlie. His decades-long commitment and mission to serve the community has impacted the lives of countless patients, families and team members. At 92 years old, he remains as dedicated as ever to being a friend to everyone he meets. Charlie began volunteering after his own personal experience at the facility. As one of the first open-heart surgery patients in the region, he became committed to comforting other patients and their families at the same hospital that took such great care of him. His journey to impact the daily lives of others began shortly after his recovery. Over the years, Charlie has…

The latest cohort of the Aspiring Leader Program at Ballad Health celebrated completion of its five-month program with a graduation ceremony on Feb. 28. The Aspiring Leader Program is administered by the Organizational Development department and is designed to create and enhance introductory leadership skills for those who aspire to become leaders or show leadership potential at Ballad Health. Participants are nominated by their supervisors and other leaders to take part in the program, which consists of leadership development classes and learning about continuous improvement. The curriculum includes components like Effective Communication, Creating a Culture of Trust, Time Management, and Managing Conflicts and Differing Personalities. Congratulations to our 11-member graduating class of Aspiring Leaders! If you’re interested in learning more about this program, or you’d like to nominate an Aspiring Leader at Ballad Health, please visit the Organizational Development page on the Ballad Health intranet or contact Sophie Milner at Sophia.milner@balladhealth.org.

Five team members with Ballad Health were among 40 young professionals recognized as part of the 40 Under Forty class of 2023 by The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia. The awards honor the best and brightest young professionals throughout the region, who are judged based on their business success and their achievements as an active member of the community. Our Ballad Health recipients were: Geoff Kade, operations manager, Smyth County Community Hospital Britney Edmiston, chief nursing officer, Bristol Regional Medical Center Jordan Harrington, associate administrator, Holston Valley Medical Center Kristen Looney, director of patient care services, Holston Valley Medical Center William “Billy” Thompson, education instructor, Clinical Education We are very fortunate to have brilliant and dedicated individuals like these on our team, elevating our coordinated system of care across the Appalachian Highlands and setting the standard for rural healthcare quality and access. Visit The Business Journal online to see the full 40 Under Forty issue…

Over the holidays, we’ve featured 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. Here’s Nancy Randall, our ninth and final 2023 recipient. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their great service? Use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Nancy Randall, a volunteer in Ballad Health’s Northern Region, has been defined by years of love and dedication to others. She has been an active member of Ballad Health’s pet therapy founding committee, and she has spent the last 10 years serving as a hospital volunteer with her registered…

Over the holidays, we’re 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 next winner, Dr. Paul Arthur Phillips. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. At Russell County Hospital in Lebanon, Virginia, Paul Arthur Phillips, DO, works tirelessly for the welfare of the community. Born and raised in the same community he now serves, Dr. Phillips started his healthcare journey as a teenager. He began as a junior emergency medical technician (EMT) for the Dante Rescue…

Over the holidays, we’re 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 next winner, Regina Barkley. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Among the wonderful team at Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Regina Barkley stands out – for all the right reasons. As emergency department manager, she is a leader who willingly steps into the trenches, a colleague who readily extends a helping hand and a friend whose care for her team is unmistakable. Regina is known…

Over the holiday season, we’re 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 next winner, Carolyn Medley. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. As a volunteer at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion, Virginia, Carolyn Medley has given more than 3,600 hours to the hospital gift shop and oncology center since 2018, making a difference in the lives of hundreds – if not thousands – of patients, visitors and hospital team members. Carolyn greets people,…

Over the next few weeks, we’re 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 next winner, Allison Cordell. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Allison Cordell, a nurse in the Holston Valley Medical Center emergency department, is known for her tenderheartedness with her patients, dedication to her work, drive to learn and teach, and willingness to go above and beyond for her team members, patients and community. It has been said of Allison that she…

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 next winner, Dr. Keith Young. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Dr. Keith Young is a pulmonologist and critical care physician with Ballad Health Medical Associates – Critical Care, serving at Johnson City Medical Center. He has shown amazing dedication to his patients, their families and his fellow team members for nearly four decades. His work was especially impactful during…

This month, we’re 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 next winner, Jeanne Clarke. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award! Jeanne Clarke, a registered nurse and health promotions coordinator with Ballad Health, has a passion for helping others. Her 37-year nursing career has touched the lives of thousands of patients in our community. She served as a medical-surgical nurse at Johnson City Medical Center before transitioning her focus to serve the community in the…

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 next winner, Nellie Arrowood. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Nellie Arrowood, telemetry technician at Unicoi County Hospital, has been with the hospital since 1990, and goes about her work with a passion to serve others. She began as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) and held numerous roles before taking her current position. As a telemetry technician, she monitors the…

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…