For the next few weeks, we will be putting the spotlight on our winners of the Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, Ballad Health’s highest award. It was created to honor 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. 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. We’ve also started our nominations for next year’s winners; to make a nomination, click here. Dr. Haytham Adada Dr. Haytham Adada is a driving force…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Randy Crutcher remembers when he worked as a teenager at the old Johnson City Memorial Hospital as a transporter for the pharmacy there. His father, Owen, was the first pharmacist hired at the hospital and helped create the pharmacy department. “I was 14 years old and I probably worked 13 hours on Saturdays and 11 on Sunday, and I don’t think I would clear $10,” Randy said with a laugh. “I could make more mowing lawns. I wanted to quit but my dad wouldn’t let me.” Little did he realize, he would follow in his father’s footsteps, working more than four decades as a pharmacist at the hospital and eventually helping train pharmacists on the new Epic electronic health record system. Randy retired last week after 47 years with the health system. “I had a good time during my career,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with great…

Ballad Health is now offering a PEERhelp Warmline to assist people living with emotional and mental health challenges, in particular with substance use issues. Calls are answered by Certified Peer Recovery Specialists who have experienced mental health challenges and substance use issues in their lives, so they have a deep understanding of what someone is going through. They are there to provide emotional support, comfort and information. All calls are confidential. The number is 1-877-PEERHLP (733-7457). PEER stands for Programming, Education, Employment and Recovery. Initially, the PEERhelp Warmline will operate Monday through Friday from noon to 10 p.m., with plans to expand hours as the program grows. (During off hours, any calls will automatically roll over to the RESPOND hotline.) If you or someone else needs behavioral health care right away, call the Respond Crisis Hotline at 800-366-1132.

One of Ballad Health’s six values, as determined by team members, is faith. “We nurture the mind, body and spirit of each individual to inspire hope and improve the health and well-being of our community.” Our chaplains across the system guide us in this process, so we are featuring them in a series of profiles in Ballad Health News. Today we feature Matt Hallam, chaplain at Holston Valley Medical Center.   My father worked for the Seventh Day Adventist Church, so we moved a lot when I was growing up. Home for me has always been where my mom and dad are. When I was a kid in Colorado, I had a desire to play baseball. I was gifted at it. At 13, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited, progressive disorder that affects the eyes and leads to blindness. I was playing high school ball in middle school and realized I couldn’t see…

One of Ballad Health’s six values, as determined by team members, is faith. “We nurture the mind, body and spirit of each individual to inspire hope and improve the health and well-being of our community.” Our chaplains across the system guide us in this process, so we are featuring them in a series of profiles in Ballad Health News. Today we feature Steve Playl, chaplain at Bristol Regional Medical Center.   I started out in music ministry, but it didn’t take me long to realize that’s not where I needed to be. So, I attended seminary and, after I graduated, I began pastoring. During that time, I was a volunteer chaplain, and later became a part-time chaplain at Bristol Regional Medical Center. A little over four years ago, I gave up my church and have been completely committed to chaplaincy ever since. In total, I have been a chaplain at Bristol for 22 years. The…

As corporate director of Ballad Health’s clinical informatics department, Gail Broyles isn’t on the front lines of patient care, but she believes all of her team members are caregivers. She keeps patient safety in the forefront in everything her department does, and she believes in serving others in the community and on her team whenever possible. Gail is a 2019 Scott & Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award winner — the highest honor given by Ballad Health. See her video story here.

If you haven’t checked it out, take a look at our campaign on Ballad Health Facebook and Twitter, featuring many of our Ballad Health team members. There are photos with a comment or a couple of facts about the team member. You’ll see some familiar faces and learn some new ones, and you’ll also probably find some inspiration in what you read about your co-workers across the organization. We also have a campaign on billboards and in other places throughout Ballad Health and in the community, showing off the faces of many of our team members. It’s all in an effort to let people know who Ballad Health is – it’s each one of us as team members, all working together each day to serve the people of the region. Here are just a couple of the posts to social media so far. Team members at Hawkins County and Holston Valley will be familiar with…

It’s important that we all get to know who our leaders are at Ballad Health. To help out, we’ll do an ongoing series that introduces our senior leaders and tells you a little about them as people.   1. What’s your name? Tammy Albright 2. What’s your role within Ballad Health? CEO, Greene County Market 3. Where are you from? I grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia, but both of my parents are originally from Hawkins County, Tennessee. Most of my relatives live in East Tennessee so this has always seemed like home to me! 4. Education and professional background: I completed two years of undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, then completed my BSN at East Tennessee State University in 1994. I also received an MBA from King University in 2010. I practiced most of my nursing career in ICU/cardiac ICU. I have been blessed to work in a variety of roles and settings…

It’s important that we all get to know who our leaders are at Ballad Health. To help out, we’ll do an ongoing series that introduces our senior leaders and tells you a little about them as people. 1. What’s your name? Lynn Krutak 2. What’s your role within Ballad Health? Chief financial officer 3. Where are you from? Kingsport 4. Education and professional background: BS in accounting from University of Tennessee, Knoxville MBA from East Tennessee State University Work History: Columbia HCA, Mountain States Health Alliance from 1995 to 2018, Ballad Health 5. Tell us about your family: Jon – High school sweetheart and husband of 29 years Two sons – Jacob (age 24), Caleb (22) 6. Tell us about your pets: None – we like to travel too much. We do enjoy keeping our “grand-dog.” 7. What’s your favorite food? Pizza and my mom’s Swiss steak, mashed potatoes and gravy 8. What’s your favorite…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Trish Tanner’s face lights up when she talks about her nephew Dustin Iverson. Iverson, who served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a sergeant with the Mississippi National Guard, is clearly a source of tremendous pride. Tanner beams as she describes Iverson, calling him “compelling…caring…big-hearted with tons of friends.” It’s been more than 1½ years since Iverson’s tragic death from an accidental drug overdose, but the pain is still raw for Tanner. At right, Trish Tanner and Matt Cornner, who is with The Advisory Board, at Tanner’s graduation from the Fellowship Program. She shares sweet stories from Iverson’s childhood, such as when he painted the family dog green as a mischievous boy. She recalls how, even as an infant, Iverson wore military fatigues like his dad, who also served in the National Guard, including one tour by his side. “The last time I saw Dustin was in 2015…

It’s important that we all get to know who our leaders are at Ballad Health. To help out, we’ll do an ongoing series that introduces our senior leaders and tells you a little about them as people. 1. What’s your name? Lisa Smithgall   2. What’s your role within Ballad Health? Senior VP and chief nursing officer   3. Where are you from? I grew up in south central Pennsylvania but have lived in Northeast Tennessee for more than 20 years and it is home!   4. Education and professional background: BSN from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania MSN from University of Tennessee PhD from East Tennessee State University I’ve worked at Harrisburg Hospital in Pennsylvania; for Mountain States Health Alliance; at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania; and at Holston Valley Medical Center.   5. Tell us about your family: Husband Kent; daughter Erin and son-in-law Michael (and grandsons Nicholas, Noah, Liam); and son Sean…

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Charlie Castle has experienced much success – a 63-year marriage to his beloved wife Peggy, rearing three wonderful daughters, the blessing of two grandchildren and a 46-year career in insurance. But to patients, visitors and team members of Bristol Regional Medical Center, Charlie has made his mark brightening their days. The hospital volunteer’s cheerful demeanor and delightful sense of humor is a ray of sunshine inside Bristol Regional, whether he’s pushing someone’s wheelchair, visiting a patient’s room, folding towels or manning the volunteer desk. Castle, who began serving 28 years ago at Bristol Memorial Hospital, recently achieved 20,000 volunteer hours and was honored during Bristol Regional’s annual auxiliary meeting. His total is actually much higher, but his hours were not calculated prior to Bristol Regional opening in 1994. Castle’s hours continue to grow, and he has no plans to hang up his burgundy jacket and leave the hospital any time soon. “Charlie’s…