Starr Regional Medical Center recently hosted its annual Service Awards Banquet to honor employees who achieved 5 years or more of service (in 5-year increments) between January 1 and December 31, 2024, as well as employees who received recognition throughout the year as winners of the 2024 Mercy Award, The DAISY Award and Shining Starr Award. The event took place at Ramble Creek Vineyard & Events and included dinner for honorees and their guests.

“It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate our employees for their commitment to our patients and our community through a career in healthcare. From clinical to administrative staff, each person plays an important role in enhancing our mission of making communities healthier®,” said John McLain, Starr Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer. “Our vision is to create places where people choose to come for healthcare, physicians and providers want to practice, and employees want to work. This vision, coupled with our core values, strengthens our culture where employees feel more like family than co-workers. I am confident this is why we celebrate a great number of valued employees for service ranging from five to more than 40 years each year.”

45 Years Sandra Haynie, Accounting 30 Years Kelley Clark, Physician Practices Rhonda Roderick, Nursing Home Wendy G. Thorpe, Laboratory 25 years Elaine Davidson, Social Services Dale Harris, Pharmacy Mitzi Newberry, Quality Karen Watson, Pharmacy Kelley Anne Watts, Occupational Therapy 20 Years Brian Amburgey, Imaging Veronica Clark, Billing Staff - Shared Teresa Constant, Labor & Delivery Jeffrey David, Surgery Michael Key, Plant Operations Aimee McDaniel, ER Etowah Judy Peery, Ultrasound Unit Jacqueline Plumley, Emergency Room Melissa Presley, Imaging

Attendees who were honored for 10 years or more of service.

15 years Ralph Greene, ER Etowah Tammy Knox, Surgery Lee Perry, Materials Management 10 Years Summer Brooke Fritts, Senior Care Mitzi Long, IT & S Joshua Raschka, Laboratory Alma Suarez, Cardiopulmonary 5 Years Brandi Armstrong, Marketing & Communications Debra Ann Bailey, Environmental Services Lucas Bayes, Emergency Room Alexandra Brannon, Surgery Marshall Brantley, Registration - Admitting Laura Casillo, Surgery Rodney Cook, Plant Operations Kathleen Davis, SCC-Charleston Jeannie Dickey, Surgery Julie Duvall Gales, Surgery

Attendees who were honored for 10 years or more of service.

Angela Edwards, Surgery Analise Farnham, Wound Care Clinic Hanna Fox, Surgery Tara Jones, Case Management Hannah Kaylor, Surgery Rebecca Kuehnemund, Laboratory Jessica McMinn, Athens Surgery Center Jennifer Moates, Nursery Tori Roby, Surgery Victoria Grace Shaw, Surgery Kathleen Sias, Medical & Surgical Unit Jayden Snyder, Medical & Surgical Unit Dawn Stutts, Senior Care Holly Swafford, Surgery Sarah Waddell, Laboratory Lorna White, Athens Surgery Center Delisa Wilcox, Emergency Room Genevia Yates, Athens Family Practice Julia Young, Athens Surgery Center

Attendees who were honored for 5 years of service.

Special recognition also was given for 2024 Mercy Award winner Vania King, Medical Staff Coordinator; DAISY Award recipients Brittany Cook, RN, Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation, and Rachel Newberry, RN, Women’s Services/Post-Surgical; and 2024 Shining Starr winners Chelsea Herring, Emergency Room, Alyssa Kirksey, Med/Surg Unit, Jordan Marshall, Emergency Room, Kinsleigh Page, Women’s Services/Post-Surgical, and Abby Webb, Emergency Room.

Starr Regional Medical Center is one of the largest employers in McMinn County. The two-hospital system offers excellent opportunities for healthcare professionals, both clinical and non-clinical, to utilize their skills in an environment that values quality care and job satisfaction yet recognizes individual talents and abilities. For more information about career opportunities at Starr Regional Medical Center and its affiliated physician practices, visit StarrRegional.com/careers.