Starr Regional Medical Center Honors Employees for Years of Service

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.”

Employees honored for their years of service at this year’s event and their respective departments included:

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

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

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

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.