UNC Health Blue Ridge

Congratulations to Teammate of the Week, April Xiong! April says she loves working at UNC Health Blue Ridge because "I have the opportunity to directly contribute to patient care in a meaningful and impactful way. I am able to use my skills and knowledge to assist in diagnosis and treatments of patients, and in turn, it acknowledges the dedication and hard-work of the whole radiology department that work hand-in-hand with me.” Thank you April, for giving compassionate care to our community!

Congratulations to our most recent DAISY Award winner, Callie Hayes! Callie's nomination said: "During my mother-in-law's stay in the ICU, Callie made everyone's day. She provided such great care and we considered her part of the family. She took the time to listen to my mother-in-law's spoken and unspoken needs. Callie always made sure to include family members in the plan of care and was an advocate for the best possible care. We felt confident in her and knew she was going to give one hundred percent all day, every day. I want to express gratitude from the deepest part of my heart on behalf of the family." Thank you Callie for going above and beyond in your care for patients of UNC Health Blue Ridge!

We are so proud to celebrate our very own Jon Huffman, who was named the Phifer Family YMCA Volunteer of the Year! Jon’s dedication to our community and commitment to service truly embody the values we stand for at UNC Health Blue Ridge. His family and teammates were honored to surprise him at the event and celebrate this well-deserved recognition. Thank you, Jon, for making a difference inside and outside our hospital walls.

Let's hear it for this week's Teammate of the Week, Andrea Abernethy, RRT! Andrea says working for UNC Health Blue Ridge "involves assessing and treating patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders, which means I get to work closely with a diverse range of patients, from newborns to the elderly. The satisfaction of helping someone breathe easier, especially in critical situations, is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, I enjoy the collaborative environment of working alongside doctors, nurses, and other specialists to provide the best possible care. Working in your own community hospital makes the bond stronger knowing you are taking care of your neighbors ,friends and family!

Medicine meets the wilderness! Dr. Seth Hawkins recently led an engaging introduction to wilderness medicine for students from NCSSM-Morganton and residents from UNC Health Blue Ridge. From handling emergencies in remote settings to improvising medical care with limited resources, Dr. Hawkins expressed the value of traditional and wilderness medicine in different situations.

This week, our President & CEO, Gary Paxson, had the opportunity to visit the Valdese Rotary Club to introduce himself and share exciting updates about UNC Health Blue Ridge! Mr. Paxson discussed his vision for the future of healthcare in our region and our commitment to providing exceptional care close to home. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Valdese for welcoming us and for your continued support of our mission to improve the health and well-being of our community!

Please join us in welcoming Justin P. Hart, MD, PhD, who has joined the Radiation Oncology staff at UNC Health Blue Ridge’s Cancer Center in Valdese. Dr. Hart graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, and Duke University Medical School, completed his internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, and his residency at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. He earned his PhD from Duke University Graduate School, Department of Pathology and is certified by the American Board of Radiology. When not working, Dr. Hart enjoys fishing, biking, and running. He and his wife, Anna, have three children.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If you're 45 or older, or have a family history of colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor about screening options. Early detection saves lives! You can help spread the word by wearing blue during the month of March and encouraging your loved ones to get screened. Together we can make a difference!💙 #ColorectalCancerAwareness

Congratulations to Teammate of the Week, Julia Graham! Julia had this to say about working at UNC Health Blue Ridge: "When you have a company that cares for its employees it makes it worth it to come in to work every day. This is the first company that I have worked for that has made me feel like I am making a difference with my life. I deeply appreciate and care for each person of our team and I am so proud to say that about them. I have an amazing manager that listens and shows respect to every person she meets. I go to work not only for money but to see and connect with the community that our providers care for. It is so rewarding when you have a great community and work family. I would recommend working at UNC Health Blue Ridge to anyone!"

Last night we were honored to host Col. Steven L. Coffee, founding member of Patients for Patient Safety U.S., at the CoMMA for Grand Rounds! Col. Coffee spoke about the importance of patient safety and advocating for the best care for patients. A special thank you to those who participated in the panel discussion—Dr. Anthony Frank, Dr Rahul Sampath, and Thea Yang. We'd also like to thank all of those who attended, making it a successful event.