LewisGale Hospital Alleghany recently presented its prestigious Frist Humanitarian Award to longtime employee Connie Salyards. This is the highest honor an employee can receive at an HCA facility, the parent company for LewisGale Regional Health System.
Connie Salyards also celebrated 50 years of employment with the hospital in July. She is currently Director of Radiology. When she is not serving on a hospital committee to help improve patient care, Connie is active in her church and even finds to time to support mission activities.
“Receiving the Frist Award means that others recognize my 50 years of commitment to healthcare,” said Connie. “I have always tried to lead by example and inspire confidence in others. This is the best career anyone could have because I have been able impact many lives along the way.”
Connie has always been a healthcare leader since early in her career. For more than 25 years, she served the hospital as the Director of the School of Radiologic Technology. Before the school closed in the 1995, several hundred technologists were trained through the program and a majority of the present radiology staff graduated from the program.
“As hospital care changed she has tried to keep abreast of the changes and bring them to her staff in the best way,” said Gail Tucker, nuclear medicine supervisor, LewisGale Hospital Alleghany. “She is a very hard working, dedicated employee at this hospital and has been for many years.”
The Frist Humanitarian Award is given out annually at HCA-affiliated hospitals to an employee who demonstrates extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and their communities.
“We are honored to have Connie as part of our healthcare team because she represents the qualities that we value at our hospital and that set us apart as a healthcare leader in this community,” said Greg Madsen, CEO, LewisGale Hospital Alleghany.