Honoring our Healthcare Heroes

By Cliff Wilson, CEO at Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Winchester/Sewanee

What is a hero? Maya Angelou famously said, “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.”

In my role as CEO of Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Winchester/Sewanee I have the privilege of working with an incredible team of healthcare heroes who work tirelessly, each and every day, to make our hospital and our community a better place.

Every May, hospitals and communities across the country recognize and celebrate these frontline healthcare heroes over the course of several weeks: National Nurses Week, National Hospital Week and National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. Like many other milestones we’ve experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebrations are especially meaningful.

I’m grateful for the more than 700 team members who serve at Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Winchester/Sewanee and the many paramedics, EMTs and EMS personnel who play such a critical role in helping our community members get the safe, excellent care they need. They are living examples of what it means to be heroes who are focused on making our community a better place through their service to our friends and neighbors.  

When I think of everyday heroes, I think of our environmental services team members who take pride in ensuring our patients and their families are cared for in a safe and clean environment. I think of our food service and nutrition staff who prepare healthy and comforting meals for our patients while they are away from home. I think of our administrative team members who welcome patients and visitors to our hospital with their kindness and friendly smiles. I think of our EMS partners who remain calm under immense pressure, providing critical care when every minute counts. I think of our dedicated caregivers, technicians, nurses, physicians and more who demonstrate excellence and compassion in all that they do.

Our local healthcare heroes are truly living out our hospital’s mission to make our community healthier. Importantly, their focus and dedication has played a critical role in helping us to make strong progress towards improving COVID-19 here in our community. While we must continue to stay diligent in doing all that we can to fight the pandemic, I know we are all encouraged by the progress we are making together.

As we celebrate this year, I hope you will join me in sharing your thanks and appreciation for the everyday heroes among us. Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Winchester/Sewanee is honored to serve this community and we are here for you and your family when you need us.