Ballad Health

We are honored to announce the largest single philanthropic gift in system history — a transformational $25 million commitment from longtime Bristol community leaders and philanthropists John and Ann Tickle to support the future of local healthcare. The historic investment, made through Ballad Health Foundation, will support future healthcare priorities that strengthen care delivery and improve health outcomes in Bristol. The Tickles, through their generosity, have created this gift as a meaningful expression of gratitude — not only for the broader community, but especially for Strongwell teammates, past and present, whose dedication has made a lasting impact. To read the full article please visit, ow.ly/oZAQ50ZoTC8. #BalladHealth

We're celebrating a remarkable milestone for @jcaldwellbms, Ballad Health Board of Directors member, Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager, on his induction into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame! 🎉 Jerry is a tireless advocate for our region outside of his work with the Speedway, serving on community boards, opening the Speedway as a disaster relief center during Hurricane Helene and most recently, joining the Ballad Health Board of Directors. As part of his induction ceremony, this congratulatory message was shown in recognition of Jerry's remarkable career and lasting impact. #BalladHealth | @ItsBristolBaby

My Independence Day message to @BalladHealth and to our communities: Dear Colleagues: As we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary commemorating the courage, vision and bravery of our founders, we owe it to them to remind ourselves that our freedoms came at a heavy price.  We must not squander them.  Instead, we must constantly seek to honor what was given so that we may take solace from the fact that our rights and freedoms came from God - not from government - and that this enduring principle will always set us apart.  It is a gift, but it comes with enormous responsibility. One of our founders, John Adams, reminds us that our real independence day came on July 2, the day the Declaration of Independence was voted upon by the continental congress.  President Adams never actually celebrated the 4th, but in his writings, said that the anniversary of our independence should always be celebrated, with song, parades, families and neighbors and flags.  Of course, he wanted all this to happen on July 2nd rather than the 4th.  Why was he so set on the 2nd?   Because when the debate began on whether to embark upon the Declaration of Independence, there were many voices in the continental congress who wanted to seek reconciliation with England….they wanted to take the safe route…to sum it up….it was easier and the cost of independence too great.   But people like John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson…..they used their voices of persuasion, reason, and the law to compel the congress to vote for independence.  And that vote, on July 2nd, changed the entire world. This American spirit, where we compel action through our voice, whether through a vote or standing on main street with a bullhorn, shows the world that a great and powerful nation’s most inspiring attribute is the voice of “we the people”. To share with you how compelling our nation’s story is, I want to share with you a story about something that recently happened at Johnson City Medical Center.  It is a story born out of the love for our patients and for our country that our hospice and oncology team members put on full display. You see, they were caring for a patient suffering from cancer, and who was facing the end of his life.   This man had been on a journey to become a United States Citizen.  As he was transitioning to comfort measures and discharge to his home, the patient shared his disappointment that he would not likely survive to become a United States citizen—he had passed his written and oral exams, making it to the final stage of his citizenship journey, but could not get an appointment for a “swearing-in” ceremony. Nurse Julia Rushing asked the patient and his family for permission to discuss the case with her father, a former FBI agent. He was able to connect with the right individuals to expedite his immigration papers to local authorities and scheduled a swearing in ceremony in the patient’s home. Upon discharge, the patient told his nurses he was happy that he could now “die in a suit as a proud American.” Nurse Victoria Taylor continued to coordinate with the family and local authorities.  Unfortunately, time was not on the patient’s side.   He passed away in his home….the night before his scheduled swearing in ceremony. Our team knows that caring for people means we never stop trying to help them.  In this case, this even meant after the patient passed away.   Nurse Nannette Feeback arranged for a folded American flag to be presented at his funeral through her connections with the Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution. I am sorry this man never got to be sworn in as an American.  It was his last living wish.  And while we could not control God’s plan for his departure from this world, our team could do something to help his family feel the sense of pride he deserved to feel for himself.  And they did it. I am so proud of them. God has put each of us in a place where we have the opportunity to use the gifts he bestowed upon us, combined with the freedoms he delivered to us through the voices, muskets and swords of our founders.   I see it all the time throughout Ballad Health:  it’s our culture.  Our respect for our freedoms, our love for our faith and our commitment to integrity. On this special independence day, I hope you will both enjoy, and reflect, on the gift that we each have been given.  And that you will do all you can to pass it along to those who follow. God Bless You, and God Bless the United States of America! Alan

🤩SHOUT-OUT!🤩 We're incredibly grateful to @BalladHealth's Bristol Regional Medical Center, who adopted our Moms-R-Us program for @UWBristol's Week of Caring. They donated a whopping 82 baskets of items for our families! Thank you so much, BMRC and United Way! #thankful

Today, we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, stepdads and father figures who make a difference through their love, guidance and support. 🩵 Happy Father’s Day to all the dads in our communities and beyond. We extend a special thank you to the fathers on our Ballad Health team who care for patients, support their colleagues and make an impact both at work and at home. We wish all the father figures a wonderful Father’s Day. #BalladHealth #HappyFathersDay

Becker's Healthcare has named Ballad Health Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Levine as one of its “2026 Great Leaders in Healthcare.” 🎉 The national recognition highlights executives who are driving meaningful change, advancing care delivery and shaping the future of healthcare. Learn more at balladhealth.org/news/alan-levi…

This June, we’re proud to recognize National Cancer Survivors Month, inspired by the resilience, hope and determination of the patients we serve every day. 🎗️ A cancer diagnosis marks the beginning of a survivorship journey. From treatment to recovery and every step in between, each journey is different and every story matters. Tag or share the story of a cancer survivor you're proud of in the comments below. You can also read inspiring stories of hope and healing at balladhealth.org/patient-storie…. #BalladHealth #CancerSurvivor #NationalCancerSurvivorsMonth #CancerAwareness

@BalladHealth earns national award for its efforts to provide healthcare access to the uninsured of rural Appalachia. lifestyle.bossesmag.com/story/560950/b…

@moedye08 Morgan, we would like to help address your concerns. Please send us a direct message with your contact information and the facility you’re referencing. Thank you in advance.

@BalladHealth you know what is ridiculous? The fact that my 95 yr old grandfather has been in a hospital bed waiting for a room well over 14 hours and still there is not a single answer as to what is wrong with him. This is why I refuse to use Ballad for anything! Do better.

50 years of service, recognized at the Virginia Capitol. @BalladHealth's Eddie Thomas honored for a career defined by dedication, leadership, and lasting impact on his community.

@BalladHealth’s Care Network for the uninsured was recognized by @modrnhealthcr. We have provided access to more than 12,000 people, cut preventable hospitalizations by 50%, and saved taxpayers more than $200 million annually. And our charity policy is among the most generous in the nation. finance.yahoo.com/sectors/health…

Happy Easter! 🐰 Today, as we celebrate, we're grateful to be part of our community and care for this beautiful region. Spring's arrival reminds us of new beginnings and the chance to build connections both inside and outside our facilities, every single day. #balladhealth #HappyEaster

Today, we celebrate our healing heroes! 🩺 Alan Levine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ballad Health, shares the following message with our team: Dear Ballad Health Medical Staff and Team Members, Some of the most important work in healthcare happens in moments most people will never see. The late night phone call. The quiet advice given to a struggling patient. The critical thinking a physician does while speaking with a patient – where the patient is simply having a conversation, but the doctor is assessing what could be a complex diagnosis. The quiet judgment of a surgeon in the middle of a procedure. All of these things happen 24-7, and most people never truly get to see it. For many of us, we do, however, get the privilege of seeing some of the results of this work. As physicians across our region quietly do what needs to be done, we get to participate in the victories and the losses. For instance, earlier this year, during severe winter weather, a 3-month-old trauma patient arrived at Smyth County Community Hospital. Flights were grounded. Conditions were worsening. In minutes, our innovative Clinical Command Center brought the pediatric expertise of Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network Chief Medical Officer Dr. Seth Brown to the bedside. Through secure video, Dr. Brown stood virtually beside Dr. Robert Clampitt, guiding a delicate intubation from another state, an hour away. Thanks to the creative collaboration of our teams, the child was stabilized for transport and received the necessary care. That is our mission in action. Today, we recognize physicians across our region, marking a tradition that began in 1933 in Winder, Ga., in honor of Dr. Crawford W. Long’s first use of anesthesia. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush officially designated March 30 as National Doctors’ Day, calling on our nation to recognize the contributions of physicians. This history reflects the essence of medicine: the courage to innovate and the commitment to ease suffering and improve lives. That same spirit lives at Ballad Health today. When Dr. Alessandra Cathel performed Johnson City Medical Center’s first awake craniotomy in December 2025, she, alongside her anesthesiology colleagues, allowed a patient to receive world-class treatment close to home, surrounded by their support network. It shows what’s possible when new approaches and strong teams come together around a patient. Even at those times when we begin to doubt, we find solutions through the sheer determination of our teams. When a patient and former team member arrived at the Franklin Woods Community Hospital, unresponsive and suffering from a heart attack, the team tried everything—chest compressions, defibrillation, medication. Emergency medicine physician Dr. Brian Dawson, as unfortunately happens from time to time, was beginning to contemplate speaking with the family, to give them what could be bad news. But, because of the culture of his team and his confidence in them, his team didn’t give up and, after thirty minutes of responding to the code, the patient’s heart started beating again. That patient was stabilized, treated at Johnson City Medical Center, and a few weeks ago, the patients’ family texted Dr. Dawson a video of the patient hiking—a living testament to the persistence and faith of our doctors, one of our guiding values of Ballad Health. Our physicians continue to show up, despite facing staffing shortages, greater patient complexity and financial pressures. And behind every life saved and every complication avoided is a simple, shared mindset: “We’re going to take care of this patient like they’re one of our own.” On this Doctors’ Day today, I invite each of us to pause and say ‘thank you’, to write a note, make a call or simply offer a word of appreciation. To every physician across Ballad Health and throughout our region: Thank you. Thank you for the nights you traded for a patient’s safety, the courage you summon when the path isn’t clear, the humility to collaborate and the relentless insistence that a better outcome is possible. With respect and gratitude, Alan #balladhealth #balladproud

My message to @BalladHealth's affiliated physicians and team on Doctors' Day: Dear Ballad Health Medical Staff and Team Members, Some of the most important work in healthcare happens in moments most people will never see. The late night phone call. The quiet advice given to a struggling patient. The critical thinking a physician does while speaking with a patient – where the patient is simply having a conversation, but the doctor is assessing what could be a complex diagnosis. The quiet judgment of a surgeon in the middle of a procedure. All of these things happen 24-7, and most people never truly get to see it. For many of us, we do, however, get the privilege of seeing some of the results of this work. As physicians across our region quietly do what needs to be done, we get to participate in the victories and the losses. For instance, earlier this year, during severe winter weather, a 3-month-old trauma patient arrived at Smyth County Community Hospital. Flights were grounded. Conditions were worsening. In minutes, our innovative Clinical Command Center brought the pediatric expertise of Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network Chief Medical Officer Dr. Seth Brown to the bedside. Through secure video, Dr. Brown stood virtually beside Dr. Robert Clampitt, guiding a delicate intubation from another state, an hour away. Thanks to the creative collaboration of our teams, the child was stabilized for transport and received the necessary care. That is our mission in action. Today, we recognize physicians across our region, marking a tradition that began in 1933 in Winder, Ga., in honor of Dr. Crawford W. Long’s first use of anesthesia. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush officially designated March 30 as National Doctors’ Day, calling on our nation to recognize the contributions of physicians. This history reflects the essence of medicine: the courage to innovate and the commitment to ease suffering and improve lives. That same spirit lives at Ballad Health today. When Dr. Alessandra Cathel performed Johnson City Medical Center’s first awake craniotomy in December 2025, she, alongside her anesthesiology colleagues, allowed a patient to receive world-class treatment close to home, surrounded by their support network. It shows what’s possible when new approaches and strong teams come together around a patient. Even at those times when we begin to doubt, we find solutions through the sheer determination of our teams. When a patient and former team member arrived at the Franklin Woods Community Hospital, unresponsive and suffering from a heart attack, the team tried everything—chest compressions, defibrillation, medication. Emergency medicine physician Dr. Brian Dawson, as unfortunately happens from time to time, was beginning to contemplate speaking with the family, to give them what could be bad news. But, because of the culture of his team and his confidence in them, his team didn’t give up and, after thirty minutes of responding to the code, the patient’s heart started beating again. That patient was stabilized, treated at Johnson City Medical Center, and a few weeks ago, the patients’ family texted Dr. Dawson a video of the patient hiking—a living testament to the persistence and faith of our doctors, one of our guiding values of Ballad Health. Our physicians continue to show up, despite facing staffing shortages, greater patient complexity and financial pressures. And behind every life saved and every complication avoided is a simple, shared mindset: “We’re going to take care of this patient like they’re one of our own.” On this Doctors’ Day today, I invite each of us to pause and say ‘thank you’, to write a note, make a call or simply offer a word of appreciation. To every physician across Ballad Health and throughout our region: Thank you. Thank you for the nights you traded for a patient’s safety, the courage you summon when the path isn’t clear, the humility to collaborate and the relentless insistence that a better outcome is possible. With respect and gratitude, Alan

Feeling lucky to care for you today and every day! 🍀 Our team members are honored to serve the Appalachian Highlands with compassion, dedication and heart. It’s a privilege to be part of your care and we’re grateful for the trust you place in us each day. #balladhealth

It was a privilege to announce a hugely successful Radiothon for @BalladHealth’s Niswonger Children’s Hospital! We are so grateful for the support of so many in our region and beyond! wjhl.com/news/local/nis…

Yesterday was a great day for NE Tennessee and SW Virginia, as we cut the ribbon on the newest Level 3 NICU serving a region the size of New Hampshire! @BalladHealth's investment into care for our most vulnerable continues as we now focus on pediatric surgery. wcyb.com/news/local/nis…

Today was a dream come true! 🎉 @balladhealth celebrated the grand opening of the NICU expansion at Niswonger Children’s Hospital with a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a major milestone for children and families throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. To read more, please visit balladhealth.org/news/newest-ni…. #balladhealth

I love telling the @BalladHealth story! Thanks to the @BJournalTri for inviting me to provide this column!

The @WSJ highlights how healthcare has powered the labor market over the past year, even as other industries slowed hiring or reduced roles. “The full power of healthcare’s role burst into full view, and marked a clear shift in a labor market now geared toward the hard, often physical, work of caring for America’s aging population.” Ballad Health was among the health systems referenced in the article, a reflection of the very real demand and job opportunities across our region. In the six months starting in July, Ballad Health saw 7% growth in the number of people visiting its hospitals year-over-year. “It creates a huge demand for labor,” Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine told the Wall Street Journal. Through initiatives like Ballad Health Academy — a medical training program that provides high school students with accelerated pathways into healthcare careers — we are working to meet that demand. Learn more about careers at Ballad Health at balladhealth.org/careers and read the full Wall Street Journal article below. wsj.com/economy/jobs/h… #balladhealth