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By the time you read this article, I will have transitioned out of my role as CEO of St Luke’s Hospital, and the calendar page will have flipped from 2023 to 2024. The new calendar year has often been viewed as a time of reflection and new commitments, for saying goodbye to some things, and for recognizing that some things, gratefully, never change.

My nearly five years leading our local hospital have taught me several things. Here are a few of the most impactful: We have an incredible treasure in our community; to have a hospital in a county of our size is a luxury most rural areas cannot claim these days. Small does not mean weak. Some of the most significant healthcare innovations are happening in nimble organizations like St Luke’s, and we are witnessing cutting-edge healthcare efforts here in Polk County before our very eyes. And finally, I have learned the true depth and power of a fully engaged team; people wholeheartedly dedicating themselves to a cause equals might and strength that cannot be stopped.

So, just because I have transitioned out of the senior leadership seat at St Luke’s does not mean I am transitioning out of my efforts to champion the rural healthcare provided right here in our home community! In fact, I hope to transition to new ways of supporting our incredible local hospital and the healthcare services we all benefit from. I will continue to share pieces here highlighting the work of local physicians, healthcare providers, and front-line team members. Their stories matter to all of us, and their ability to continue serving here may mean life or death to us.

I expect to host some guests here in my column as I have done in the past and to feature educational pieces about what is happening in healthcare here, locally and nationally, so that you can be more educated about your health and that of your family. The big difference you will see in this column is that I won’t be writing to you as an employee of St Luke’s but as a Polk County resident and local ambassador for their extraordinary efforts. Please follow St. Luke’s on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or visit StLukesNC.org and join me in supporting their efforts to continue to bring quality care close to home!