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Compassion, strength, and dedication are just a few of the many positive qualities represented at Appalachian Regional Healthcare’s second annual Nursing Awards Luncheon at the Ramada Inn in Paintsville, Kentucky.
The annual luncheon is part of ARH’s recognition of Nurses’ Week, which honors the important role nurses play in improving healthcare. The awards recognize nurses who show exceptional dedication and go the extra mile in patient care and leadership.
“Nursing is more than a profession. It is a calling that is rooted in compassion and service,” said Paula Vaughan, ARH Division Chief Nursing Officer. “Every day, our nurses are there for our patients during some of the most difficult times in their lives. They provide care, comfort, and so much more, and this event gives us a chance to celebrate our nurses and the tremendous impact they have on our communities.”
The awards celebrate nurses in a range of categories, representing their various roles across different hospitals throughout the communities. Presenters shared touching stories that highlighted the personal connections nurses build with patients and their families
“Our nurses care for our families, friends, and neighbors. They are true reflections of the spirit of Appalachia. Hardworking, compassionate, and deeply committed to helping others,” comments Beth Forman, ARH Division Chief Nursing Officer.
The role and value of nurses are immeasurable. They are the foundation of healthcare, providing clinical care, comfort, and hope. Whether at hospital bedsides, in clinics, or in patients’ homes, nurses form deep connections with patients and families during their most vulnerable moments.
The 2026 Nursing Excellence Awards winners are:
- Larry Jeffers, Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center, Ambulatory Care
- Allison Conley, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Behavioral Health
- Leslie Taylor, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Care Coordination (CM/UR)
- Dolores Luke, Morgan County ARH Hospital, Clinical Quality & Safety
- Amanda Carmical, Harlan ARH Hospital, Critical Care
- Marlene Maynard, Paintsville ARH Hospital, Emergency
- Chloe Johnson, McDowell ARH Hospital, Emerging Nurse Leader
- Susie Prater, Hazard ARH Home Health Agency, Home Health
- Katie Hammonds, Paintsville ARH Hospital, Infusion/Oncology
- Christopher Leake, Middlesboro ARH Hospital, Interventional Radiology/Cath Lab
- Carolyn Popp, Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital, Licensed Practical Nurse
- Eden Adams, Whitesburg ARH Hospital, Med-Surg
- Thelma Pace, Harlan ARH Hospital, Nurse Director
- Natasha Lafferty, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Nurse Educator
- Crystal McGaffee, Paintsville ARH Hospital, Nurse Executive
- Kathy Frasure, McDowell ARH Hospital, Nurse Legend
- Carla Whitaker, Hazard Regional Medical Center, OB/L&D/NBN
- Rebecca Wilder, Barbourville ARH Hospital, Operative/Surgical Services
- Crystal Coots, Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital, Patient Care Support - Ambulatory
- Melanie Jackson, Barbourville ARH Hospital, Patient Care Support - Hospital
- Kelli Bledsoe, Harlan ARH Hospital, Preceptor/Mentor
- Kylie Nelson, Beckley Regional Medical Center, Rising Star
- Highlands Regional Medical Center ICU, Team Excellence
About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.
