Catawba Valley Medical Center

02/20/2026

Catawba Valley Health System has announced the appointment of Dr. Phil Greene as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO) effective March 30, 2026. Dr. Greene previously worked at CVHS in a variety of leadership positions from 2011-2021. He had been serving first as CMO and then later as CEO of Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, NC.

While previously at CVHS, Dr. Greene served in several leadership capacities including Hospitalist, Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, and Chief of Staff. He was also physician advisor for clinical documentation and health informatics.

Dennis Johnson, president and CEO of CVHS, said, “Dr. Greene is an exceptional leader with strong communication and leadership skills and has a deep understanding of our organization. We are fortunate to have him return to CVHS during this important time in our organization’s commitment to growth, expansion and the successful delivery of our promise to the community – ‘Where Compassion Meets Innovation’.”

In addition to serving as one of the senior executives of Catawba Valley Health System, Dr. Greene will also play a vital role in the recruitment and retention of physicians and Advance Practice Providers (APPs). Dr. Greene will also be key in strengthening quality and safety outcomes and enhancing physician engagement across the system.

Dr. Tom Hustead had been serving as the organization’s interim Chief Medical Officer and will remain with the organization for a short time to ensure a seamless transition to Dr. Greene in that role.

Johnson added, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Hustead for his outstanding work, leadership and the significant progress he has helped drive during his time with us. His contributions have been invaluable to our organization. We know that Dr. Greene will continue to push forward this important work.

To learn more about Catawba Valley Health System, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org.

02/18/2026

Join us in congratulating our February C.A.R.E Award Recipient – Mai Chi Khang! Mai Chi serves as a Certified Medical Assistant at CVFM – Maiden.

“I would like to nominate Mai Chi for the C.A.R.E. Award for consistently exemplifying Courtesy, Attitude, Respect, and Enthusiasm while going above and beyond to create positive experiences for patients, families, and coworkers. Mai Chi is positive 100% of the time — all day, every day. She always has a smile, a calm demeanor, and a willingness to help wherever needed. She works closely with Dr. Olejarz, one of Maiden’s busiest providers, supporting long clinic days (7:30 AM–6:30 PM) and half-day Thursdays without complaint. Despite the demanding schedule, Mai Chi shows up every day, never calls out, and thoughtfully schedules her time off around the provider’s needs to ensure continuity of care,” according to the person who nominated Mai Chi. “Mai Chi is deeply committed to patient care. If a patient calls with a question and she is not actively rooming, she takes the time to answer or speak directly with them rather than delaying care. The amount of follow-up required for Dr. Olejarz’s patients is significantly higher than average due to the exceptional quality of care they provide — and Mai Chi meets that demand with consistency, accuracy, and dedication. Together, they follow up on everything they touch, ensuring no detail is missed. What makes Mai Chi truly exceptional is that she never complains and never asks for help, even when help is readily available. She simply does the work — thoroughly, compassionately, and with pride. Her professionalism, reliability, and unwavering positive attitude reflect our commitment to exceptional care at the highest level. Quite simply, we need more Mai Chis.”

The C.A.R.E Award is given monthly to a Catawba Valley Health System employee who has exhibited Courtesy, Attitude, Respect, and Enthusiasm throughout their work.

To learn more about becoming one of the exceptional team members who work at CVHS, visit our careers page at CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

02/13/2026

We loved celebrating our Catawba Valley Health System team with a little Valentine’s Day sweetness!

This week, medical center staff were invited to drop in and create their own candy bags at our Candy Crush event, while our primary and specialty care clinics received candy bag deliveries to share the love across all locations.

A small treat to say a big THANK YOU for the care, compassion, and heart you bring to our patients every single day. Happy Valentine’s Day, CVHS!

02/11/2026

Catawba Valley Medical Center has upgraded one of our Varian TrueBeam™ Linear Accelerators in the Radiation Oncology program — bringing even more advanced technology and precision to patient care.

When you’re undergoing cancer treatment, every appointment matters. This upgraded TrueBeam allows treatments to be delivered faster, more accurately, and with greater safety — right here at home.

It supports highly targeted radiation therapy for many types of cancer, including specialized treatments for brain, lung, liver and breast cancers.

What does this mean for patients?
- Faster treatments with RapidArc® Dynamic technology, reducing time on the treatment table while better protecting healthy tissue
- Clearer imaging in half the time with HyperSight™, allowing for more precise targeting
- Real-time movement monitoring with Surface Guidance technology — the only system of its kind in the area — which automatically pauses treatment if you move, ensuring precision and peace of mind

"The newest version of the Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator we just installed continues to improve on the best system available for cancer treatments. These improvements significantly reduce the amount of time each patient spends on the treatment table, while at the same time increasing treatment precision and image quality," said CVMC's Director of Radiaiton Oncology, Len Hurst. "Better image quality and greater precision mean we can see and target the tumor volume more accurately while avoiding all the normal tissues and organs next to the tumor. This means better outcomes and fewer side effects for patients. There are other TrueBeam systems in the area, but none with these updated capabilities."

Cancer treatment can feel overwhelming, but access to advanced, accurate technology close to home can make a meaningful difference. Upgrading to this latest TrueBeam reflects our commitment to delivering innovative, compassionate care to our community.

To learn more about Radiation Oncology services at Catawba Valley Medical Center, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Cancer.

The comprehensive cancer center at Catawba Valley Medical Center was the first in the area to achieve accreditation from the American College of Surgeons

02/08/2026

Small jerseys, big hearts — cheering on Super Bowl LX one cuddle at a time. 🏆🏈

02/06/2026

On Friday, Feb. 6, employees and volunteers throughout Catawba Valley Health System rocked their red!

Go Red for Women is a national event, which takes place on National Wear Red Day, to acknowledge that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women.

We asked employees throughout our health system to wear red to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women, and help save lives. Why? Because losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is too many.

To learn more about the cardiac care offered at CVHS, visit us online at CatawbaHeart.com

02/04/2026

February is World Heart Month! This month, we’re celebrating heart health and raising awareness about the importance of cardiovascular care for you and your loved ones. At Catawba Valley Health System, we’re proud to offer comprehensive heart and vascular services designed to support our community at every stage of their heart health journey — from preventive care to advanced treatments and ongoing management.

Our Heart & Vascular Care Includes:
• Expert cardiology services at Catawba Valley Cardiology, where our team of cardiologists brings more than 110+ years of combined experience to help protect your heart and vascular health.
• General cardiology and preventive care, including EKGs, pulse oximetry, stress testing, and heart failure follow-up.
• Advanced diagnostics and imaging, such as echocardiograms, MUGA scans, Holter & event monitoring, and trans-esophageal echocardiography — helping providers detect issues early and tailor personalized care plans.
• Interventional procedures offered both in the clinic and at CVMC — from pacemaker implantation (including minimally invasive devices like the Medtronic Micra) to cardiac catheterizations, stent placements, and cardioversion procedures.
• Heart failure management, including dedicated follow-up care designed to improve quality of life and reduce emergency visits.
• Cardiac device & monitoring support, with specialized follow-up care for pacemakers, defibrillators, and other heart rhythm devices.
• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs that pair education with monitored exercise to support recovery after cardiac events or surgery.

With around-the-clock care available through the Heart Center and collaboration between Catawba Valley Cardiology and Catawba Valley Medical Center, you and your family have access to a full continuum of heart care right here in our community.

Learn more about how we support heart health:
https://www.catawbavalleyhealth.org/location/catawba-valley-cardiology/
https://www.catawbavalleyhealth.org/services/heart/

01/31/2026

Winter weather is impacting some of our locations, and the safety of our patients, visitors, and team members remains our top priority.

Below is a list of current closures and delays due to the winter storm. This information will be updated periodically as conditions change and additional updates become available.

We encourage patients to check back before traveling and appreciate your patience and understanding.

CLOSINGS & DELAYS for TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3:

Belle Hollow and Sherrills Ford UrgentCare - CLOSED

All CVMG Locations (family and specialty care locations) - Open at noon

Fairgrove Primary Health & Catawba Valley Infectious Disease Consultants – Open at noon

Catawba Valley Wound Center – Open at noon

Catawba Valley Psychiatry Services – Open at 12:30 p.m.

Catawba Valley Physical Medicine and Rehab – open at 11 a.m.

Catawba Valley Rehabilitation Center (outpatient rehab, cardiopulmonary rehab, diabetes) - Open at 9 a.m.

Catawba Valley Occupational Health/Employee Health – Open at 10 a.m.

01/23/2026

Winter weather is impacting some of our locations, and the safety of our patients, visitors, and team members remains our top priority.

Below is a list of current closures and delays due to the winter storm. This information will be updated periodically as conditions change and additional updates become available.

We encourage patients to check back before traveling and appreciate your patience and understanding.

CLOSINGS & DELAYS for TUESDAY, JANUARY 27:

All Catawba Valley Medical Group (Family & Specialty Care) Locations – CLOSED

Catawba Valley Psychiatry Services – CLOSED

Catawba Valley Physical Medicine and Rehab – CLOSED

Catawba Valley Occupational Health and Employee Health – CLOSED

Catawba Valley Wound Center – CLOSED

Surgical Weight Management – Open at 10 a.m.

Radiation Oncology – Open at 10 a.m.

Catawba Valley Imaging Center – Open at 10 a.m.

Catawba Valley Center for Sleep Disorders – Open at 10 a.m.

Catawba Valley PET Center – Open at 11 a.m.

Catawba Valley Maternity Services - Open at 11 a.m.

Catawba Valley Center for Rahab (Outpatient Rehab, Cardiopulmonary Rehab, Diabetes) – Open at noon

Catawba Valley Medical Center's Fitness Plus – Open at noon

Infusion Center – Normal Schedule

CLOSINGS & DELAYS for WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28:

All Catawba Valley Medical Group (family and specialty practices) Locations: Open at noon

Catawba Valley Wound Center – Open at noon

Catawba Valley Infectious Disease Consultants and Fairgrove Primary Health – Open at noon

CV Psychiatry Services - open at noon

Catawba Valley Center for Rehabilitation (outpatient rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary rehab, diabetes) – Open at 11

Catawba Valley Medical Center's Fitness Plus – Open at 11

Catawba Valley Physical Medicine and Rehab – Open at 11

01/22/2026

Join us in congratulating our January C.A.R.E Award Recipient – Cassandra Lilli, DO! Dr. Lilli serves as a Physician in our Psychiatry department.

"She goes well beyond any doctor I've ever worked with. I've seen her secretly give a staff member a coffee from the gift shop when having a trying day. She has done this several times with multiple employees. She will help anyone without prompt. She takes extra care of the patients without rushing them. She has filled in for staff to take a break and even filled in for the secretary momentarily. She also makes herself available. She goes out of her way to make sure we do not feel like a burden when calling her at all hours. I've also seen her stopping to help random people in the hallways and lobby of the hospital,” according to the individual who nominated her for the award. “Dr. Lilli has made the biggest impact to the Psychiatry department. She is not only incredibly approachable for staff, but always willing to jump in and help. She has been observed covering for lunch breaks, sitting for the secretary, escorting patients to and from the floor- you name it, she'll do it. If she sees staff are busy, she will offer help or just provide a little treat as a pick me up. She advocates fiercely for a very vulnerable patient population. Her role is invaluable to the patients we serve, as she manages care on and off the psychiatric unit ensuring patients receive the best care throughout the hospital. She inspires us all to provide the same exceptional level of care that she provides. Thank you, Dr. Lilli, for all that you do for us and our patients. It never goes unnoticed, and you are the epitome of a CARE employee.”

The C.A.R.E Award is given monthly to a Catawba Valley Health System employee who has exhibited Courtesy, Attitude, Respect, and Enthusiasm throughout their work.

To learn more about becoming one of the exceptional team members who work at CVHS, visit our careers page at CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

01/19/2026

This holiday season, leaders at Catawba Valley Medical Center were honored to give back by volunteering with The Salvation Army through its Loaves and Fishes program—helping make Christmas brighter for five local families.

On December 10 and 17, CVMC leaders worked alongside Salvation Army staff to prepare food boxes for individuals and families in need across our community. We are especially grateful to Craig, Jimmy, and Jacob for their guidance and support throughout the process.

In addition, hospital leaders sponsored five families by providing gifts and the opportunity to celebrate Christmas together outside the shelter.

It was truly an honor to be part of this meaningful work and to help spread hope and joy this holiday season.

CVMC employees are encouraged to volunteer and get involved—because investing in our community is a core part of who we are. To learn more about working at CVMC, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

01/16/2026

On Thursday, January 15th, Catawba Valley Health System celebrated their employees with a service awards banquet, recognizing those who reached employment milestones of 5-year increments in 2025.

CVHS proudly honored over 250 staff members who have served from 5 years up to 55 years. Employees got a chance to stop by the Medical Center for appetizers, socializing, and celebratory photos.

CVHS is Catawba County's second largest employer with more than 2,400 employees. We are grateful to have dedicated employees who are passionate about serving their community and caring for others.

Looking to make a career at what was voted “Best Hospital”? To learn more about working at CVHS, go to CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.