Catawba Valley Medical Center

04/04/2026

Somebunny special is celebrating Easter at Catawba Valley Medical Center 🐰💛

Our tiniest miracles in the NICU are bringing extra sweetness to the holiday, dressed in their Easter best and surrounded by so much love. These little fighters remind us that hope, joy, and new beginnings are what Easter is all about.

Wishing you and your family a beautiful, joy-filled Easter! 🌷

04/01/2026

Catawba Valley Medical Center Named Among Nation’s Top 204 Best Places to Work for Nurses!

We’re proud to share that NurseGrid has recognized Catawba Valley Medical Center as one of the Top 204 Best Places to Work for Nurses in the nation—with a 4.8 rating and a spot among the top five hospitals nationwide. Among the hospitals recognized, Catawba Valley Medical Center achieved the highest overall rating in both North Carolina and South Carolina, setting it apart as a regional leader in nursing workplace excellence.

Even more meaningful, this recognition is based entirely on feedback from nurses themselves—reflecting real, firsthand experiences from those on the front lines of patient care and highlighting the organization’s commitment to supporting its nursing team in meaningful, measurable ways.

“At Catawba Valley Medical Center, our nurses are the foundation of the care we provide,” said Michelle Lusk, Chief Nursing Officer. “Being recognized by nurses themselves makes this honor especially meaningful. It reflects the culture we’ve built—one that prioritizes teamwork, respect, and support for every member of our nursing team.”

Thank you to our incredible nurses for the compassionate, high-quality care you provide every day.

Interested in joining our team? Learn more at CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

Are you interested in joining one of North Carolina’s top performing hospitals? Catawba Valley Medical Center is always looking for capable people to join our team.

03/30/2026

On this National Doctors Day, we pause to recognize and celebrate the incredible physicians at Catawba Valley Health System. Every day, they dedicate their time, knowledge, and compassion to caring for our patients, guiding families through difficult moments, and improving the health of our community. Their expertise saves lives, their empathy comforts patients, and their commitment inspires us all.

We are especially grateful to welcome back Dr. Phil Greene as our new Chief Medical Officer—a fun coincidence that his first day back with us falls on National Doctors Day! We are thrilled to have his leadership and experience guiding our team.

Thank you to all our doctors for your unwavering dedication and for being at the heart of everything we do.

03/27/2026

March is Social Work Month, and we’re proud to recognize the incredible social workers across Catawba Valley Health System who make a difference every day.

First celebrated in 1963, Social Work Month honors the impact of a profession dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities thrive. This year’s theme, “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.”, highlights the powerful role social workers play in advocating for patients, supporting families, and improving lives.

Fairgrove Primary Health Social Workers:
Glenda Sigmon, Debra Engelmann, Yesenia Ocampo-Corales, Natasha Bunton, Rachel Gibbs

Catawba Valley Medical Center Social Workers:
Sierra Shook, Lisa Yang, Julie Lee, Heather Lail, Patti Weatherford, Maria Hawkins, Dasia Patterson

Thank you for the compassion, advocacy, and care you bring to our patients, their families, and our community every day. To learn more about Catawba Valley Health System and the care we provide to our community, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org.

03/25/2026

Join us in congratulating our March C.A.R.E Award Recipient – Steven Freeman! Steven serves as an Anesthesia Tech in our Anesthesia Department.

“Steve Freeman embodies what is means to be a "C.A.R.E." employee. Steve comes to work, does his job, treats the patient AND his coworkers with care and respect. When the OR staff sees Steve, their day becomes better. When Steve Freeman is off work our day doesn't feel complete. As a former care winner myself I believe Steve is a gem this hospital should award and show off,” according to the person who nominated Steven.

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.

03/23/2026

Last week, we celebrated Certified Nurses Day! A certified nurse is a professional who chooses to take an extra step in his or her education to prove their competence and dedication to their chosen nursing field.

Certified Nurses Day was created in honor of Dr. Margretta ‘Gretta’ Madden Styles who became a leader in this industry and recognized the importance of the nursing profession. Dr. Styles worked hard to ensure expertise within the nursing industry to give patients the best experience possible.

“Certification is the profession’s official recognition of achievement, expertise, and clinical judgment,” said CVHS’s Chief Nursing Officer, Michelle Lusk. “It is a mark of excellence that demonstrates an individual’s commitment to the profession, continued learning and skill development. Not only does certification provide you with a sense of pride and professional accomplishment, but it assures the consumer that CVHS certified nursing professionals have demonstrated experience, knowledge, and skills in the complex specialties of acute and critical care. Research also indicates a link between certification and improved patient safety. We appreciate what they do to help CVHS continue to fulfill its nursing vision and am honored that each of these individuals choose to practice nursing at CVHS.”

We are thankful for the certified nurses throughout our organization and all they do to serve our patients and guests. Happy Certified Nurses Day!

03/18/2026

March is National Athletic Training Month, and Catawba Valley Health System is proud to recognize its “Champions in Healthcare”—the athletic trainers serving student athletes across Catawba County schools.

CVHS provides certified, licensed athletic trainers year-round, offering expertise in first aid, emergency care, injury prevention, and the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Each trainer holds a four-year degree, national certification, and North Carolina licensure, ensuring high-quality care for local athletes.

“Our board-certified athletic trainers work with coaches to prevent injuries, diagnose issues, and help athletes safely return to play,” said Marcus Osborne, Director of Wellness. “They also improve overall safety by certifying coaches in CPR/AED, monitoring heat conditions, and managing concussions.”

Services provided by our athletic trainers include injury evaluation, concussion testing with ImPACT, taping and bracing, rehabilitation, emergency care, and referrals to physicians or physical therapists when needed. Trainers also educate athletes on nutrition, hydration, and proper training techniques.

CVHS remains committed to keeping student athletes safe and healthy while they compete in the sports they love. To learn more about the care provided by our athletic trainers as well as our orthopedics department as a whole, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Orthopedics.

03/17/2026

A little extra luck and a lot of love 💚🍀
These sweet NICU babies are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with us, and we’re so thankful to be part of their journey.

Learn more about our Level III NICU: CatawbaValleyHealth.org/NICU

03/13/2026

Join us in congratulating Tanya Absher as our 2025 C.A.R.E Employee of the Year! Tanya was named C.A.R.E Employee of the Month in March 2025, and was selected as the C.A.R.E Employee of the Year by our C.A.R.E committee. Tanya serves our organization as a Pyxis Coordinator for our inpatient pharmacy department.

Tanya's original nomination read, “Tanya consistently goes above and beyond in her role, ensuring that medications are stored properly and promptly for our patients. As Pyxis Coordinator, she is often the first team member to arrive and one of the last to leave. She plays a key role in training and supporting her colleagues and is one of the most knowledgeable members of our department. Her contributions extend far beyond Pyxis management—she regularly covers for team members during vacations, assists with purchasing medications, and plays a critical role in shortage management. Recently, Tanya went out of her way to help us avoid a significant shortage issue by coming in early to proactively move medications, without being asked. This level of initiative and dedication exemplifies her commitment to patient care and teamwork.”

2025 CARE Monthly Recipients
January: Amanda Walker, Organizational Learning
February: Stacey Chapman, Nutrition Care
March: Tanya Absher, Pharmacy
April: Michellle Ebeling, Laboratory
May: Phillip Campbell, Plant Operations
June: Jessica McFalls, Critical Care
July: Emily Annas, AOD
August: Lauren Jolly, Day Surgery
September: Casey Efird, Psychiatry
October: Paige Sigmon, Transitions of Care
November: Stephanie Morton, Surgical
December: Amanda Smith, Radiological Imaging

Care Employee of the Year Recipients
2006: Ann Moore
2007: Nancy Anderson
2008: Frida Sigmon
2009: Elliot Boston
2010: Allison Burris
2011: Nora Buxton
2012: Tommy Willis
2014: Erin Kushner
2015: Jeff Eudy
2016: Todd Starnes
2017: Jan Brasel
2018: Veronica Ballabeni
2019: Brianna Howell
2022: Joan Lane
2023: Amanda Helms
2024: Christy Greene
2025: Tanya Absher

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. Yearly, one of those employees is named C.A.R.E employee of the Year.

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

03/05/2026

03/03/2026

After years of serving in our Birthing Center — walking alongside women and families as they welcomed new life into the world — Lauren Shoemaker and Christina Jenkins are stepping into new roles at Catawba Valley Health System, bringing the same compassion and dedication with them.

Lauren has been with CVHS for 15 years, beginning as a new graduate on the Medical Unit before transferring to the Birthing Center. There, she served as a bedside nurse, Patient Care Coordinator, Clinical Care Manager and Nurse Manager before transitioning to Heart & Vascular. Her experience in high-stress, fast-paced situations — from bedside care to leadership — helped prepare her for this next step. She’s grateful for the opportunity to grow within the organization while returning to direct patient care and making a difference in patients’ lives.

Christina has been part of CVHS for 11 years, spending her entire career in the Birthing Center as a bedside nurse, preceptor, charge nurse and Clinical Care Manager. During that time, she returned to school to further her education and challenge herself professionally — all while remaining within the CVHS family. Today, she is serving as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Catawba Valley Neurology, continuing her passion for patient care in a new specialty.

Their journeys reflect something we deeply value at CVHS: when team members feel called to grow, shift specialties or take on new challenges, we support them. Through tuition reimbursement, leadership encouragement, flexibility and internal opportunities, our goal is not just to hire great people — it’s to invest in them long term and help them build meaningful, lasting careers here.

“I have always loved taking care of patients and being that person to help bring comfort and reassurance during a stressful time… The gratification of knowing that I made a small difference fills my cup,” said Lauren.

“I get the privilege of helping improve patients’ quality of life. I get to spend more time loving on people, holding their hand and helping them find answers … take a leap of faith and enjoy the ride. There will never be a perfect time,” said Christina.

If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, evolve and build a long-term career, explore opportunities with CVHS today. To learn more, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

02/25/2026

Rain or shine, it was a great morning at the Farmers Market! While the rain may have started the day, it quickly turned into a beautiful opportunity to connect with our community.

In recognition of World Heart Month, our HealthFirst and Heart & Vascular teams organized and staffed a Heart Care information booth to share tips, resources, and education focused on keeping hearts healthy. Throughout February, we’re proud to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection, and heart-healthy habits that can make a lasting difference.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about caring for your heart — your health matters to us, this month and every month. To learn more about heart care services offered at Catawba Valley Health System visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/HeartVascular