UNC Health Southeastern hosts Night of Excellence

LUMBERTON — UNC Health Southeastern hosted its inaugural Night of Excellence awards banquet on May 8 to recognize recipients of the health system’s most prestigious awards. The banquet was held as part of observances in May for Nurses and Hospital & Teammate Appreciation Weeks.

Shift Supervisor Sandra Smith was named the Baker Nurse of Excellence, Myra Strickland the Baker Nursing Assistant of Excellence, Rehabilitation Services Director Henry Edwards was named the W. Reid Caldwell, Jr., Distinguished Leadership Award winner, and Team Lead Nursing Supervisor Jennifer Altman as the John D. Drake Distinguished Service Award winner.

“We look forward to this time each year when we can celebrate the achievements of our teammates and leaders, and to share some of their amazing work with our community through the presentation of these longstanding awards,” said UNC Health Southeastern President & CEO Chris Ellington during the banquet, which was held at the medical center.

Baker Nurse of Excellence

Smith, of Lumberton, graduated from Robeson Community College in 2000 with an associate degree in nursing. She began her career at UNC Health Southeastern in June 2000 and currently works as a shift supervisor. She loves her role, as it allows her to thrive as a leader, yet remain active in patient care at the bedside.

“Sandra exemplifies the true spirit of nursing through her heartfelt dedication to bedside care,” said UNC Health Southeastern Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Renae Taylor. “Her commitment and compassion and a pure joy of caregiving shines through in her every action. She is not only cherished by her patients for her compassionate bedside care but is also admired by her teammates for her inspiring dedication and passion for nursing. Her impact resonates throughout the team, making her a role model and a deserving recipient of this honor.”

Baker Nursing Assistant of Excellence

Strickland, also of Lumberton, began her career at UNC Health Southeastern in September 2012 as a nursing assistant in the Emergency Department, where she has spent her entire career. She is an integral part of the team and often trains newly hired nursing assistants.

“Myra truly embodies compassionate, patient-centered care,” said Taylor. “Her unwavering dedication and unmatched kindness uplift everyone around her. She takes care of our patients but also her teammates, making her the heart of our healthcare team and a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”

The Baker Nurse of Excellence Award was established in 2014 through an endowed gift by Stephanie and Wil Bass of Clayton, NC. The Baker Nursing Assistant award was added in 2024. The awards are named in honor of Stephanie’s late grandparents, Dr. Horace Baker, Jr., a surgeon who was a member of the medical staff at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, and his wife Dorothy, a former Army nurse. Dr. Horace Baker Sr., Bass’ great-grandfather, was founder of the Baker Sanatorium in 1921 which later merged with Thompson Hospital to form what was known as the Baker-Thompson Memorial Hospital in Lumberton in 1946. These two older facilities were replaced by a new hospital known as Robeson County Memorial Hospital in 1953 which currently operations as UNC Health Southeastern.

Caldwell Leadership Award

Edwards, also of Lumberton, began his career in 2002 as an outreach athletic trainer covering Lumberton High School and the Cape Fear Wildcats. He was later named as rehab operations coordinator overseeing five outpatient rehab clinics. In 2010, he was promoted to outpatient rehab manager, and, in 2022, he was named to his current position of director of rehabilitation services. He has led the growth of the athletic training program to serve all Robeson County High Schools, and, under his leadership, outpatient rehab has grown to serve more than 200 patients per day.

“Henry leads from his heart, and he truly cares for every staff member and patient that he serves,” said UNC Health Southeastern Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lori Dove. “He strives to provide excellence in all areas of our healthcare system and is never too busy to lend a helping hand.”

To qualify for the Caldwell award, which was established in June 2016 in honor of former Vice President and Government Affairs Officer Reid Caldwell, a UNC Health Southeastern leader must serve at the manager level or higher with five or more years of service and must exemplify the fulfillment of the mission, vision, values, and standards of behavior of the organization while serving as a mentor to other leaders, removing barriers and contributing to a learning and advancing organization.

Drake Distinguished Service Award

Altman, a St. Pauls resident, began her career as a staff nurse in the emergency department and served as charge nurse from 2004-2008. She has been in the role as house supervisor since 2008. She has also served as lead house supervisor since 2024. Since 2014, she has also served as a clinical nurse instructor with Robeson Community College.

“Jennifer is a trusted leader who leads with compassion and authenticity,” said UNC Health Southeastern Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer Patrick Ebri, PhD. “When confronted with an issue, teammates, patients, visitors and community members know that she will always find a way to achieve a win-win solution with the health system’s mission as her true north.”

Altman is the 38th person to be named winner of the Drake Award, which was established by the Board of Trustees in 1988 to recognize exceptional service by employees. The Drake award was named in honor of the late John D. Drake, who retired as head cook in 1984 after 38 years of service.

To qualify for the Drake award, an employee must demonstrate high standards for personal performance on the job, loyalty and dedication to the organization, an excellent attendance record, respect by fellow workers, leadership skills, and a caring attitude to fellow employees and guests of the organization.

To view a list of past award winners, visit https://bit.ly/4meekDc