Clinch Valley Health Names 2022 Mercy Award Winner

Clinch Valley Health recently announced that Sarah Thompson has been recognized as the hospital’s 2022 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, LifePoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.

“At Clinch Valley Health, we share LifePoint’s commitment to making communities healthier, and we recognize this is supported by the good work and service of our employees on and off the job,” said Peter Mulkey, CEO of Clinch Valley Health. “We are extremely proud to recognize Sarah for her efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. She goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person she encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”

As a Scoutmaster, Thompson volunteers most weekends putting together scouting activities like earning merit badges, camping, and hiking. Thompson said, “Scouting is all about creating opportunities for children to have fun and learn critical life skills public speaking, interpersonal communication, and teamwork.”

Thompson also does extensive volunteer work at Harmon Memorial Baptist Church. She has been the Women’s Conference Director, Sunday School Director, and Children’s Ministry Director, Co-Director of Vacation Bible School and is involved in the Bus Ministry.  Thompson explained how she sees herself: “I transfer my energy to my people, and I work to take away their hurt.  But then I have to have somewhere to put that hurt, so I take that to my church.  At church I get filled up so I can give more energy back for good.” 

Each hospital winner, including Thompson, will be considered for LifePoint’s 2022 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August, to which Thompson and all hospital winners are invited to attend.