“The first word that comes to mind when I think of my job here at Parkway Medical Center is ‘family.’  Not only do we, as co-workers, hold each other to the highest standards within our hospital family, we also put our patients first and care for them as we would our own family.

The past two years that I have worked at parkway have been very rewarding.  I take each responsibility of my job seriously, while striving to make interactions fun and friendly.

I want to thank each and every co-worker, physician, visitor and patient for making Parkway Medical Center a wonderful place for me to work.  I am truly blessed, and I thank God for allowing me to be a part of the Parkway Medical Center Family.”

We are pleased to announce that Danny Crowe has accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer at Parkway Medical Center.

“Danny has been in healthcare management for many years and we are very excited to have him back at Parkway,” said Tim McGill, Chief Executive Officer of Parkway Medical Center. “Danny brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that we feel will keep Parkway moving in the right direction.”

A native of Decatur, Danny graduated from Austin High School. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from Athens State University in 1978.

Danny has been in healthcare management since his graduation, with over 30 years of experience in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, having begun his career in healthcare by working in various CFO positions with Hospital Corporation of America.

In 1986 Danny returned to Decatur and joined Parkway Medical Center as the Chief Financial Officer, serving in that capacity for 19 years. He later joined Attentus Healthcare in March 2005, with the acquisition of Lawrence Medical Center, where he served as Assistant CEO and CFO.

Danny and his wife Lisa have two daughters, Jennifer (24) a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University and Teri (20) a student at Calhoun Community College

“I am so delighted to be back “home” at Parkway,” said Crowe. “I have always believed that Parkway Medical Center is a growing and vibrant part of our Morgan County Community and I am eager to, once again, be a part of this fine hospital.”

Sharron Phillips has worked in the laboratory at Parkway for 9 1/2 years. She is the dayshift supervisor and helps to keep the lab running smoothly. Sharon has many responsibilities in the lab; she is in charge of a busy chemistry area, handles problems that may arise, and coordinates the clinical rotations of Wallace State laboratory students. The favorite parts of her job are the great friends she has made here at Parkway and getting to learn new things almost daily.

Sharron has worked in the laboratory field for 13 wonderful years and currently is expanding her academic career. She attends Athens State University and is working toward obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science with a minor in Healthcare Management. She hopes to finish in early 2011 and continue her career at Parkway. Outside of the hospital Sharron stays busy with her husband of 11 years and their two girls. Sharron enjoys a variety of interests such as watching her girls at karate, cooking, deer hunting, and looking for something called “quite time”.

Parkway has been “home” to Sharron for a long time. She has enjoyed her years working for Parkway and hopes it will continue to be “home” for many years to come.

We feel like our story is not as unique as you might think.  Scott and I were both very athletic in school and always of average size.  We decided to live the American dream and began that process by getting married and starting a family of our own.  We now have three great, active children who keep us very busy.  However, like many women with every pregnancy came more weight, not just for me but for the both of us.  With every weight gain came another diet and with every diet came another failure.

Then one day Scott was diagnosed with sleep apnea.  Even with the c-pap machine, he would stop breathing. This was a huge turning point for us.  For me there was no question; we needed to do something to get the weight off.

It just so happened that Parkway Medical Center has a fantastic Bariatric Surgery program headed up by Dr. Jay Suggs, a fellowship trained Bariatric Surgeon.  Because I work at Parkway, I had heard many wonderful things about him.  After doing a great deal of research, I finally talked my husband into a consultation with Dr Suggs.  Together with our family doctor, they decided this would definitely benefit his health.  He had gastric bypass surgery on December 16, 2008 and has lost an amazing 115 pounds!  Because of his success, I decided to pursue this avenue of weight loss.  After talking with my insurance company, family doctor and Dr Suggs’ and his office associates, we decided I was a candidate for the surgery.

I had my surgery on May 20, 2009 and have lost 63 pounds to date and am still losing!  This is a great tool, not a solution to my problem of obesity.  I still have to monitor what I eat and be careful not to get back into the old habits that brought me to this decision in the first place.

We are both so glad we decided to take this journey together.  Scott and I feel like we are a couple of caterpillars coming out of our cocoons and turning into butterflies.  We greatly appreciate Dr Suggs’, his staff and Parkway Medical Center for offering these life saving services.

Scott & Marsha Kelly

There is definitely something good cooking in the kitchen at Parkway and his name is Chef Jason Lock! Jason joined Parkway in 2005 after attending Culinard School in Birmingham for two years. He brings his flavorful skills to Parkway in a variety of ways… from gourmet meals for new moms in OB to banquets, parties and even adding delightful new fare to the doctors dining area. He has received rave reviews from employees, physicians, and patients. “I really enjoy showcasing my talents, it’s what I went to school for,” says Jason. When asked what inspired him to become a chef, he said simply, “The fear of washing dishes the rest of my life!”

Jason enjoys working at Parkway and looks forward to meeting people from all walks of life. He gets his inspiration from a wide array of things not the least of which is his pet goldfish named Nemo. Apparently Jason and his four year old son Brayden enjoy traveling with Nemo… Jason and Brayden in the car and Nemo in his solo cup!

Parkway is proud to have Chef Jason on board and can’t wait to see what culinary treasures he comes up with next!

O.R. Tech and six-year employee Dennis Leak credits his upbringing, co-workers and supervisors for being named Parkway’s 2008 Employee of the Year.

“To be recognized by your co-workers and leadership is very humbling. I am very fortunate to work with such dedicated people. The care and concern that my co-workers have for each other and for each patient is genuine,” says Dennis.

Known for his teamwork and commitment, Dennis describes his work at Parkway as “helping people for a living.” When asked what he likes most about his job, Dennis says it’s getting to meet different people. A native of Arab, Dennis says he was taught to do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if that means working extra hours.

That humility, dedicated and care earned him the prestigious Employee of the Year award. “Parkway has blessed me in many ways through meeting new people, working with a team and learning from others. I share that blessing by trying to bring a smile to someone’s face every day. That’s what inspires me.”