Atrium Health

Atrium Health will soon open the doors to a brand-new emergency department in Ballantyne, North Carolina. The new facility will help bring more access to emergency care to the communities in south Mecklenburg County and northern South Carolina. Atrium Health Ballantyne will help meet the growing needs of neighborhoods, while providing timely access to additional care such as their Level I trauma center, which is the only one of its kind in the region. We are excited to move into the neighborhood and begin offering emergency care close to home for our neighbors who have come to rely on Atrium Health.

From a bedside nurse to the Assistant Vice President for Patient Care Services, Misty Wheeler’s nursing career is a testament to dedication and passion, spanning over 30 years, with 25 of those years as a valued Atrium Health teammate. "I was inspired to pursue a career in nursing, driven by a desire to help others." Misty’s unwavering commitment to serving others and her ability to thrive in fast-paced environments led her early in her career to Carolinas Medical Center, where she pursued her dream of becoming a flight nurse. Throughout her journey, Misty excelled in various intensive care unit roles before stepping into leadership positions. Misty is deeply passionate about guiding new nurses and emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and well-being to maintain positivity and effectiveness in their roles. In line with her commitment to continuous growth, which she instills in her mentees, Misty is set to graduate with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in December. She was also recently honored as one of the North Carolina Great 100 nurses for 2024. Beyond her contributions to healthcare, Misty joined the Army Reserves at the age of 45 and is stationed at Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, NC. She skillfully balances her reserve duties with her full-time role at Atrium Health. Misty is also actively involved in Atrium Health’s Veteran & Military System Resource Group, aiming to develop new programs to recognize veteran patients. Thank you, Misty, for sharing your passion and expertise with our patients, teammates and community!

The countdown is ON! ??? Advocate Health Has Talent premieres next month in an epic three-part series, and we can’t wait to share the magic with you! Until then, get ready to meet some of our incredible teammate contestants. We'll be sharing their stories, their passions and what makes this talent competition so special. Stay tuned—you won't want to miss a moment! ?? Meet Wendy, a registered nurse at Atrium Health, she recalls how a patient was a blessing and her motivation to perform. He recognized her singing ability and encouraged her. She found out that he was homeless and had come out of a bad rainstorm. She thought she was going to be a blessing to him to be able to take care of him but instead he ended up blessing her. Learn more about Advocate Health Has Talent and meet our finalists: https://bit.ly/40zFKuW

Caroline is a compassionate Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) at Atrium Health, whose journey into healthcare began with a deeply personal experience. Caroline recalls the pivotal moment her grandmother suffered a stroke, inspiring her future career path. “I could see how much occupational therapy helped her regain her strength and safety to be able to stay home with my grandfather. That was very important to my family.” Since joining Atrium Health, Caroline has found extensive support for her career growth. “Atrium provides numerous venues for educational support, in-house education, and support for obtaining my yearly licensure CEU requirements,” she shares. This commitment to learning helps Caroline offer the best possible care to her patients, which she finds profoundly rewarding. “Seeing how an individual who thought they were incapable finally reach their goal is the most rewarding part of my work. OT is holistic, limitless, and creative, so each day is different, and I love that.” Explore Rehabilitation positions with Atrium Health: https://binged.it/4eW4qlI

We are proud to spotlight Kanisha, a dedicated member of the Atrium Health team and a U.S. Navy Reserve veteran. Kanisha served in the Navy Reserves for eight years, driven by a goal to advance her education without incurring student loan debt. “I joined the Navy for the education benefits,” she shared. “I was working as an LPN and wanted to obtain my BSN without the student loan debt. Joining the Navy allowed me to do that.” During her time in the Navy, Kanisha served as an electrician, an experience that prepared her well for healthcare. “Being in the Navy reserves taught me how to encounter and work with people and patients from all walks of life, attention to detail, and resilience,” she said. After serving on active duty in Virginia during the height of COVID-19, Kanisha knew she wanted to return to the Carolinas and join Atrium Health. “There are so many opportunities for growth and experience, and I knew as a new RN, both would be beneficial to me,” she noted. Kanisha has continued to grow her career at Atrium Health, obtaining her CMSRN certification, joining the American Nurses Association, and now working toward her MSN. She appreciates that Atrium Health recognizes veterans like herself. “Opportunities such as this give us a moment to be recognized,” she shared Thank you, Kanisha, for your service and the resilience you bring to Atrium Health every day.

Together, we honor all who have been impacted by lung cancer and continue to advocate for early detection of the disease. Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute hosted Shine a Light, an event honoring patients, survivors, and caregivers impacted by the disease. The event featured speakers like Atrium Health teammate Tara Johnson, who shared a powerful story about how her family navigated the loss of both her father and uncle to lung cancer, and Marvin Stewart, a lung cancer patient whose reliance on his faith drives his optimism. “As we shine our lights, we’re making a promise to continue advocating, supporting research, and fighting for a cure for lung cancer,” shared Dr. Chris Pallas, thoracic medical oncologist. As the leading cause of death among cancers in the U.S., lung cancer is a disease in which early detection can make all the difference. While a lung cancer diagnosis can be devastating for patients and their loved ones, Tara reminds us that "it cannot cripple love, shatter hope or silence courage.”