John Coffelt, Editor

The Tennessee Hospital Association recently recognized Unity Medical Center CEO Martha Henley with the 2024 Small and Rural Hospital Leadership Award. 

This honor is presented in recognition of significant contributions to rural healthcare in Tennessee.

 Henley said she was humbled to be recognized with the award.

 “When I walked up to accept that award, I was accepting it for every team member at Unity Medical Center,” she said.  “It is a direct reflection of them.”

Henley said Unity is making a difference in local healthcare.

 “If you look several years back, Unity was struggling as a facility,” she said. “Now it’s doing well and is on the leading edge of so many things.”

 She said those accomplishments range from the telecardiology program, the first one in the TriStar system in a small rural hospital, to reopening the intensive care unit

 “It’s humbling and exciting,” Henley said.

Henley said her primary goal as CEO is to provide good, quality care. Going hand in hand with that is creating a work environment where our people are empowered and have ownership.

 “It’s a great team there, from the people who greet you when you walk in the door to the nurses and the environmental staff,” she said.

 A recent Medicare survey of former patients ranked Unity as one of the cleanest medical facilities.

 “We are accomplishing so many accolades in that hospital and those are a direct result of every person there,” Henley said. “It’s definitely the team.”  

 Henley has served as the CEO of Unity Hospital since 2015.

 THA was established in 1938 as a not-for-profit membership association, to serve as an advocate for hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. The association also provides education and information for its members, and informs the public about hospitals and healthcare issues at the state and national levels.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.