Sovah Health - Martinsville recently announced that Franklin DeShazo has been recognized as the facility’s 2023 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities 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 that honors 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 Sovah Health - Martinsville, 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 Spencer Thomas, CEO of Sovah Health - Martinsville “We are extremely proud to recognize Franklin for his efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. He goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person he encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”

Franklin embodies each of these characteristics and so much more. In the words of the nomination, “I have personally seen Franklin go significantly above and beyond any reasonable expectation to bring comfort to our patients, respect for our shared profession, and a true appreciation for what this hospital offers the residents of our community.” 

Franklin has been part of the Sovah Health - Martinsville Family for nearly 23 years.   He began his career in Environmental Services working as a tech for several years.  In 2005, Franklin was recruited to join the Sleep Center team as a trainee, learning on the job to ultimately become a Polysomnography Tech (PSGT). 

Each facility winner, including Franklin, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2023 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August.