Sovah Health – Martinsville Names 2025 Mercy Award Winner

Sovah Health – Martinsville recently announced that Barry Priddy has been recognized as the facility’s 2025 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.

Established in 2001, 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, our caring and compassionate team members are at the heart of advancing our mission of making communities healthier – and Barry is a shining example of this day in and day out,” said Steve Heatherly, Market President of Sovah Health. “We are so proud to recognize his many contributions to caring for patients, supporting our hospital, and serving our community. I’m grateful for Barry’s positive influence and the example he sets for all of us.”

Barry Priddy, Materials Manager, was nominated for the award by three of his colleagues. He is often described as compassionate, hardworking, and always going above and beyond to help others. Despite the heavy responsibilities of his job, Barry never fails to deliver on his commitments. He approaches every request with a warm smile and a calm demeanor, always assuring that he is here to help. Barry is always concerned that our community is being taken care of by having the supplies and equipment that our patients need. He puts hours upon hours into navigating the process of procuring supplies and making sure they arrive on time. Barry often drives to other facilities for materials to ensure our hospital has the inventory it needs to safely care for patients. One nomination highlighted, “While webster defines dependable as trustworthy and reliable, I think it should just say see Barry Priddy.”

Each facility winner, including Barry, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2025 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August.

Congratulations to our nominees: Anthony Wright, Barry Priddy, Donna Nester, Sandra Campbell, Denise McWhorter, Wendy Nuzem, and Susan Shorter