Twin County Regional Healthcare Names 2026 Mercy Award Winner

Carla Gunter, MSN, RN, SCRN, NVRN-BC, ASC-BC, recognized for demonstrating compassion and providing outstanding service to patients, hospital and local community. 

Twin County Regional Healthcare recently announced that Carla Gunter has been recognized as the facility’s 2026 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 Twin County, our caring and compassionate team members are at the heart of advancing our mission of making communities healthier – and Carla is a shining example of this day in and day out,” said CEO Bill Alley, MHA, BSN, RN, of TCRH. “We are so proud to recognize her many contributions to caring for patients, supporting our hospital, and serving our community. I’m grateful for Carla’s positive influence and the example she sets for all of us.”

Carla has served at Twin County Regional Healthcare since November 1993 in roles including In-Service Educator, Stroke Coordinator, Chest Pain Coordinator, and currently Nurse Residency and Fellowship Coordinator. She is deeply engaged in our community, with a strong passion for EMS. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Southwest EMS Board, is a current member of the Virginia Stroke Systems Task Force (VSSTF) and Virginia Stroke Coordinator’s Consortium. 

In addition, Carla can be found throughout the community—supporting senior groups, the local Rotary club, church groups, nursing classes, teaching hands-only CPR to improve survival from heart-related emergencies and performing guest lecturers for Paramedic and EMS students.

Each facility winner, including Carla, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2026 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in September.