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The Shelby County Chamber hosted a special reception on Wednesday, March 20 to honor the 2024 Shelby County top healthcare professionals, including Healthcare Professional of the Year Dr. Rachel Bailey of Children’s of Alabama and Chelsea High School. (Reporter photo/Anna Grace Moore)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

PELHAM – The Shelby County Chamber hosted its annual Healthcare Professionals of the Year event on Wednesday, March 20, bringing together the top healthcare employees across Shelby County for a special night at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Usually held as a luncheon, this year’s event took place a special evening reception, honoring nominations across four different categories before a winner was named in each.

At the end of the night, Rachel Bailey took home the top award, claiming the 2024 Shelby County Healthcare Professional of the Year award.

Bailey, who works in pediatrics at Children’s of Alabama, has also been instrumental in Chelsea High School’s Surgical Tech Program as an advisory committee chairperson.

Her work with the Chelsea program has led to valuable insight and helped develop the operating room course of study.

“She continues to provide input to make sure the course content is current and there are relevant internship opportunities each year,” Shelby County Chamber President and CEO Kirk Mancer read from her nomination.

In addition to her care for preparing the next generation of doctors and nurses, she also pours that same passion into caring for those she sees at Children’s of Alabama.

“Through her many years of service with Children’s of Alabama, the health of thousands of pediatric patients in Shelby County and throughout the state has been improved,” Mancer read. “She ensures every child entrusted in her care is thoroughly evaluated to minimize complications during anesthesia and the family receives an individualized peri-operative plan.”

Other award recipients during the reception included Legacy of Excellence winner Dr. Everitt Simmons of Shelby Baptist Medical Center, Committed to Community winner Chaman Harper of Shelby Baptist Medical Center and Heart of Healthcare winner Christopher Driskell of Central Alabama Wellness.

Simmons specializes in advanced wound care at Shelby Baptist and was described as being invested in people and their overall needs.

Harper, who was also honored from Shelby Baptist, was described as having a heart for nurturing the next generation of healthcare providers through her support for high school healthcare academies similar to the one at Chelsea.

Driskell has spent 15 years serving Central Alabama Wellness, serving as a therapist for residential and permanent supportive housing clients. He is known statewide for being someone who goes above and beyond. One patient in his nomination said that Driskell was the reason he is still living today.

Other nominations for this year’s event included:

-Dr. George Robert Booker – Southlake Orthopaedics

-Nathan Bower PT, DPT – Uncommon Physical Therapy

-Dr. Alex Coleman – The FARM

-Jay Crisman – 280 Animal Medical Center Westover

-Deana Cherie Dopson – Warrior Wellness

-Joseph Feick – Double Oak Mountain Pharmacy

-Dr. Blada Groysman – Cahaba Dermatology and Spa

-Dr. Erika Hartman – Birmingham Orthodontics

-Elise Hearn – Shaklee Corporation

-Dr. Nicolas Kentros – Pelham Dental Care

-Eileen Leslie – creACTive Wellness Center & Serenity

-Dr. Robert Marks – Gastro Health

-Dr. Andrew McCown – Southlake Pediatrics

-Dr. Emily Moores – Southlake Eyes

-Dr. Todd Reeves – Reeves Cosmetic Dentistry

-Dr. Brittany Reid – Calera Orthodontics

-Dr. Graham Rowland – Alabaster Eye Care

-Hanna Stiltner – Soul Story Therapy

-Dr. James Webb – Webb Eye Care

-Dr. Seth Williams – Pelham Eye Center

“What an outstanding group of nominees,” Mancer said. “Each of you—and the quality of healthcare which you and your colleagues provide—are a major reason why Shelby County continues to rank so high in vital quality of life issues that individuals consider when they are looking for communities in which to live and do business.”

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