JANUARY 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Vital Signs. As we look ahead, we’re thrilled to celebrate 30 years of supporting excellence in our community: three decades of raising funds to support vital clinical programs, enhance technology, advance patient care—all while partnering with generous donors like you to make a real difference.

This edition highlights some exciting stories, including the Adolescent Behavioral Health Center Year-End Campaign, the launch of the More Room for HOPE campaign supporting the Pardee Cancer Center expansion, and inspiring events like the She Slays 5K. We also share exciting recognition for UNC Health Pardee, from awards for clinical excellence to national recognition from Forbes Magazine.

As we reflect on the work we’ve accomplished over the past 30 years, we’re also looking ahead with excitement to what lies ahead for the future of the Pardee Hospital Foundation. In 2026, you can expect to see even more initiatives, events, and stories that showcase the impact of our community’s generosity. We look forward to 

celebrating with you throughout the year and highlighting the incredible difference you make in the lives of our patients and neighbors. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we continue to build a stronger, healthier community.

With gratitude,

Executive Director

Pardee Hospital Foundation

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Adolescent Behavioral Health Center Year-End Campaign has already raised more than $90,000 toward creating a more supportive, healing environment for teens receiving care at the Pardee Adolescent Behavioral Health Center. This early momentum reflects a shared commitment to meeting the growing mental health needs of young people in our region, and ensuring they have a space designed with dignity, safety, and hope at its core.

The campaign supports enhancements to the new center, including a thoughtfully designed therapeutic outdoor space where patients can step outside, decompress, and reconnect in a calm, restorative setting. Research shows that time in nature can reduce anxiety and depression, help regulate emotions, and foster resilience—benefits especially meaningful for adolescents in crisis.

A recently released campaign video brings the “why” to life, featuring members of the Adolescent Behavioral Health care team alongside community supporters who speak passionately about the importance of this work. As we begin a new year, we invite you to help us build on this momentum so every teen who walks through our doors has the environment—and support—they deserve.

Interested in supporting this cause? You can give now toward the $250,000 goal by visiting the Spaces That Heal page online or contacting the Pardee Hospital Foundation directly at 828-233-2700.

We are excited to announce the More Room for HOPE campaign: an effort to expand and enhance cancer care services at the Pardee Cancer Center. Since opening in 2016, the center has provided compassionate, patient-centered care to thousands of neighbors facing cancer, with more than 1,000 newly diagnosed patients each year beginning their journey right here in Western North Carolina. As demand grows, so does the need for space that supports healing, comfort, and connection throughout treatment.

Thanks to a unique opportunity to gain additional space in the Henderson County Health Sciences Building, the expansion will add 10 new infusion bays, a larger conference room for support groups and education, a dedicated pharmacy room, and relocated staff offices to make room for direct patient care. These improvements mean shorter wait times, greater privacy and comfort, and more room for patients and families to feel supported during one of life’s greatest challenges.

What’s exciting is this project is designed for immediate impact, with no new construction required, so donor support goes straight toward building and equipping these essential spaces. Opportunities to give range from supporting the conference room and infusion bays to specialized treatment areas and more.

See It Yourself: Join a Campaign Tour

Curious to learn more about how this expansion will transform care for cancer patients and families? Tours of the Pardee Cancer Center and the new expansion space are being offered in January, February, and March. These guided visits are a great way to see firsthand the vision behind More Room for Hope and to understand the impact your support can make.

Together, we can ensure that everyone facing cancer in our community has the space, care, and hope they deserve—right here at home.

As we welcome a new year, many of us reflect on what matters most: our family, our values, and the legacy we hope to leave behind. One of the most meaningful steps you can take is to ensure your wishes are clearly documented and shared with those you trust.

To support this important goal, the Pardee Hospital Foundation now offers a simple, secure online estate planning tool—available at no cost. This easy-to-use resource helps you organize essential information and prepare for more informed conversations with your loved ones and professional advisors.

The tool allows you to:

1. Create simple estate planning documents through intuitive, step-by-step guidance

2. Keep important details organized in one secure place

3. Use documents that are legally vetted for all 50 states, including dual residency

4. Complement, rather than replace, existing legal or financial plans

5. Access everything free of charge

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to organize what you already have, this tool offers a practical way to begin the conversation and bring peace of mind in the year ahead.

Plan with Purpose

Make it easier to protect what matters most. Learn how our complimentary online estate planning tool can help you organize your wishes and plan for the future.

Looking for a New Year’s resolution that supports your health and makes a difference? Lace up your shoes and join us for the 3rd Annual She Slays 5K, benefiting the Pardee Hospital Foundation. In collaboration with Hunter Subaru, this inspiring event celebrates the strength, courage, and determination of women in our community who are fighting cancer.

Whether you choose to walk or run, your participation helps empower individuals to take charge of their health while raising critical funds to support Hendersonville women facing cancer today.

One of the most meaningful elements of the race is Memory Mile—a special section of the course lined with personalized yard signs honoring loved ones. Participants and supporters are invited to purchase a sign in memory of someone who has lost their battle with cancer, or in honor of someone currently fighting. Each sign features your loved one’s name and your choice of a cancer-awareness ribbon color or a photo, creating a powerful and moving tribute along the race route.

Race participants can select a Memory Mile sign during registration. Those not participating in the race can still take part by purchasing a sign through the iDaph Store. The deadline to purchase a sign is Thursday, April 9 at midnight. Proceeds benefit the Pardee Hospital Foundation.

If you purchased a sign last year and would like it displayed again, please drop it off at the Pardee Hospital Foundation offices (561 Fleming St., Hendersonville) by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Signs may be picked up after the race or at the Foundation offices the following Monday.

Make this year about movement, meaning, and hope. Join us for the She Slays 5K and be part of something powerful.

Women Helping Women is proud to sponsor two upcoming free Mammo on the Go events. Mammo on the Go, a department of Pardee Hospital, offers on-site convenience and state-of-the-art 3D breast imaging, delivered with quality care from an expert team of female technologists—making it easier than ever for women to prioritize their health.

Saturday, January 17
First United Methodist Church
204 6th Avenue W, Hendersonville
10 AM – 3 PM

Saturday, February 28
Contemporary First Baptist Church
429 Harris Street, Hendersonville
10 AM – 2 PM

Pre-registration is required. Appointments are approximately 15 minutes, and no physician order is needed. Click on the link below to learn more and schedule your appointment.

We’re excited to announce two can’t-miss events happening Summer and Fall of 2026!

Summer Gala | Saturday, July 25 | Blue Ridge Community College

Women Helping Women Luncheon | Friday, October 23 | Blue Ridge Community College

Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more details on these inspiring events that support the Pardee Hospital Foundation’s mission to improve healthcare in our community.

Pardee Earns Seven 2026 Specialty Excellence Awards
UNC Health Pardee has been recognized by Healthgrades with seven 2026 Specialty Excellence Awards, placing the hospital among the top 10% nationwide for key clinical services like stroke care, heart attack treatment, sepsis, and respiratory failure. These distinctions highlight Pardee’s ongoing commitment to high‑quality outcomes and patient care excellence.
Read more: UNC Health Pardee Receives Seven 2026 Specialty Excellence Awards from Healthgrades

Governor Appoints Pardee Leader to State Medical Board
Gov. Josh Stein has appointed Dr. Greg McCarty, UNC Health Pardee’s Chief Medical Officer, to the North Carolina Medical Board. In this role, Dr. McCarty will help oversee medical licensure, regulation, and policy development across the state — a significant honor and recognition of Pardee’s clinical leadership.
Read more: Gov. Stein Appoints UNC Health Pardee Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg McCarty to North Carolina Medical Board

New Family Medicine Physician Joins Pardee BlueMD
UNC Health Pardee is expanding access to primary care with the addition of Dr. Amy Santin at Pardee BlueMD in Asheville. Dr. Santin brings expertise in family medicine, women’s health, and healthy aging to patients of all ages.
Read more: Pardee BlueMD Welcomes Family Medicine Physician Dr. Amy Santin

Endocrinology Services Expand with New Providers
Pardee is broadening specialized care with the addition of Dr. Addys Bode, MD, and Kayla McGuinn, FNP‑C to Pardee BlueMD Endocrinology. This expansion enhances access to comprehensive management for diabetes, thyroid disorders, and other metabolic conditions.
Read more: UNC Health Pardee Expanding Endocrinology Services with Addition of New Providers

Forbes Magazine Recognition
UNC Health Pardee was named to Forbes’ inaugural list of “Top Hospitals” for 2026, earning a 5‑star overall rating for clinical quality, safety, patient experience, and outcomes — a prestigious distinction that reflects national recognition for excellence in care.

Read more: Three providers in region make Forbes’s ‘Top Hospitals’ list – Hendersonville Lightning

Pardee Hospital Foundation | 561 Fleming Street | Hendersonville, NC 28739

Office: 828-233-2700 

[email protected]

pardeehospitalfoundation.org

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Dear Friends,

As we share Pardee Hospital Foundation’s 2024-2025 Annual Report, I am filled with gratitude for what we accomplished together this past year. Each page reflects your generosity, compassion, and belief in the power of community. 

Thanks to your support, we expanded programs like Women Helping Women, invested in our teammates’ professional growth through the Circle of Caring Scholarship, and provided comfort and essential resources to patients through the Essentials Program. Together we stood strong after Hurricane Helene, ensuring our hospital teammates had the support they needed so they could continue to care for our community in the most difficult of times. 

These stories are a testament to what is possible when we come together. But they also remind us that our work is never finished.

Pardee Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce the election of a new Executive Committee and the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors. Each new board member will serve a three-year term through 2028.

Dr. Yaseen Zia, radiation oncologist, has been named the new Board Chair. Since joining the Board in 2022, Dr. Zia has provided invaluable leadership and brings a unique clinical perspective to the Foundation’s mission of advancing regional healthcare. Joining him on the Executive Committee are Bill Jansen (Vice Chair), Heather Ward (Treasurer), and Nicola Barksdale (Secretary).

The Foundation also welcomes four outstanding new Board members:
Dr. Joel Callahan – UNC Health Pardee neurologist, former Chief of Staff, and 2023 Pardee Physician of the Year. He founded the Circle of Caring program, which supports Pardee Teammates pursuing healthcare education.

Dr. Mark Goldstein – Retired child and forensic psychologist with deep expertise in behavioral health. An active supporter of Pardee’s Cancer Center through Kenmure Fights Cancer, he will also help guide the Foundation’s support of adolescent behavioral health.

Vaughan Matthews – Returning board member and past Chair with more than 28 years in business leadership. He and his wife, Kiki, were named Philanthropists of the Year in 2022 for their commitment to community healthcare.

Lynde Mickey, RN – Nursing instructor at Blue Ridge Community College and former Pardee Teammate, Lynde is passionate about strengthening the Foundation’s Sharing & Caring Teammate Engagement program.

“We are excited about Pardee Hospital Foundation’s future and our role in shaping healthcare in our region,” said Amy Treece, Executive Director of Pardee Hospital Foundation. “Our Board brings incredible experience combined with a clear vision that will play an important role in supporting Pardee and the patients we serve.”

Pardee Hospital Foundation is excited to welcome Christine Brackett Gordon as our new marketing and communications manager. Christine brings more than 23 years of experience in health care marketing, public relations, and brand strategy. Most recently, she served as director of marketing and public relations at Erlanger Health in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Christine and her family recently relocated to western North Carolina, and she looks forward to using her expertise to share the Foundation’s impact and strengthen connections with our community.