Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Names 2024 Mercy Award Winner
May 7, 2024
Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital (LCRH) recently announced that Cherish Strunk, CST, has been recognized as the facility’s 2024 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 Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, we are committed to advancing Lifepoint’s mission of making communities healthier, and our devoted team members are critical to this work – especially Cherish Strunk,” said Robert Parker, CEO of Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. “We are so proud to recognize Cherish for her selflessness, generosity, and compassion towards our community. Cherish Strunk has gone above and beyond and is a true champion of the caring culture at LCRH.”
Cherish Strunk, aged 25 and a recent graduate of Somerset Community College's Certified Scrub Technician program, began her journey with Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in August 2023. Following her graduation, she will transition to a full-time role at LCRH. Cherish's commitment to serving others extends beyond the walls of our hospital. Cherish felt compelled to act when she learned of Johnson County resident Danny Finch's desperate need for a kidney through a mutual friend's Facebook post. Despite being a young student with her own obligations, she willingly stepped forward to donate her kidney during her spring break on February 29, 2024. This act of immense kindness and generosity epitomizes the spirit of mercy and altruism, especially considering Mr. Finch was a complete stranger to her. Furthermore, Cherish completed her recovery in just eleven days despite the standard healing time of six weeks, which is a testament to her resilience and determination.
During her time at Somerset Community College, Cherish consistently exhibited exceptional character, skillfully managing the demands of both her personal and professional life. Her academic achievements were exemplary, maintaining one of the highest grade point averages in her program. Additionally, she actively engaged in various community outreach projects, demonstrating her commitment to serving others.
Cherish's courage, compassion, and dedication to improving the lives of others exemplify the values on which Lifepoint Health was founded. Her selfless act of kidney donation not only saved a life but also inspired hope and renewed faith.
Each facility winner, including Cherish, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2024 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during an August ceremony in Nashville, Tenn.