Saint Joseph Berea Recognizes Outstanding Medical Staff

BEREA, Ky. (April 24, 2026) – Saint Joseph Berea recognized its 2026 Physician of the Year, Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of the Year, Employee of the Year and Leader of the Year award recipient during a hospital celebration on Tuesday, March 10. This year’s recipients are:

• Physician of the Year – Joshua Huffman, MD, Lexington
• Employee of the Year – Kristina Rose, Berea
• Leader of the Year – Raylee Kirkland, Supervisor, Rehab Therapy Services, Berea

Each year, Saint Joseph Berea recognizes an outstanding Physician of the Year and APP of the Year who help build healthier communities and exhibit Saint Joseph Health’s core values of compassion, inclusion, integrity, excellence and collaboration. Joshua Huffman, MD, was nominated for Physician of the Year by his colleagues.

“Dr. Huffman's leadership and dedication have directly and tangibly contributed to the pervasive success of Saint Joseph Berea, especially in achieving and maintaining our esteemed CMS 5-Star rating. His multifaceted contributions have translated into enhanced patient care, significant cost efficiencies and boosted morale across multiple departments,” his nominator wrote. “His mutual respect for all disciplines ensures that complex care plans are executed effectively and efficiently. This leverages the strengths of each team member for the holistic well-being of the patient.”

Saint Joseph Berea also recognizes an Employee of the Year and Leader of the Year who go above and beyond their duties and demonstrate the health care system’s core values.

Saint Joseph Berea’s 2026 Employee of the Year is Kristina Rose.

“Kristina’s effective collaboration and communication directly contribute to a safe and secure OR. This is the absolute cornerstone of our mission. Her efficiency saves valuable time, reducing surgical turnover times and potentially allowing for more cases. Her vigilance and coordination directly prevent adverse events, ensuring optimal patient outcomes,” her nominator wrote. “By fostering a culture of teamwork and open communication, she embodies the principle that patient safety is a shared responsibility, living our mission every single day within the most critical care areas.”

Raylee Kirkland has been named the 2026 Leader of the Year, recognized for her outstanding leadership in a managerial position.

“Raylee is a culture changer within our organization. Her enthusiasm and professionalism are evident in every interaction and initiative she undertakes. Her commitment to our hospital's mission is clear, and she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure a positive and supportive environment for both staff and patients.” her nominator wrote.

Additional Saint Joseph Health winners include: 

• Saint Joseph Health Corporate - Mersi Lawhorn, Employee of the Year, Lexington; Elizabeth Sword, Leader of the Year, Lexington

• Saint Joseph Medical Group - Benjamin Neltner, MD, Physician of the Year, Lexington; Jessica McMaine, APP of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health APP of the Year, Richmond; Julie O’Nan, Employee of the Year, Harrodsburg; Jasmine Ellis, Leader of the Year, Lexington

• Continuing Care Hospital - Ibrahim Shahoub, MD,, Physician of the Year, Lexington; Regina Mullins, APP of the Year, Pikeville; Jennifer Osborne, Employee of the Year, Carlisle; Joann Rose, Leader of the Year, Richmond

• Flaget Memorial Hospital - Sanjiv Mehta, MD, Physician of the Year, Louisville; Scott Ohler, APP of the Year, Elizabethtown; Paige Cissell, Employee of the Year, Bloomfield; Sarah Gabeheart, Leader of the Year, Bardstown

• Saint Joseph East - Eric Schafer, MD, Physician of the Year, Charlestown, MA; Ashley Frankowski, APP of the Year, Lexington; Danny Hunt, Employee of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health Employee of the Year, Lexington; Jen Spegal, Leader of the Year, Richmond

• Saint Joseph Hospital - Kathleen Martin, MD, Physician of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health Physician of the Year, Woodbury, NJ; Isaac Hughes, APP of the Year, Lexington; Alban Hayden, Employee of the Year, Versailles; Elizabeth Hatfield, Leader of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health Leader of the Year, Charlestown, IN

• Saint Joseph Jessamine - Joseph Grossman, MD, Physician of the Year, Greenville, NC; Josh Sykes, APP of the Year, Palestine, TX; Stanley Puumala, Employee of the Year, Crab Orchard; Rosetta Tuggle, Leader of the Year, Lancaster

• Saint Joseph Berea - Joshua Huffman, MD, Physician of the Year, Lexington; Kristina Rose, Employee of the Year, Berea; Raylee Kirkland, Leader of the Year, Berea

• Saint Joseph Mount Sterling - Kayla Hollins, MD, Physician of the Year, Lexington; Jenna Newkirk, APP of the Year, Mount Sterling; Amanda Cline, Employee of the Year, Salt Lick; Jim Hamm, Leader of the Year, Richmond

Learn more about Saint Joseph Health.

About Saint Joseph Health

Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 15 cities, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph Berea

Saint Joseph Berea is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Berea, Kentucky. Established in 1898 on the grounds of Berea College, the facility serves residents of Madison, Estill, Garrard, Jackson and Rockcastle counties. Saint Joseph Berea recognizes the importance of family, friends and familiar surroundings in the healing process and provides a breadth of services so that getting first-rate care doesn’t have to mean being far from home.

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