Saint Joseph London Recognizes Outstanding Medical Staff and Leaders With Awards

LONDON, Ky. (May 2025) – Saint Joseph London has announced its 2025 Physician of the Year, Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Leader of the Year award recipients. They will be recognized during a hospital celebration on Monday, April 28, from 10-11 a.m. in the hospital cafeteria. This year’s recipients are:

• Physician of the Year – Cliff Freeman, MD, Lexington
• APP of the Year – Kyra Gambrel, APRN, Corbin
• Employee of the Year for Saint Joseph London and overall Employee of the Year for Saint Joseph Health – John “Tyler” Morgan, McKee
• Leader of the Year – Kelly Helton, Director of Critical Care, London

Each year, Saint Joseph London 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. Dr. Cliff Freeman was nominated for Physician of the Year by his colleagues.

“Dr. Freeman has demonstrated exceptional leadership in navigating uncharted territory related to sepsis care, fostering excellent collaboration with quality, nursing, and other providers. He has earned the respect of the entire team,” said his nominator. “He readily rolls up his sleeves and pitches in wherever needed. As a result of his leadership and dedication, patient outcomes have significantly improved, ensuring that our patients receive the timely and effective care they need.”

The 2025 APP of the Year is Kyra Gambrel, a nurse practitioner at the hospital.

“Kyra consistently demonstrates compassion in her interactions with each patient, ensuring their questions are answered thoroughly and that they fully understand their plan of care. She goes above and beyond to ensure patients are well taken care of and receive the support they need. In addition to her clinical work, Kyra also serves as an associate professor for the nurse practitioner program at University of the Cumberlands and volunteers in the Corbin community, demonstrating her dedication to serving the community and those in need,” said her nominator.

Saint Joseph London 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 London’s 2025 Employee of the Year is John “Tyler” Morgan.

“Tyler is an exceptional individual who consistently goes above and beyond to support everyone he encounters,” said his nominator. “He is a positive and uplifting presence, capable of brightening anyone's day with a single interaction. Tyler embodies strong values and consistently demonstrates his commitment to the organization and its patients. He actively participates in hospital events, seminars, and galas, bringing his positive energy to every occasion. He is a model employee who exemplifies dedication and service.”

Kelly Helton has been named the 2025 Leader of the Year, recognized for her outstanding leadership in a managerial position.

“Kelly is an exceptional leader who consistently goes above and beyond to care for her staff and patients. Her leadership has driven positive transformations within the Intensive Care Department Management Team, significantly impacting the team and the organization. Kelly’s ability to manage multiple units and assist physicians is a huge accomplishment. She consistently accommodates families in need, helping them make difficult decisions. She motivates and encourages her team and often stays beyond her working hours to help others. Kelly truly embodies the call to serve others,” said her nominator.

Additional Saint Joseph Health winners include: 

• Saint Joseph Health Corporate - Amanda Scarbrough, Employee of the Year; Joseph Higgins, Leader of the Year

• Saint Joseph Medical Group - Dr. Amanda Smith, Physician of the Year; Autumn Westmoreland, APP of the Year; Tasha Vest (Rosalyn), Employee of the Year; Sonja McCarty, Leader of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health Leader of the Year

• Continuing Care Hospital - Dr. Eliseo Colon, Physician of the Year; Sara Staab, APP of the Year; Nautica Beasley, Employee of the Year; Terri Caldwell, Leader of the Year

• Flaget Memorial Hospital - Dr. Patrick Williams, Physician of the Year; Teresa Michelle Mattingly, APP of the Year; Hobert Humphrey, Employee of the Year; Mashonda Smalley, Leader of the Year

• Saint Joseph East - Dr. Edgar Emerick, Physician of the Year; Katie Cranfill, APP of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health APP of the Year; Pueblo Rico, Employee of the Year; April Jennings, Leader of the Year

• Saint Joseph Hospital - Dr. Samy Elayi, Physician of the Year; Micah Short, APP of the Year; Chelcie Scifres, Employee of the Year; Heather Raygoza, Leader of the Year

• Saint Joseph Jessamine - Carly Smits, Employee of the Year

• Saint Joseph Berea - Dr. Jessica Pennington, Physician of the Year and overall Saint Joseph Health Physician of the Year; Teshla Ratcliff, APP of the Year; Melissa Agee, Employee of the Year; Andrew Shoemaker, Leader of the Year

• Saint Joseph Mount Sterling - Dr. Jan Veloso, Physician of the Year; Robert Coleman, APP of the Year; Stevee Caudill, Employee of the Year; Bridgette Jones, Leader of the Year

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 20 counties, 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 toward a goal of building 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 London

Saint Joseph London is a 150-bed full-service hospital located in London, Kentucky. Established in 1926, the facility serves patients from southeastern Kentucky, including those from Clay, Laurel, Jackson, Whitley, Knox and Pulaski counties. The current $152 million regional hospital opened in 2010, and offers all private patient rooms, with most overlooking a small lake and garden on the 52-acre healing environment.