Holston Valley Medical Center celebrates 90 years of excellence in care

For 90 years, Holston Valley Medical Center has been at the heart of Kingsport, providing life-saving care, pioneering medical innovation and supporting generations of families. On Thursday, Sept. 25, the hospital celebrated this milestone anniversary with a special open house event.

Former and current team members of the hospital joined the community to enjoy an evening of food, fellowship and discovery as the hospital opened its doors to showcase its rich history. Guests explored key departments, learned about the hospital’s medical services and participated in hands-on demonstrations of Holston Valley’s robotic technology.

“Our 90th anniversary was more than a milestone — it was a testament to the dedication of generations of healthcare professionals who have cared for our community,” said Rebecca Beck, CEO of Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital. “From our first 53 beds in 1935 to becoming a regional leader in heart care, stroke care and cancer treatment, Holston Valley has remained committed to providing the highest level of care, right here in Kingsport. We were honored to celebrate this history with our community and excited to share the future of healthcare with those we serve.”

Holston Valley Medical Center first opened its doors on Aug. 9, 1935, as Holston Valley Community Hospital with 53 beds and nine bassinets. Since then, it has expanded its facilities, added nationally recognized programs and performed many “firsts” in the region — from the first open-heart surgery in 1972 to the first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) surgery in Tennessee.

Today, Holston Valley is home to an advanced primary stroke center, the Christine LaGuardia Phillips Cancer Center, the Every Step Joint Replacement Center, trauma care, a comprehensive weight management center, state-of-the-art robotic-assisted surgical platforms and a broad spectrum of specialties, including cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, urology, pulmonology and more.

In 2025, Holston Valley became the first hospital in East Tennessee to provide EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement surgery, the first in the region and state to use the FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation System for atrial fibrillation and the first in the region to use the Aurora EV-ICD system for defibrillators.

“As a physician leader, I am incredibly proud of the high-quality, evidence-based care our teams deliver every day,” said Dr. Beth Jackson, chief medical officer at Holston Valley Medical Center. “This celebration is a reminder of why we do what we do — to serve our patients with compassion, innovation and clinical excellence. We look forward to building on this legacy and continuing to advance healthcare for Kingsport and the entire region.”

Holston Valley Medical Center has also served as a key economic driver for Kingsport, employing 1,261 team members. Of those team members, 25 have 40 years or more of service and 93 have 30 years or more of service. The hospital’s longest tenured team member is Lenise Jenkins, who has served at Holston Valley for 54 years.

“For 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping patients and families navigate their healthcare journeys at Holston Valley Medical Center,” said Carrie Musselman, manager in the Consumer Call Center. “Every day, I witness the compassion, skill and teamwork that make this hospital a centerpiece of our community. Celebrating 90 years is not just about our history — it’s about the countless moments of care and connection that happen here, every single day.”

“Access to exceptional healthcare is the foundation of a thriving community,” said Paul Montgomery, mayor of Kingsport. “Holston Valley Medical Center has fueled Kingsport’s growth for 90 years by creating jobs, attracting talent and helping to recruit new businesses and industries to our region. Our community takes great pride in having such an outstanding medical center right here at home.”

Holston Valley’s history has also been defined by courageous trailblazers like Leola “Lola” Campbell, who in 1960 became the first African American to integrate the Kingsport Nursing School and the first Black nurse to work at Holston Valley, where she retired after 32 years of service.

“As the daughter of Lola Campbell, this anniversary was very meaningful,” said Carla Karst, member of the Ballad Health Board of Directors. “My mother’s perseverance paved the way for generations of nurses and healthcare professionals who followed. Today, while serving as a board member, I am honored to help steward Holston Valley’s next chapter of growth and innovation. I encourage the community to continue supporting this incredible hospital through philanthropy and civic engagement so that future generations will benefit from the same spirit of service that has defined Holston Valley for 90 years.”

In 2019, Holston Valley was named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson, and earlier this year, the hospital was recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery and No. 1 in Tennessee. The hospital also earned the American Heart Association (AHA) Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines Stroke Award and was named “high performing” in multiple specialties by U.S. News and World Report.

“These achievements are a reflection of the passion and talent of our entire team,” Beck said. “As we celebrate 90 years, we reaffirmed our commitment to the future — continuing to invest in innovative technologies, expand our services and uphold the standard of excellence that has earned Holston Valley national recognition. Our promise to this community is to continue delivering exceptional care today and remain a trusted partner in health for generations to come.”