2026 CHC Hero Award Winners

CHC Hero Award — 2026 Winner Announcement

We're so glad to finally share this. Meet our 2026 CHC Hero Award winners!

**John Illsley, PA-C**, of Person Family Medical Center, is honored for his compassionate, patient-centered care and his commitment to educating and empowering patients, including through the diabetes education classes he leads. A trusted mentor and teammate, John lives out the community health mission of quality care for all, regardless of ability to pay, making a lasting difference in the lives of his patients and their families.

**Dr. Teresa Bratton, MD**, has spent more than 40 years caring for children with asthma and allergies in the Triad, beginning as unpaid volunteer work at a community clinic in 1984 and continuing through her career at Guilford Child Health and Triad Adult & Pediatric Medicine. As she retires, she's remembered for combining clinical expertise with a deep commitment to serving uninsured and Medicaid families who might otherwise struggle to access specialty care.

Congratulations to both of you. We'll be reaching out directly to coordinate your award and gift card.

We also want to recognize every colleague who was nominated this year:

**Evie Nicklas** – Director of Integrated Health, MedNorth Health Center
**Lorinnsa Bridges-Kee** – Chief Human Resources Officer, Piedmont Health Services
**Gary Collins** – Chief Operating Officer, Piedmont Health Services
**Olawale "Wale"** – the sole psychiatric mental health practitioner at Bee Busy Wellness Center

Each story we received was a reminder of what makes community health centers so special: people who show up, again and again, for their patients and their communities. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a hero, and to every nominee doing that work every day.

#CHCHero #NationalHealthCenterWeek #CommunityHealthCenters