Twice each year, I like to share an update on what's happening at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital (HCH) and Eckerd Living Center (ELC). It's hard to believe we're already halfway through 2026, and this feels like the perfect time to talk about where we see healthcare on the Plateau heading in the years ahead.
While our focus every day is providing excellent care, we're also thinking about what our community will need in the future. Healthcare is constantly evolving, and we want to ensure HCH and ELC continue to grow alongside the communities we serve.
One of the ways we do that is through our annual Board retreat, which we held in April. This year's discussions were future-focused — what we're doing well today, where we see growth opportunities, and how we can continue meeting the healthcare needs of our community for years to come.
A few priorities rose to the top. One is continuing to recruit outstanding physicians and specialists who can bring additional services closer to home. Another is expanding surgical services so more patients can receive care locally. We also discussed something that often doesn't get enough attention: investing in our people.
Our team members are the heart of HCH and ELC. Whether they're caring for patients at the bedside, working behind the scenes, or supporting our clinics, they're the reason we're able to provide the level of care our community expects. That's why we're committed to supporting continuing education, professional growth, and leadership development opportunities for our staff.
Our commitment to our people was on full display recently during our first Celebration of Service event, where we recognized team members with 10 or more years of service to HCH and ELC. Collectively, those honorees represented more than 1,000 years of service to our patients, residents, and community. As I shared that evening, healthcare is more than a profession — it is a calling. Many of these individuals cared for generations of local families and served during some of the most challenging moments in our community's history, from the Blizzard of 1993 to the COVID-19 pandemic and, most recently, Hurricane Helene.
We're also helping create pathways into healthcare careers through programs like our Nursing Aid Training Program, where students are paid while they learn. Upon completion, graduates earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification and are prepared to begin meaningful careers in healthcare.
Expanding access to care remains one of our most important goals. Like many rural communities, western North Carolina faces challenges including transportation barriers, insurance concerns, and provider shortages. That's why we're continually looking for ways to bring more services closer to home.
While we'll always be the trusted community hospital our residents know and rely on, we also have the potential to become an even stronger regional healthcare destination. By expanding services, attracting talented physicians, and continuing to invest in our team, we're building on our strong foundation.
We recently welcomed orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Franklin Sloboda to HCH and ELC. Dr. Sloboda brings decades of experience in orthopedic surgery and specializes in hip and knee replacement procedures. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he served our country as an Army orthopedic surgeon before building an impressive career helping patients regain mobility and return to the activities they enjoy most.
Beginning later this summer, Dr. Sloboda will see patients at Cashiers Medical Clinic and perform total hip and total knee replacement surgeries at HCH.
As our community continues to grow and remain active, the need for orthopedic services continues to increase. Bringing Dr. Sloboda to HCH reflects our commitment to expanding specialty care and investing in services that matter most to our patients and their families.
Tom Neal, RN, MBA, MHA, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. Neal is a proven leader with more than 30 years of progressive healthcare experience. Prior to his role at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, he served as Chief Executive Officer of both Berwick Hospital Center in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and Greenbriar Valley Medical Center, Ronceverte, West Virginia, which are each part of Community Health Systems (CHS). Tom has an MBA from the University of Louisville, MHA from the California College of Health Sciences, BSN from Regents College of New York and an ADN from Jefferson Community College.