Healthy Connections is proud to announce its September 2026 Employee of the Month honorees: Abbie Smith, LPN, of Sheridan and Brittany Mayberry, LPN, of Mount Ida. Both employees were nominated by coworkers for their dedication to patients, willingness to help others, and commitment to providing quality healthcare in their communities.
Smith, who joined Healthy Connections in 2025, was selected as the East Communities Employee of the Month. Mayberry, who has been with the organization since 2023, was named the West Communities Employee of the Month.
Each month, Healthy Connections employees nominate coworkers who demonstrate the organization’s three pillars of Community, Compassion, and Excellence. Members of the Senior Management Team review the nominations and vote to select one employee from the East Communities and one from the West Communities.
This month’s winners share something important beyond their job titles. Both help patients receive care through in-clinic telehealth appointments when their healthcare providers are working from another location. Their work demonstrates how dedicated nursing professionals can help make healthcare more accessible in smaller Arkansas communities.
Abbie Smith: Dedicated Patient Care in Sheridan
Abbie Smith, LPN, joined Healthy Connections in 2025 and works at the organization’s Sheridan clinic.
Her nomination highlighted her dedication to patients and her ability to help keep the clinic operating smoothly, including days when she is the only employee physically working at the location.
One coworker described Smith’s commitment in simple terms:
“She is at the clinic 3 days a week by herself and she rocks it. She handles those patients like no other and the patients love her for being there for them.”
That recognition reflects the confidence her coworkers have in her and the relationships she has developed with the people who depend on the Sheridan clinic for healthcare.
When a provider is working from another location, Smith helps support patients during their in-clinic telehealth appointments. Her presence gives patients someone at the clinic who can assist with the visit while they connect with their healthcare provider remotely.
For patients, having a familiar nursing professional available locally can make an important difference in their healthcare experience.
Smith’s nomination reflects the value of being dependable, compassionate, and willing to take on responsibility. Whether supporting an appointment or helping patients navigate their visit, her work demonstrates the importance of having committed healthcare professionals serving local communities.
Her recognition as the September East Communities Employee of the Month celebrates the difference she makes at Healthy Connections Sheridan.
Brittany Mayberry: Going Above and Beyond in Mount Ida
Brittany Mayberry, LPN, has served Healthy Connections since 2023 and works at the Mount Ida clinic.
Mayberry received two nominations for September Employee of the Month, with both coworkers recognizing her dedication, reliability, and willingness to take on multiple responsibilities.
One nomination highlighted the many tasks she handles to keep the clinic functioning.
“She works the clinic all by her self several days a week and does the job and 3 people,” the coworker wrote, also recognizing her work with nursing and laboratory responsibilities.
Like Smith in Sheridan, Mayberry helps support in-clinic telehealth appointments when the provider is working remotely. She also assists patients during regular clinic operations and helps coordinate the many day-to-day responsibilities involved in keeping the Mount Ida location running.
Her second nomination offered an especially detailed picture of the impact she has on patients and coworkers.
“This nurse constantly goes above and beyond for her patients in Mount Ida. When needed, she’ll do whatever she can for any other patient as well.”
The coworker praised Mayberry for helping patients receive timely attention, answering their questions and concerns, and being someone other employees can depend on for assistance.
That willingness to help extends beyond Mount Ida. Her nominator explained that Mayberry is someone they can call for help even when working at another clinic. If she cannot respond immediately, she makes an effort to follow up when she is available.
The nomination also recognized her support for fellow nursing staff and the clinic’s Patient Care Coordinator.
One particularly memorable detail was the coworker’s description of Mayberry as the clinic’s unofficial “clinic mom.”
According to the nomination, she is often the first person coworkers turn to when questions arise or something needs attention. In many cases, she has already addressed a problem or ordered needed supplies before anyone asks.
The coworker concluded with a strong endorsement of Mayberry’s dedication, describing her as “the most helpful nurse I have ever had.”
Receiving two nominations in the same month reflects the appreciation her coworkers have for the work she performs and the support she provides.
Her selection as the September West Communities Employee of the Month recognizes the consistent effort she puts into serving patients and supporting the Mount Ida team.
Community, Compassion, and Excellence in Action
The Healthy Connections Employee of the Month program recognizes employees whose work reflects the organization’s commitment to Community, Compassion, and Excellence.
Nominations come directly from coworkers who see these contributions firsthand. The Senior Management Team then considers those nominations when selecting the monthly East and West Communities winners.
Smith and Mayberry demonstrate those values through their work as Licensed Practical Nurses.
Their commitment to Community is reflected in the healthcare support they provide in Sheridan and Mount Ida. Both help patients access healthcare services locally, including through in-clinic telehealth appointments.
Their Compassion is evident in the attention they give patients, the relationships they build, and their willingness to help people navigate healthcare visits.
Their pursuit of Excellence is demonstrated through their dependability, teamwork, and dedication to supporting patients and providers.
Although their clinics are in different parts of Arkansas, their contributions reflect the same commitment to helping people receive the care they need.
Healthy Connections congratulates Abbie Smith and Brittany Mayberry, the September 2026 Employees of the Month, and thanks them for the difference they make for patients, coworkers, and their communities.
Join the Healthy Connections Team
At Healthy Connections, nurses, providers, administrative professionals, and support staff work together to make healthcare more accessible throughout Arkansas.
The organization welcomes people who share its commitment to Community, Compassion, and Excellence and want to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.
Interested in joining the Healthy Connections team? Visit our Careers page to explore current employment opportunities.
