Jellico Regional Hospital Administrator Kelly Christie has resigned.
In a letter, dated May 8, to the city council, Christie writes, “I would like to sincerely thank you and the community for welcoming my family and I to this wonderful area. Although it was a challenging and winding road in re-opening the hospital, the reward of the meaningful work in re-establishing the needed healthcare services for the community certainly exceeded any challenges experienced.
“Upon some reflection in recent months, I decided that my time serving within the administrator role was coming to an end. It was truly a rewarding experience working with and serving the gracious people of the Jellico community. Nevertheless, most things in life are not permanent and such was the case regarding my time in leading the hospital. An interim administrator is now in place for this transition, and I am confident that the hospital will continue to develop and thrive.
“Although I have truly appreciated the immense natural beauty in the Jellico area, I have been most impressed with the great humility of the people within the Jellico community. Thank you again for having supported me and having allowed me to serve this wonderful community.”
The hospital partially opened earlier this year after being closed for around two years — but is still not yet fully open, as of last Thursday.
The Jellico Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to have Boa Vida Healthcare take over operations of the hospital back in April 2021. Part of the reasoning behind that vote was expediency of returning hospital operations to the city. The vote was 4-1, with Sarah McQueen voting no.
Christie has not returned a call from the Press.
Jellico Regional Hospital officials confirmed last Thursday that Christie has resigned.
On the agenda under new business for the Jellico Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting that night was the resignation of Christie.
“He came by the other day and gave me a resignation where he was going to be resigning from the hospital and moving onto another job,” Jellico Mayor Sandy Terry said. “He didn’t go into any details.”
No vote was taken on the matter.
“It’s not anything we need to vote on,” Terry said. “It’s just something that I wanted to bring to the council’s attention that he did come by and speak with us, and he did appreciate everything that we had done for him and the hospital while he was there.”
The Jellico board also voted to approve a resolution to honor Pastor Jerome Walden and to put up a sign honoring him. An outside group will buy the sign.
The resolution, in part, reads: “In recognition of Pastor Jerome Walden’s service to the Jellico community and in honor of his dedication to the service to fellow mankind, North Florence Avenue from South Main Street to Dairy Avenue in the city of Jellico will hereafter also be known as Reverend Jerome Walden Way and appropriate signage will be erected in honor of Pastor Jerome Walden.”
