Hannah Barnett, RN
Pathway Nurse, Sullivan East High School and West Ridge High School
Hannah started her career in nursing as a nursing assistant while still in high school at a
long-term care facility. Then, while in nursing school, she transferred to
Bristol Regional Medical Center’s emergency department to open the door to acute care nursing. While there, she worked as a trauma nurse and served in the
pediatric emergency department. Hannah had opportunities at outpatient surgery centers, as well. All these opportunities helped broaden her nursing practice,
which she can use to help students with their career path options.
Hannah is using her passion for teaching to help high school students pursue their careers in
the nursing field, just like she did while still in high school. She looks forward to helping students on a similar path to advance and strengthen the healthcare in our region.
Alex Bates, RN
Pathway Nurse, Greeneville High School and Ballad Academy middle schools
Hannah started her career in nursing as a nursing assistant while still in high school at a
long-term care facility. Then, while in nursing school, she transferred to
Bristol Regional Medical Center’s emergency department to open the door to acute care nursing. While there, she worked as a trauma nurse and served in the
pediatric emergency department. Hannah had opportunities at outpatient surgery centers, as well. All these opportunities helped broaden her nursing practice,
which she can use to help students with their career path options.
Hannah is using her passion for teaching to help high school students pursue their careers in
the nursing field, just like she did while still in high school. She looks forward to helping students on a similar path to advance and strengthen the healthcare in our region.
Anna Crawford, RN
Pathway Nurse, Science Hill High School and Elizabethton High School
Anna is a registered nurse with more than 15 years of diverse clinical experience spanning acute care, surgery, trauma, cardiac care, home health, hospice and case management. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care while educating patients and families to promote health, safety and independence. Her experience in perioperative nursing, post-anesthesia care and care coordination has equipped her with a well-rounded clinical background and a strong commitment to excellence in healthcare.
As a Pathway Nurse, Anna combines her extensive nursing expertise with her passion for mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. She partners with high school students and educators to provide hands-on clinical instruction, healthcare skills training and career guidance for students pursuing certified nursing assistant (CNA) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) pathways. Anna is dedicated to inspiring future nurses by fostering confidence, professionalism and a lifelong commitment to compassionate patient care.
Allie Phelps, BSN, RN
Pathway Nurse, Dobyns-Bennett High School and Tennessee High School
Allie is a registered nurse who began her educational journey at Northeast State before transferring to East Tennessee State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2020. Her nursing experience includes cardiac step-down care, ophthalmic surgery and vascular access, specializing in PICC lines, midlines and ultrasound-guided IV placement, before transitioning into education.
Passionate about developing the next generation of healthcare professionals, Allie is committed to helping students discover their potential and explore meaningful careers in healthcare. She values the unique opportunity to work alongside many of the same educators who inspired her as a student and finds great joy in watching her students grow in confidence as they pursue their goals. Allie looks forward to another year with Ballad Health Academy, helping shape the future of healthcare by inspiring compassionate, capable and dedicated future nurses.
Ballad Health's Program Manager of Secondary Education Integration
Amy Jeffers, BSN, RN
Program Manager of Secondary Education Integration
Amy Jeffers is the Program Manager of Secondary Education Integration with Ballad Health. A BSN-credentialed Registered Nurse with a background in Emergency Care, Amy transitioned into education as a high school Health Science Teacher, where she specialized in preparing students for careers in healthcare by certifying them as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMA).
Passionate about workforce development, Amy is dedicated to enhancing healthcare workforce readiness and addressing regional needs across East Tennessee.