The Baptist Health Hardin Foundation board of directors has announced the addition of four new board members, according to a news release.
Nannette Johnston, Brown Gwynn, Dr. William Porter and Dr. Hiral Badiwala were approved during the board’s August meeting, the release said. The new members are joining the 30-member board to advance the foundation’s mission to provide leadership and resources to strengthen Baptist Health Hardin, the release said.
“The foundation board is privileged to have these four new members, all of whom are willing to selflessly commit their time and energy to the betterment of our region’s health care,” Baptist Health Foundation Hardin Chair Mike Bowers said in the release. “Their backgrounds are diverse, with expertise in healthcare, education and business. I have no doubt that their unique insights will be instrumental to the board.”
According to the release, Johnston is a local leader in education with 39 years of experience and leadership, and most recently served as a consultant with Huron/Studer Education. She previously worked for 33 years with the Hardin County Schools system where she served as a teacher, director of early childhood and superintendent, the release said. She served as superintendent for 10 years before retiring from the school district in 2016, according to the release.
“I am absolutely honored to be included among this diverse board of accomplished community leaders and medical professionals, and I look forward to finding ways in which I can positively contribute to the foundation’s efforts to bolster quality healthcare in our region,” she said in the release.
Gwynn is retired from his position as COO and chairman of the board for JHA Legacy LLC, the release said. Also known as Limestone Farm Lawn and Worksite, JHA Legacy is a multi-store John Deere equipment and parts retailer with nine dealerships across central Kentucky, the release said. According to the release, Gwynn founded JHA Legacy with his father after initially partnering with him at Dixie Farm Store, which his father managed and bought out in 1963.
“My father not only taught me what I know about business, but he and my mother also taught me everything I know about giving back to the community,” he said in the release. “I was always provided with an excellent example of what service looks like and I’ve tried to reflect that throughout my life. Serving on the foundation board is my way of serving a community which has given me so much.”
Porter serves as a radiation oncologist with Baptist Health Medical Group Radiation Oncology in Elizabethtown, the release said. A graduate of Chicago Medical School, he has served Baptist Health Hardin patients since 2019, after working with Baptist Health Floyd in New Albany, Indiana, according to the release.
“As a physician, I feel as though I am called to service on a daily basis,” he said in the release. “Through this role on the foundation board, I hope to channel my commitment to the service of others and share my knowledge as a medical professional to best serve the foundation’s valuable mission.”
Badiwala serves as an optometrist with Visionworks in Elizabethtown and is a graduate of the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts, the release said.
“In my family, support for regional healthcare is imperative,” she said in the release. “My husband and I have been longtime supporters of the foundation, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity to help the organization in a more hands-on capacity.”
To date, the foundation has raised more than $8 million in its seven years of existence to support local patients, the release said. According to the release, the extras purchased by the foundation include cooling caps for chemo patients to help them keep their hair, and more than $1 million of new equipment for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to help keep babies requiring care safe.
Donors also support pediatric therapy, cancer care, pet therapy, emergency pediatric care, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Forensic program, the release said.
