Saint Mary’s Names 2025 Mercy Award Winner

Saint Mary’s Regional Health System recently announced that Connie Gragg, People Services Director, has been recognized as the facility’s 2025 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

Established in 2001, the Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

“At Saint Mary’s, our caring and compassionate team members are at the heart of advancing our mission of making communities healthier – and Connie Gragg is a shining example of this day in and day out,” said Casey Willis, CEO of Saint Mary's. “We are so proud to recognize her many contributions to supporting our hospital and serving our community. I’m grateful for Connie’s positive influence and the example she sets for all of us.”

Connie, with 38 years of service at Saint Mary’s, exemplifies compassion and advocacy as People Services Director. She was instrumental in bringing the Project SEARCH internship program to Saint Mary's in 2017, training individuals with developmental disabilities for competitive employment. Beyond the hospital, Connie serves on the board of ARVAC, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating poverty in the River Valley through programs like substance abuse treatment, homeless shelters and energy assistance, impacting nine Arkansas counties.

Each facility winner, including Connie, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2025 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August.