Hickory, NC – Michele W. Hamby, R.N., has been promoted to Administrative Director of Frye Regional Medical Center’s South Campus. Hamby came to Frye in 2002 as the Primary Charge Nurse for the Substance Abuse Unit; she later moved in to the Clinical Director of Nursing position. Since November 2005, Hamby has been working as the interim Administrative Director of South Campus.

    Hamby holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and is working towards an advanced nursing degree with the goal of obtaining a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing. She is also a Certified Trainer in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention which she received through Cornell University.

    In her role as Administrative Director of South Campus, Hamby says she hopes to “maintain quality patient care during significant changes to our state mental health system.” She plans to educate the community about mental illness and hopes to erase the negative stigma attached to the diagnosis. “It truly takes a dedicated team of consummate professionals to come in every day and do this work,” says Hamby. “I feel that I have the best employees that I have ever had the experience to work with. They truly make the difference and I want them to know just how much they are appreciated.”

    Hamby resides in Hudson, NC, with her husband, Michael, and her 10 year old daughter, Elizabeth.

    Frye Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet North Carolina, is a 355-bed acute care facility located at 420 North Center Street in Hickory, NC. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Catawba County since 1911. The hospital’s main campus includes a comprehensive heart center and cardiac rehab, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, pediatrics, center for neurosciences, cancer center and women’s pavilion. Frye has several extended campuses to serve families throughout the area including: Wellness and Education Center which houses the Center For Diabetes Self-Management Care, perinatal education and community wellness classes; South Campus for psychiatric services; Viewmont and Tate Surgery Centers; Vein and Wound Center/Infusion Care; Pain Center; Piedmont Therapy, offering sports and industrial rehabilitation; an urgent care facility; FryeCare, an outpatient diagnostic facility; Alexander Campus, which provides 24 hour emergency care along with diagnostic and laboratory services and infusion care; plus HealthPoint, which provides extensive industrial services and programs to employers.

    Frye Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.fryemedctr.com