Mountain States Foundation has named Liz Hughes the 2010 Tom Chase Award winner in acknowledgement of her years of serving as "the great facilitator" inside the region's largest healthcare system.

Hughes, who has served as the executive assistant to Mountain States Health Alliance President and CEO Dennis Vonderfecht for two decades, started her work in healthcare administration at Memorial Hospital in Johnson City before the creation of Johnson City Medical Center.

"It has amazed many people how diverse Liz's talents and abilities really are," said Suzie Williams, a Foundation board member and nominator of Hughes. Williams said Hughes has been key inside Mountain States by handling the organizational needs of the company's top executives while also working hard on fundraising campaigns for the Foundation. "She knows many people throughout our region and is respected for her integrity and beyond-the-call-of-duty work ethic."

Outside of Mountain States, Hughes has long been committed to working with her church and the United Emmaus Community, where she has served on many teams and the Board of Directors. For years, her "storytelling" personality has led her to being a major actress in entertainment with Emmaus, acting as "Delores" and always bringing new members to the group.

Hughes' focus on the less fortunate can be seen through her extensive work with the Johnson City Girls Club and the group's regular Garden Party Fundraiser.

About Mountain States Health Alliance

Mountain States Health Alliance, a not-for-profit healthcare organization based in Johnson City, Tenn., operates a family of hospitals serving a 29-county, four-state region (Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeastern Kentucky and Western North Carolina). Mountain States offers a large tertiary hospital, several community hospitals, two critical access hospitals, rehabilitation, a children's hospital, a behavioral health hospital, home care and hospice services as well as a comprehensive medical management corporation. Its 9,000 team members are committed to its mission of bringing loving care to health care. For more information, visit www.msha.com.