Saint Joseph Berea Recognizes 2021 Physician of the Year; 2021 Advanced Practice Provider of the Year

BEREA, Ky. (Nov. 29, 2021) – Saint Joseph Berea recently recognized Donny Hardy, MD, as the 2021 Physician of the Year, and Brian Behrendt, as the 2021 Advanced Practice Provider of the Year. Hardy, of Berea, practices with CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – Internal Medicine in Berea, while Behrendt, also of Berea, works as a physician assistant hospitalist at Saint Joseph Berea. Both were recognized during a virtual ceremony.

The hospital annually recognizes an outstanding Physician of the Year who works to bring wellness, healing and hope to patients and families, as well as exhibits the core values of reverence, integrity, compassion and excellence.

“Dr. Hardy is an asset to health care in the Berea community,” said a colleague who nominated him. “In his clinical practice setting, he provides excellent care to all of his patients. At Saint Joseph Berea, he provides coverage as a hospitalist on evenings and weekends. He also demonstrates our CommonSpirit core values in his interactions with everyone – both the patients he cares for and the nursing and ancillary staff he works alongside. He is well regarded by Saint Joseph Berea’s medical staff, as well as the hospital staff. You never see him without a smile – it is a pleasure and a privilege to serve alongside Dr. Hardy in Saint Joseph Berea’s health care ministry.”

This year’s Advanced Practice Provider of the Year recipient, Brian Behrendt, was also nominated by a colleague.

“Each day, Brian displays our core values of compassion, inclusion, integrity, excellence and collaboration while taking care of our acute and swing bed patients,” said Behrendt’s colleague.  “He has impeccable work ethic and strives daily to provide the highest quality of care to our patients. He collaborates with the multidisciplinary team for best outcomes for discharge needs. His documentation is professional, accurate and timely.”

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph Berea

Saint Joseph Berea is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Berea, Kentucky. Established in 1898 on the grounds of Berea College, the facility serves residents of Madison, Estill, Garrard, Jackson and Rockcastle counties. Saint Joseph Berea recognizes the importance of family, friends and familiar surroundings in the healing process and provides a breadth of services so that getting first-rate care doesn’t have to mean being far from home.

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