NEWS RELEASE – July 7, 2026
Nurses Honored for Going Above and Beyond at Paintsville ARH Hospital
Paintsville, KY – Paintsville ARH Hospital is celebrating two outstanding nurses who have received awards from the Appalachian Regional Healthcare system. These awards honor nurses who show exceptional dedication, lead with heart, and go the extra mile for patients, families, and their teams.
“Nursing is a calling and we are privileged to have nurses whose knowledge and compassion define the care we provide. They are the foundation of healthcare and their impact cannot be overstated,” said Kathy Stumbo, Paintsville ARH Hospital CEO.
The first honoree is the Nurse Executive Award winner, Crystal McGaffee.
Crystal McGaffee is a strong and caring leader who consistently leads by example. She works side by side with her team daily, offering support, listening to concerns and helping solve challenges while making every team member feel valued. She is deeply dedicated to both her team and patients. After her daughter’s graduation, she returned the same night to help cover a shift. McGaffee connects with her patients, offering kindness and support that makes a lasting difference. McGaffee has continued to grow professionally as she earned her BSN after becoming a Chief Nursing Officer. She graduated from the ARH Leadership Academy and is currently working toward her master’s degree. She is actively involved in committees and focuses on innovation, always playing an important role in improving patient care and the overall experience throughout the hospital.
The second honoree is the Emergency Department Nurse winner, Marlene Maynard.
With more than 30 years of experience, Maynard is a highly respected nurse known for her compassion, patience, and extensive clinical knowledge. She always delivers high-quality patient care and is skilled at recognizing early changes in patient conditions and acting quickly to ensure the best outcomes. Maynard is a valued resource for her coworkers and is a role model for leading by example through integrity, professionalism and accountability, even in high-pressure situations. She is always focusing on achieving the best patient outcomes. This commitment to excellence and her positive influence make her an important part of the Emergency Department at Paintsville ARH Hospital.
“Crystal and Marlene represent the best of who we are as a healthcare system. Their compassion and commitment to excellence are making a difference in the lives of our patients and their families every day. It’s an honor to recognize and celebrate them,” comments Stumbo.
###
About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.