Arkansas Methodist Medical Center (AMMC) has named Jimmy Scudder as the 2024 Employee of the Year, and Davina Cavaness as the 2024 Manager of the Year. Dan Austin was awarded the 2024 Going the Extra Mile (GEM) award presented by the AMMC Foundation. The awards are the highest honors bestowed on a hospital employee each year. These individuals were chosen from among 600 employees for the honor.
Employees are nominated for the award by their hospital peers, based on setting the standard for excellence by exemplifying AMMC’s four pillars – People, Service, Quality and Growth.
Davina Cavaness, Director of Food Services, has been with AMMC since 2008. She started in the kitchen, working every position in the kitchen and deli before advancing to a managerial role in 2009 and then director in 2019. With a lifelong passion for cooking, and learning most of her cooking skills from her grandmother, Davina chose food and nutrition as her career. For Davina, AMMC feels like family, and she values the strong connections within the team. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and helping on her family farm with her mom. She has one son, whom she adopted from foster care in 2021, four sisters, 5 nephews, and is a caretaker for her grandfather.
Jimmy Scudder, Facility Technician in Environmental Services, has dedicated 18 years to AMMC. He started his career at AMMC as a security guard, and has since transitioned to his current role in Environmental Services. A few years ago, Jimmy acquired his CDL license, which he now utilizes in his current job transporting items for the satellite clinics. “Being a courier for the hospital seemed like a job meant just for me,” says Jimmy. Outside of work, Jimmy enjoys fishing, painting, and woodworking. His connection to AMMC extends to his family, where his son Tyler currently works, his wife Darla worked at the hospital in the past, and his father-in-law Bill retired from AMMC as the purchasing director. AMMC has been a part of the generations of Jimmy’s family, with his children and grandchildren being born at the hospital.
Dan Austin, AMMC’s Chief Information Officer, has been a dedicated supporter of the Foundation’s GIVE program since 2016 and has served as a volunteer on the AMMC Foundation Golf Tournament committee. His commitment to AMMC goes beyond expectations, as he plays a key role in ensuring employees feel valued through his leadership on the Employee Satisfaction Committee. Whether he’s cooking Boston butts for employees, volunteering to store the Christmas tree, or handing out sodas during Hospital Week, Dan’s contributions demonstrate his unwavering dedication to the AMMC community.
All three of these individuals embody the values that define Arkansas Methodist Medical Center: compassion, dedication, and a commitment to serving the community. Their contributions not only enhance the patient experience but also strengthen the bonds within the AMMC Family. Please join us in celebrating these individuals!