South Central Regional Medical Center has named Cully Hegwood as its Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2026, surprising her with the honor during the PPE Fashion Show, which is one of many events South Central hosts to celebrate National Hospital Week. 

Hegwood, a Bay Springs native, has been a valued member of the South Central Clinic Float Pool since October 2024. In this role, she rotates among multiple clinics across the organization, consistently demonstrating diligence, positivity and a genuine ability to connect with patients and staff everywhere she serves. 

Her nomination for HEART Champion, which was submitted by a coworker, highlighted her positive attitude and work ethic that dramatically improves the patient experience.  

The nomination said, “Cully is the blueprint for what all our front desk employees should be like. HEART embodied; she shines best showing empathy for our patients and her coworkers. A great example of this was recently I asked her to help reschedule appointments for a provider who left the practice. She was very accommodating to the patients, many of whom were very upset. If we could have a Cully in all the clinics, we’d never get a complaint about the front desk.” 

Hegwood and her co-worker participated in the PPE fashion Show, with their colleagues and Cully’s family cheering from the audience. At the conclusion of the event, SCRMC President and CEO Gregg Gibbes surprised Hegwood by presenting her with the Employee of the Quarter award.  

“I am so honored to receive Employee of the Quarter,” Hegwood said. “Since I began working here, I have served at around 17 different clinics, and each one has made me feel like family. I couldn’t do what I do without my wonderful boss, Whitney Whittington, or without all of the people I work with. Thank you all so much.”  

The process of choosing who receives the Employee of the Quarter distinction begins with an internal nomination process, which is open to any member of the SCRMC staff who wishes to submit a peer for consideration. Then the winner is chosen through a voting process by a committee of individuals from across the organization. 

The four individuals who will be chosen as Employees of the Quarter throughout the year will be eligible for Employee of the Year, which will be announced during National Hospital Week in May 2027.