Ballad Health selects Adnan Brka to serve as chief nursing officer of Holston Valley Medical Center

Following an extensive search, Ballad Health has selected Adnan Brka to serve as the new chief nursing officer and vice president for Holston Valley Medical Center.

Brka is now responsible for all nursing practices at Holston Valley Medical Center, including patient care services, care coordination, nurse staffing and patient transfers, as well as quality and safety management.

“I started my career in nursing at Holston Valley Medical Center more than 15 years ago, and since then, I’ve spent the majority of my career in this hospital working alongside the incredible team of nurses,” Brka said.

“It’s truly an honor to now be able to lead this team full of talented, caring and compassionate individuals who are dedicated to serving their community. I look forward to working alongside them to continue delivering excellent clinical care to every single patient who enters our hospital.”

Prior to receiving the promotion, Brka served as interim chief nursing officer for Holston Valley since September 2021, and prior to that, he served as the critical care director for the intensive care unit, progressive care unit and COVID-19 units at the hospital.

“We wanted the best candidate possible for this vital role, and after conducting an extensive open search, it was obvious that Adnan’s experience and expertise was the perfect fit for this position,” said Lindy White, president of Ballad Health’s Northwest Market, which includes Holston Valley Medical Center.

Brka began his career in nursing in 2005 when he started as a licensed practical nurse for the Joint Replacement Center at Holston Valley Medical Center. After five years of serving in that position, he transitioned to become a charge nurse, where he worked shifts at both Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City and at Holston Valley.

In 2012, Brka was promoted to nursing supervisor at Holston Valley, and in 2018, he climbed the ranks again to become nurse manager, a role he held before becoming critical care director.

White said the hiring of Brka is a great example of Ballad Health identifying strong talent within the organization and giving them the ability to grow and become future leaders.

“We knew Adnan was a strong candidate all along, and when we conducted the open search, his experience and skills were just as strong as those outside the organization who applied for the position,” White said.

“What is extra special about Adnan is his strong reputation among other team members at Holston Valley, as well as his expertise with our valuable bedside nurses. The experience Brka brings to this position will be invaluable and will help us continue delivering high-quality care to patients in need.”

In his new role, Brka will work alongside Stephanie Rhoton, who was recently named associate administrator, chief nursing officer at Indian Path Community Hospital, to coordinate care in Kingsport.

“Adnan and Stephanie will do an excellent job of continuing Ballad Health’s strategy of serving Kingsport as one hospital with two locations,” White said. “Their ability to collaborate will improve the quality of care that patients at both hospitals receive and continue Indian Path’s transition into a Center for Women and Babies, which will improve access for women and children seeking those services.”

Brka was selected for the role following a rigorous open search that included a national and regional selection process. A team of physicians, nursing leaders and executives from Holston Valley conducted interviews during the hiring process, and Dr. Beth Jackson, chief medical officer at Holston Valley, said that feedback was essential in the final hiring decision.

“Adnan is highly respected among his colleagues, and we are confident in his ability to lead. He will do an excellent job managing our team of nurses and continuing our mission of delivering the best possible care to those in need,” Jackson said.

Dr. Chris Metzger, who serves as Ballad Health’s chair of clinical research and medical director of the interventional and diagnostic catheterization labs at Holston Valley, worked closely with Brka when he served as nursing supervisor, and was a member of the selection panel that recommended Brka get the promotion to serve as chief nursing officer.

“Adnan’s resume and technical know-how, combined with his leadership qualities, made him truly stand out during the selection process. He will be a great advocate for both our nurses and patients,” Metzger said.

Brka earned his licensed practical nurse degree in 2005 from the Tennessee Technology Center in Elizabethton, Tennessee. After completing his associate’s degree in 2010, he earned his bachelor’s degree from King University in 2011 before completing his master’s degree from Western Governors University in 2020.