LeConte’s Michael Hatmaker Named “40 Under 40”

Michael Hatmaker, LeConte Medical Center’s vice president of support services and administrator of Fort Sanders Sevier Nursing Home, is one of the Knoxville Business Journal’s “40 under 40.”

Each year, the Greater Knoxville Business Journal recognizes the “40 under 40” – 40  business leaders, health care professionals, educators and scientists who are also under the age of 40. Each of these leaders have made an effort to give back to the Knoxville community in his or her own way.

Hatmaker makes it a practice to high-five as many employees as possible during his daily walks through LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville.

“I’m one of those guys who tries to come in with my heart on my sleeve and bring the best positive attitude I can,” he said.

“He has a desire and passion for wanting to make a difference,” said Jason Pilant, president and chief administrative officer for Roane Medical Center, another Covenant Health facility. “He’s one of those individuals who is always looking to expand and increase his knowledge base and is always eager to take on a new project.”

That attitude led Hatmaker, whose career began as a pharmacy technician at Baptist Hospital while he was studying philosophy at the University of Tennessee, to accept the challenge of improving the nursing home’s quality measures ratings.

“I knew nothing about nursing homes, nothing,” he said.

Yet Hatmaker, who by 2014 had garnered more than a decade of experience in hospital support services and supply chain operations within Covenant’s network, led the facility to a five-star rating with zero deficiencies from Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare program by 2016.

“We love on every resident like they are our family and give our personal best every day,” he said. “My biggest job is making sure people keep that focus and stay positive.”

Read the full story from the Knoxville News Sentinel. Congrats, Michael! We are so proud!