The ABAC Alumni Association’s Outstanding Healthcare Professional award was established in 1995 to recognize an ABAC graduate who has gone above-and-beyond in service to their community through practicing medicine, nursing, or medical administration. This year the association honored Claire Byrnes (ABAC Class of 2004) with this award.  Claire serves as Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Services at Tift Regional Health System, providing executive oversight for physician clinics, oncology, hospice, musculoskeletal services, neurodiagnostics, and more.  

Under her leadership, TRHS has seen the addition of 20 new or acquired practices, a $10 million Oncology expansion, and a seven-county expansion of services offered. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Central Florida and a Master's Degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Claire is the President-Elect for the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, a board member for the Len Lastinger PTO, and a founder member of the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation.  Congratulations to Claire!