Claire Slocum Byrnes from Tifton received the Outstanding Health Care Professional Award from the ABAC Alumni Association during the recent Homecoming awards luncheon at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The ceremony recognized ABAC alumni who impacted the college and their communities in significant ways.   

Other ABAC Alumni Association award winners included Jimmy Hill from Dawsonville, Distinguished Alumnus; T.E. Moye from Newton, Master Farmer; Ada Beth Spruill from Hartsfield, Helen Brown Sasser Award; Dr. Anna Daniel Reddish from Atlanta, J. Lamar Branch Award; Steve Spooner from Sumner, Outstanding Business Leader; Nancy Purcell Hyte from Atlanta, Outstanding Educator; Ben Kennedy from Bluffton, S.C., Outstanding Young Alumnus; the family of Clarie Whitfield from Worth County, Family Legacy Award; Spencer Highsmith from Wray; Rising Star Award; and Senator Jeff Mullis from Chickamauga, Honorary Alumnus.

Byrnes is a 2004 ABAC graduate who is the Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Services for Tift Regional Health System.  An employee at TRHS since 2008, Byrnes provides executive oversight for the system’s ambulatory division including physician clinics, oncology, hospice/palliative care, musculoskeletal services, rehabilitation, wound care, neurodiagnostics, and more.

Byrnes received her bachelor’s degree in health services administration from the University of Central Florida and her master’s degree in health administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

As a part of her graduate school education, Byrnes served as an administrative extern at Tift Regional.  She is actively involved with several professional associations including the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Medical Group Management Association.  

Byrnes and her husband, Dr. Ryan Byrnes, have three children, Davis, Stella, and Brady.