Meet the Clinch River Healthcare Team that is Built by the Community We Serve

Kelsey Gardner began her nursing career on a renal transplant and vascular surgery unit, where she gained valuable experience caring for complex patient populations, including critically ill COVID-19 patients. In 2021, she joined Clinch River as a field home care nurse and has since advanced into leadership roles, serving in both case management and as a Regional Director and has been with CRH for 5 years.

Kelsey feels a strong personal connection to her Department of Labor (DOL) patients, as she has family members who work at the Oak Ridge facilities and others who have directly benefited from the EEOICPA program. This connection drives her commitment to providing compassionate, whole-person care.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her husband and their two young daughters.

"I love working for a company that truly allows me to take of others in the way they deserve. Clinch River Healthcare prioritizes high-quality, whole-person care, where our patients are our #1 focus. I work alongside a team who takes care of each patient as they were their own family."

Jill Dismore is a Tennessee transplant originally from Paducah, Kentucky, where she spent several years working at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant as part of the Environmental Monitoring Team. She later transitioned into a direct role with the EEOICPA program at the Paducah Resource Center, where she served as Assistant Manager for six years.

Since then, Jill has had the privilege of working more closely with energy workers as an Outreach Benefits Advisor, helping them navigate the benefits they have earned and has been with CRH for 9 years.

Jill is married to her high school sweetheart, Steve, and together they have raised one son. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as playing golf and mahjong.

"I have the privilege of helping energy workers navigate their EEOICPA journey, which can often feel overwhelming. Being able to guide them through the claims process and provide support every step of the way is incredibly meaningful to me. Once their claim is approved, our clinical team at Clinch River Healthcare steps in to deliver compassionate, whole-person care, truly welcoming each individual into our family. It’s a rewarding feeling to wake up each day knowing I have the opportunity to help people access life-changing benefits and the care they deserve."

Sharon Hughes is a lifelong East Tennessee resident who grew up and resides in Maryville and has been with Clinch River for 15+ years. She is married to her high school sweetheart Bill and together they have raised five sons.

She now enjoys spending as much time as possible with her five grandchildren, gardening, travel, and being active in her church. She is a RN and has had various fields she worked in through the years. She began with Clinch River as a contractor through a high-risk OB company in 2013. She worked as a case manager for the DOL program and as a community liaison. She finds her role as outreach benefit advisor one of her most rewarding roles she has had in her 40-year career.

"I love having the opportunity to work through the DOL claims process with my clients. From our first meeting to seeing them get rewarded with a white card, we become more than friends, we become family. This role has allowed me to live out my faith in service to others while growing strong connections to those in our community. Clinch River has been a trusted name in the Anderson Co. area for over 50 years. We take our name and care of our clients very seriously. Our Wellness Wednesdays are designed for whole person support and engaging opportunities to strengthen and maintain the health of those we care for."

Caitlynn Dykes is a lifelong resident of Anderson County, where she lives with her husband and two sons. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending church, antiquing, gardening, and relaxing with a good book or cup of coffee.

She began her healthcare career as a CNA where she developed a strong foundation in compassionate patient care. She became a nurse with experience in private duty nursing, long-term care, and a wide variety of inpatient hospital unit settings. Caitlynn has been with Clinch River for 5 years and has grown with the organization through several roles including case manager, staffing coordinator, senior staffer, and clinical preceptor. She now serves as a Clinical Manager where she continues to support staff and patients alike.

"I value working for a company deeply connected to the community, especially as many of my family members and friends have worked in or alongside Atomic Energy facilities. Clinch River takes pride in delivering high-quality care. As a nurse, my goal is to care for patients the way I would want my own family cared for – with compassion, respect, and trust."

As an East Tennessee native, Aime Briegel is proud to have served her community as a nurse since 2013. Her nursing career includes experience in long-term care, inpatient hospital settings with a specialty in vascular surgery and kidney transplant, and home care.

Aime joined Clinch River in 2022 as an in-home nurse and has since advanced into the Clinical Manager role, providing support to patients and staff, after having served as a case manager. Aime feels that one of the most rewarding aspects of her work at Clinch River is the positive impact of the EEOICPA program and how it benefits the patients that Clinch River serves. Outside of her professional life, Aime is a wife and mother of two. She and her family enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, camping, attending church, and cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers.

"I take pride in being part of a company that is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care that supports the whole person while also recognizing the important role of family in the patient’s well-being. At Clinch River, our patients feel like our family!"

Samantha Bates grew up in Clinton and continues to live in Anderson County with her husband. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, spending time on the lake, traveling, or sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, and reading a good book.

Samantha joined Clinch River in 2024 as an office manager. With almost 20 years of healthcare experience, she has worked administratively in multiple specialties. Samantha began working in medical records and continued to learn and develop her knowledge of the administrative side of healthcare, which ultimately led to a career in management. Since moving into a management role, Samantha has spent more than 10 years in a leadership capacity and is thrilled to bring her experience to Clinch River’s amazing team.

"I truly enjoy working for Clinch River because it gives me the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful impact on the community where I grew up and continue to live in. Every day, I feel a sense of joy knowing that the work we do helps support and care for others in a positive, whole-person way. Being part of an organization that values compassion and service not only motivates me professionally but also allows me to contribute to a cause bigger than myself."