This season’s awards mark a meaningful expansion, as AdventHealth Polk joined AdventHealth Hendersonville in recognizing members of their medical staff for the first time. The inclusion of AdventHealth Polk reflects the growing collaboration across the North Carolina Market and the shared dedication to clinical excellence and compassionate care.

The Pinnacle Awards were established by the AdventHealth North Carolina Market’s Clinician Well-being Committee, under the leadership of Byron Dixon, MD, MBA, FACHE, Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville and AdventHealth Polk. The awards recognize physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) who exemplify excellence in four key areas: Business & Quality, Culture, Resilience and Peer Review. 

“Our Pinnacle Award recipients reflect the heart of our mission,” said Dr. Dixon. “Their work is a daily expression of our commitment to whole-person care – body, mind and spirit. It is a privilege to recognize their contributions and to welcome our colleagues from AdventHealth Polk into this meaningful tradition.”

The Fall 2025 recipients include:

AdventHealth Hendersonville Pinnacle Physician Award

• Robert M. Wham, MD, with Southeastern Orthopedics & Spine

AdventHealth Hendersonville Pinnacle Advanced Practice Provider Award 

• Corey Anderson, PA-C, with AdventHealth Medical Group Integrative Medicine at Medical Office Building*

AdventHealth Polk Pinnacle Physician Award

• George A. Azar, MD, with AdventHealth Medical Group Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Columbus**

AdventHealth Polk Pinnacle Advanced Practice Provider Award

• Savannah Hightower, AGAC, NP-BC, with AdventHealth Cancer & Infusion Services Columbus*

Nominations for the awards were submitted by peers, patients and team members who highlighted the recipients’ dedication to clinical quality, ethical leadership, team collaboration and support for resilience and well-being. The awards were presented during the Fall 2025 AdventHealth Medical Staff meetings.