NEWS RELEASE - October 1, 2026

From Learning to Leadership: Stacey Sturgill's ARH Institute Experience

HARLAN, Ky. - For Stacey Sturgill, ARH Clinic Administrator, leadership development has been an important part of growing into her role and learning how to better support the employees, providers and patients she serves. Sturgill says the ARH Institute, Leadership Mentor Program and other leadership development opportunities have played a significant role in helping her build confidence and strengthen her leadership skills.

"The ARH Institute has played a huge role in my growth as a leader," Sturgill said. "Stepping into a Clinic Administrator role within a large healthcare system was a completely different level of leadership."

One of the most influential experiences in her development was completing the Administrative Fellowship at Harlan ARH Hospital under the leadership of Joe Horton and the hospital's senior leadership team. Sturgill said observing the team's trust, camaraderie and shared purpose helped shape her understanding of leadership and reinforced the importance of collaboration, relationships and helping others succeed.

"It showed me that leadership isn't something you do alone," she said. "It's about building relationships, working together and helping others succeed."

Through the ARH Institute, Sturgill has also developed a stronger understanding of emotional intelligence and how it applies to everyday leadership. The training has encouraged her to become more intentional about listening, understanding different perspectives and approaching difficult situations with empathy.

"Leadership is not just about making decisions or solving problems," Sturgill said. "It's about understanding people."

She has already put those lessons into practice. In one workplace situation involving tension between team members, Sturgill chose to slow down and listen rather than immediately try to solve the problem. By giving each person space to share their concerns, she realized the underlying issue was that people felt unheard and misunderstood. The experience reinforced for her that effective leadership is often about creating space for people to feel supported while working through challenges together.

For Sturgill, ARH's investment in leadership development has made an impact both personally and professionally. She said having access to training, mentorship and experienced leaders has reinforced her commitment to continued growth and strengthened her ability to support the people and communities she serves.

"What has meant the most to me is knowing that ARH genuinely invests in its people," Sturgill said. "The organization doesn't just talk about leadership development. It provides real opportunities to learn, grow and receive support from experienced leaders."

Rachelle Burchett, ARH Senior Director of Organizational Development and Education, said seeing employees put those lessons into practice reflects the broader purpose of the ARH Institute.

"When someone shares that they are using what they've learned in the moments that challenge them most, that means everything to me," Burchett said. "Through the ARH Institute, we help leaders understand themselves, see the people behind the work, and put that understanding into practice. Investing in one leader can make a difference for an entire team."

Sturgill said she is grateful to be part of an organization that views leadership as a skill that can be strengthened through learning, mentorship and experience, and she looks forward to continuing to grow while serving employees, providers, patients and Appalachian communities.

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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system - a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH's hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.