Three employees at TriStar Stonecrest Medical Center in Smyrna earned a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Union University - Center for Excellence in Health Care Practice.

Ashley Fleming, RN, surgical services manager, Heather Bratcher, RN, emergency services director, and Paul Hartley , patient access director (pictured left to right), recently completed the 2015 TriStar Health Leadership Academy to earn the distinction.

"Ashley, Heather, and Paul's participation in the Leadership Academy was a valuable experience that enhanced their leadership capabilities," said Lou Caputo, chief executive officer of TriStar Summit. "The partnership between Union University and TriStar Health is a fantastic conduit for equipping these three leaders with a forum to learn and share leadership best practices with their peers across Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia. All three individuals have worked very hard throughout 2015 and I commend them for their willingness to continually grow and develop their leadership skills."

The Leadership Academy is a program offered through the TriStar Healthcare Educational Institute at Union University, Hendersonville Campus in Hendersonville, Tenn. This program is part of a partnership between TriStar Health and Union University - Center for Excellence in Health Care Practice.

Program participant selection criteria includes: demonstrating the hospital vision and core values, having a responsibility to lead a team, and being motivated about future opportunities within the HCA/TriStar organization.