Sonya Hancock gives back with time and treasure to support NGHS

Walking through the doors of Hall County Hospital in 1960, an excited young nursing student was about to embark upon what would end up being a long and fulfilling career with Northeast Georgia Health System. A member of the first class of nursing students for the small community hospital, Sonya Hancock has witnessed firsthand many changes in our community, healthcare delivery, and health system. 

In those early days, the small community hospital was enough to serve the roughly 50,000 people residing in Hall County—local EMS was nearly nonexistent, the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation had not yet been created, and cell phones, informatics, simulators, and technologies that we depend on today simply did not exist.

That 100-bed local facility a young Sonya walked into years ago has grown into a five-hospital system, fully equipped with a multi-practice physicians group, cardiac care, rehabilitation units, hospice, urgent care centers, and more. 

After 45 years of service, Sonya retired; but with the support of her husband Nat, her eye is still on the community, and she stays involved through her service to the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation. 

She describes her choice to stay active: “When I was an employee, I gave to the employee giving club—WATCH (We Are Targeting Community Health). After retirement, I chose to continue the journey by participating in the Foundation’s Trellis Society and now the Nell Wiegand Legacy Society through both gift giving and volunteering. It is my way of giving back. I am so appreciative to have an organization committed to supporting the health of the community that I love.”

Sonya adds, “Nat and I are proud supporters, and we both find it gratifying to witness the impact the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation has had on the community through significant gifts to Good News Clinics, Challenged Child, Safe Kids, Boys and Girls Clubs, and so many other agencies. It has been my privilege to witness how these services have improved and impacted so many lives in this community and region.”

Sonya concludes, “When I consider the current funding initiatives, I think of the future with great excitement; what technology, mobility, and simulation hold for the future will have an exponential impact. I appreciate the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation for their vision of a better tomorrow in addition to partnering with the community to provide enhanced care for the sick and injured today.”