Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation welcomes 5 new board members

The Blue Ridge HealthCare (BRHC) Foundation recently announced the addition of five new members to its board of directors: David Taylor, Lyndsay Brisson, Larisa Scott, Dr. Hayden Caraway, and Dr. Tom Kirkland.

Each individual brings a mix of professional experience, community involvement, and a shared commitment to supporting the foundation’s mission of advancing local healthcare.

Taylor is a partner with Summerfield Wealth Advisors, providing financial and insurance services to individuals and small businesses. A native of Boone, he is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

Taylor served on the Board of Governors at Mimosa Hills Golf Club and contributed as a committee member for the N.C. School for the Deaf. He regularly participates in UNC Health Blue Ridge events, as well as advises The Meeting Place charity to support fundraising activities.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to Morganton almost four years ago. He has been involved in the community in various capacities and looks forward to more opportunities.

Brisson has called Morganton home for the past six years. Before settling in the area, she and her husband, Jonathan, lived overseas, where they embraced the opportunity to travel extensively and experience different cultures around the world.

Brisson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who began her professional career in banking before venturing into the fitness industry. Today, she brings her passion for wellness and education into the classroom as the health and physical education teacher at Morganton Day School, a role she has held for the past four years.

In addition to her teaching role, Brisson is an active member of the school and local community. She has chaired the Morganton Day School Auction and Gala for four years and co-chaired BRHC Foundation’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors Gala last year, a role she is excited to take on again this year.

Scott is a speech-language pathologist with more than 25 years of experience in adult acute care and rehabilitation. As a passionate advocate for access to advanced medical resources, Scott brings a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to the BRHC Foundation.

Scott has served in leadership roles at N.C. Medical Alliance (Burke County Chapter), Toast of the Town, and Morganton Day School. Scott joined the BRHC Foundation because she believes that the community’s health is best served by continuing to bring knowledgeable professionals and advanced medical technologies to local facilities.

Caraway is a physician who felt called to return home to Morganton to begin practice. He graduated from Patton High School and Presbyterian College. He earned his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2022 and completed residency at UNC Health Blue Ridge in 2025.

Caraway is married to Dr. Madison Rose, DDS, who practices dentistry in Morganton.

Kirkland is a board-certified osteopathic physician and experienced hospitalist. He graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at UNC Health Blue Ridge. Since finishing residency, he has practiced full-time as a hospitalist.

Kirkland is Department Chair of Medicine at UNC Health Blue Ridge, where he oversees clinical operations, quality initiatives, and physician leadership within the department while continuing active bedside practice.

Other members of the board include UNC Health Blue Ridge President and CEO Gary Paxson, Dr. Dustin Houser, Tod Blackwell, Amber Bernard-Gantt, Alan Griffin, Greg Bunner, Kelly Messenheimer, Tal Stephanides, Tyler Barnhardt, and Executive Director Traci Riebel.

“We’re very lucky to welcome this diverse group to our board,” Riebel said of the new members. “Their unique backgrounds will strengthen our board and lead us with dedication into the future. We thank them for serving.”

— JM