.png)
Carolyn was born and raised on a dairy farm in the Jumbo Community in north Castro County. She attended school in Dimmitt, Texas, graduating in 1967. Carolyn had had the dream of becoming a nurse since she was 9 years old. At that time, she had 2 aunts who were nurses, and she was mesmerized by the way they dressed in all white from shoes to hat and they worked in a rural hospital and clinic. After graduating from high school Carolyn enrolled at Amarillo College with the plan to attend Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing. She completed a semester and being the first time away from home this experience was one she did not want to continue. She then married, had two children and when her boys were 3 and 4 years old, she decided it was time to complete her dream of becoming a nurse. With the support of her husband, children and extended family she attended West Texas State University receiving her BSN in 1977.
Deaf Smith County Hospital (now Hereford Regional Medical Center) in Hereford became her home of employment for the next 10 years following the birth of her daughter. During this time Carolyn was given many opportunities for growth as she was Supervisor of the OB Department. This provided an opportunity for her to learn about stabilization and the transfer of neonate to a higher level of care. Carolyn worked closely with staff and physicians at Northwest Texas Hospital as they were establishing the neonate ICU and transport team. These years were some of the most rewarding and fulfilling of her career.
Over the years Carolyn had the opportunity to travel over the state of Texas and worked in a variety of healthcare settings, gathering knowledge along the way. These experiences laid the foundation for her 23 years of service with the Coalition.
Carolyn wants to THANK ALL of those she has had the privilege and opportunity to work with over these many years. Board Members, Staff, Community- State-Federal Partners, Federal and State Associations, State Legislators and so many more.
Other Programs Under The Coalition Of Health Services
Executive DirectorChief Financial Officer Legacy PageBoard of Directors Coalition of Health ServicesMission StatementVision StatementBrief History of time with Coalition
In March of 1998 Carolyn began employment with the Coalition of Health Services as Quality Assurance Director. In November of 2000 she was appointed as the Executive Director following 6 months as Interim and continued in that role until December 31, 2023. Prior to her employment with the Coalition, much of her career she practiced as a staff nurse, nursing supervisor and in director positions primarily in rural hospital settings following graduation from West Texas State University with BSN degree in 1977.
Carolyn has a passion for rural communities and desire for improving health care for residents of the Panhandle. She promotes healthcare providers, facilities, and suppliers of products to enhance care. She is knowledgeable of community needs and the value of partnering and collaboration with all involved in the healthcare industry.
Carolyn Witherspoon has significantly impacted rural communities in the Texas Panhandle through her leadership and dedication. Since becoming the Executive Director of the Coalition of Health Services, Inc., in 2000, she has overseen numerous programs aimed at improving healthcare and support services for the top 26 counties in the region. The current programs include:
- Primary Healthcare & Texas Family Planning
- Uniting Parents
- Families Respite
- Texas Home Visiting
- Family Nurse Partnership
- Gateway to Health Careers (focused on high schools in the Texas Panhandle)
Her work has been instrumental in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including adults, children, and families. Carolyn is known for her passion for rural communities, her ability to fight for necessary resources, and her commitment to building lasting relationships with key community champions. Her leadership has motivated colleagues and partners to think innovatively about system-level changes in healthcare and education services.
Through her efforts, Carolyn has helped secure state and federal grants, ensuring the success of the Coalition of Health Services and its programs. Her dedication has made her synonymous with the Coalition and a vital healthcare advocate for the 430,000 people in the Texas Panhandle.
The Coalition received funding from private funders and local foundations to support the development of Gateway to Health Careers. In 2015 this collaboration project began with Amarillo ISD, Sim Central- (an alliance between Amarillo College, Texas Tech University Health Sciences – Amarillo and West Texas A&M University), Harrington Regional Medical Center and the Coalition of Health Services. In the first year 243 students completed the program of study in 5 Rural ISD’s. Since 2015 the program has expanded to 33 Rural ISD’s with over 4,000 students participating.
Over the years as the program has continued to grow it became necessary to change the structure and landscape of the program. The partnership includes Coalition of Health Services, Canyon ISD and Region 16 Education Service Center.
In addition, COHS partners with other Community based organizations to provide information and education throughout the Panhandle region for a variety of health-related services. These partners currently serve over 33 Rural ISD’s in the region
showcase of your contributions
.
During her tenure as Executive Director, Carolyn served on the Board of Directors of the National Cooperative of Health Networks and has served as President on two (2) separate occasions. In addition to serving on the NCHN Board Carolyn also serves on local Boards including the Panhandle Behavioral Health Alliance, Panhandle Area Health Education Center, Panhandle Breast Health Coalition, Amarillo Area Foundation – Harrington Regional Medical Center Board, Texas Panhandle Coalition for Nursing and Advisory Boards for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at West Texas A&M University and Amarillo College School of Nursing.
Carolyn continues to serve on the Panhandle Great 25 Committee, specifically scholarships and selection of nurses for the Great 25. Panhandle Great 25 was established in 2016 by the former Dr. Valerie Kiper who had a passion for all levels of nurses. Thanks to her dedication we have been awarded $91,500 in scholarships and recognized over 225 nurses in the panhandle for their outstanding dedication to nursing.