Celebrating Kay Dilworth Burch, West Tennessee Healthcare’s April Employee of the Month
Sometimes the biggest impact doesn’t come with a spotlight. It comes from showing up, day
after day, for years…caring for people in some of the most important moments of their lives.
That’s exactly what Kay Dilworth Burch has been doing for nearly four decades. And now, that
quiet, steady impact is being recognized across the entire West Tennessee Healthcare system.
When Kay found out she had been named Employee of the Month for April, her reaction was
simple. “All I could say was…wow,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
What made it even more special was learning this recognition wasn’t just local—it was
systemwide. For Kay, that meant more than just an award. It was a chance to represent
something bigger.
“This is an opportunity to shine a light on what we do,” she said. “In smaller community
hospitals, we sometimes feel like we go unnoticed. But we provide really good care. We wear a
lot of hats, and we truly care about our patients.”
Kay, a Dyersburg resident and longtime Dyersburg Hospital employee, has spent her entire
career in the Mother/Baby Unit. What started as simply the only open position at the time turned
into a lifelong calling. “I always say that was a God thing,” she said. “I took the job, and I’ve
been there ever since.”
Her connection to Dyersburg Hospital runs even deeper than her career. All three of her children
were born there, something she says speaks volumes about the trust and confidence she has
always had in the care provided close to home. For Kay, it was never just where she worked…it
was where her own family’s story unfolded, too.
Over the years, she has been part of thousands of life-changing moments for families. And in a
close-knit community, those moments don’t stay inside the hospital walls. “I’ll be out at Walmart
or Kroger, and someone will come up and say, ‘You were with me when I had my baby,’” she
said. “Some even bring pictures. That means so much to me.”
One story, in particular, has stayed with her. A nurse she now works alongside was once one of
her patients—a 16-year-old new mom. “She tells me every year on her child’s birthday that I was
her nurse,” Kay said. “Now she works beside me. That’s special.”
It’s those kinds of connections that make this work different. It’s personal. It’s generational. And
it’s rooted in community.
Inside the hospital, that same sense of connection carries over to her team. “We’re like a family,”
she said. “We support each other, we pray for each other, and we’re there on the hard days.”
Because while there are many joyful moments, the work also comes with challenges.
To stay grounded, Kay starts each day with quiet time in what she calls her “flower room.” It’s a
space filled with the things she loves, where she reads, reflects, and prepares for the day ahead.
“If I start my day like that, I feel ready for whatever comes,” she said. That mindset carries into
the way she cares for her patients. “You have to have a heart for this,” she said. “It’s not just a
job. It takes compassion. No matter who comes through the door, you have to meet them with
understanding.”
Outside of work, Kay continues to pour into her community through her church, where she
teaches Sunday school and stays active in ministry and service.
She is also quick to recognize the support system that has helped make her long career possible,
especially her husband, Dan Burch Jr. Through the years, his encouragement, patience, and
steady support have been a big part of her success. In a career built around long hours, late
nights, and being there for others, having that kind of support at home has meant everything.
After nearly 40 years, this recognition carries a deeper meaning. “To be recognized after all these
years…to feel like what you’ve done matters…that means a lot,” she said.
And while she may be the one being honored, Kay is quick to share the credit with those around
her—her team, her manager, her family, and the coworkers who have supported her along the
way.
Her story is a reminder of what it truly means to #BeTheGood.
It’s not always loud.
Sometimes, it looks like showing up…again and again…for life’s biggest moments.
