Beyond the Hospital: Judith McCord, radiology tech, is an inspiration to her colleagues

At LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, the team is passionate about making a positive impact in the community, and Radiology Tech Judith McCord is just one shining example.

In 2024 alone, McCord logged an incredible 539.5 hours of volunteer work across multiple organizations and initiatives! For her dedication, McCord was named the hospital's 2024 Colleague of the Year based on the number of volunteer hours worked.  

As a Virginia Master Naturalist since 2015, McCord routinely goes above and beyond the program's annual requirement of 40 volunteer hours and eight continuing education hours. Her commitment to environmental education and conservation is truly inspirational.

A few of the area organizations that have benefitted from her commitment include Claytor Lake State Park, where she manages volunteers in the Discovery Room and spends many weekends leading engaging educational hikes and programs and providing outreach to schools and libraries, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, where she leads community Bear Aware programs and contributes to Birdability and Wildlife Trail projects.

For CitizenScience, a collaboration between the federal government and the public to advance participation in scientific discovery and research, McCord monitors vernal pools and serves as a trainer, leads FrogWatch USA initiatives, conducts bluebird and bird feeding monitoring, and serves as team leader for Montgomery and Giles County Christmas bird counts. 

"I want to thank Judy for her dedication and commitment to community service," said Lauren Dudley, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery CEO. "Judy puts her heart and soul into volunteering, giving to others and safeguarding the environment. She is truly an inspiration to all of us."