Saline Health System names its 2026 Mercy Award honoree

David Gibson honored for his commitment to compassion, service and community outreach

BENTON, Ark. (June 12, 2026) – On a Tuesday evening serving meals through Outside the Walls, a Saline County ministry that provides food and support to people in need, David Gibson was visiting with a man he had come to know through his volunteer work there and at Birch Tree Communities, a behavioral health program for adults.

Although the man seemed angry and intimidating, Gibson looked him in the eye and said, “I’m not afraid of you. I care about you.”

The man gripped Gibson’s hand and held it for nearly a minute, as if weighing whether Gibson meant what he said.

Then his expression softened.

“I see you,” he said. “You’re different.”

More than two decades after beginning his career at Saline Health System, Gibson’s commitment to serving others inside and outside the hospital has earned him Saline Health System’s highest honor, the Mercy Award.

The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s hospitals who embodies the spirit and values on which the company was founded: compassion, dedication and a merciful spirit.

“What sets David apart is his ability to respect each individual and truly meet them where they are,” said Jeannie Otts, cath lab director at Saline Memorial. “He listens with intention, responds with empathy and leads with understanding.”

Gibson’s roots in the community run deep. Born in West Virginia and raised in Saline County, he has spent more than 21 years serving patients, families and colleagues at Saline Health System.

He earned his respiratory therapy certification from Pulaski Tech in 1990, completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Arkansas in 1992 and became a registered respiratory therapist. In 2020, he earned his MBA from Liberty University, strengthening the leadership foundation he brings to his role as cardiopulmonary director.

His clinical expertise extends beyond the hospital. Gibson is certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a neonatal resuscitation instructor and mentor, and volunteers his time teaching lifesaving skills to medical students, volunteer fire departments and other community groups. He is also a member of the Arkansas Society for Respiratory Care.

But it is his work outside the hospital walls that reveals the full measure of his service. In addition to his work with Outside the Walls, where they serve meals to as many as 750 people a week, he also volunteers once a month with a second independent outreach group in Little Rock.

Gibson also volunteers at Birch Tree Communities and speaks in schools across the region, talking with teachers and students about the dangers of vaping. As a member of the Arkansas Public Health Association, he sees prevention as one of the most urgent issues facing young people.

“This [vaping] is what is going to have the biggest negative impact on their health,” he said.

Gibson’s commitment to serving others began more than 20 years ago while working at Mercy Hospital of Northwest Arkansas, where he helped care for a young man whose parents had died. The experience shaped his calling.

“I can’t sit at home knowing that there are people out there who need help,” he said. “So, no matter where I go, I’m going to find a way to help people.”

About Saline Memorial Hospital

Saline Health System, a part of Lifepoint Health, is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of primary care and specialty clinics. Saline Memorial Hospital has been caring for Saline County and its surrounding communities for more than 70 years. Saline Memorial Hospital is proud to be recognized as a Leapfrog Grade “A” Hospital for its commitment to patient safety and with the Platinum Performance Achievement Award from the Chest Pain-MI Registry for delivering the highest quality care for cardiac patients. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center, the MBSAQIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center.

More information about Saline Memorial Hospital is available at 501.776.6000 or online at SalineMemorial.org. More information about Lifepoint Health is available at LifepointHealth.net.