Administration

Stephen R. Ratliff
President

Stephen joined Southern Rehabilitation Network in December of 2018 as Vice President and was promoted to President in 2020. He brings over 30 years of health care operations and business development experience to the organization.

During his career, he has provided respiratory care services for patients in the hospital and home setting.

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He has worked in hospital system business development, marketing, and sales; negotiated medical practice acquisitions, and developed, marketed, and managed hospital-based occupational medicine programs; marketed and managed a regional medical case management and vocational rehabilitation firm, serving workers’ compensation carriers and self-insureds.

As President, Stephen is responsible for the strategic growth and profitability of Southern Rehabilitation Network and maintaining its founders’ goal of getting people back to a productive life and carrying out Southern’s mission of serving as the premier provider of vocational and medical restoration throughout the company’s ever-expanding service area.

Education

  • Bachelor of Health Science Program, Medical University of South Carolina
  • Associate of Health Science, Respiratory Therapy, Trident Technical College
  • Business Administration, Baptist College at Charleston

Joy Donaldson
Vice President &
Director of
Human Resources

 

Joy joined Southern Rehabilitation Network in March of 2018 as Human Resource Specialist and was promoted to Human Resource Manager. In 2021, she was promoted to Vice President and Director of Human Resources & Payroll. She brings over 25 years of comprehensive human resource experience to the organization from both the healthcare and workforce sectors.

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Over the course of her career, Joy has refined her human resource knowledge and skills by working in the roles of HR Generalist and Supervisor for teaching hospitals from central Florida to Washington, DC.  Joy supervised teams of healthcare recruiters and coordinators for a major Florida healthcare system and has also served as manager for a publicly funded program assisting veterans, unemployed, and welfare recipients with return to work.

Joy’s passion is people, which makes her a perfect fit for her responsibilities at Southern as Director of Human Resources & Payroll.

Education

  • Master of Business Administration, Webster University – Ocala, FL
  • Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, Columbia Union College – Takoma Park, MD

Karen Smith
RN, BSN, COHN-S

Sr. Clinical Consultant &
Director of Customer Education

Karen joined Southern Rehabilitation Network in January 2019.

She brings more than 35 years of experience as a nursing professional to the organization in the areas of case management, legal nurse consulting, occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, and injury management. Karen served as a Nurse Consultant for the North Carolina Industrial Commission for over 13 years under Chairmen Lattimore, Young and Heath.

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As Director of Customer Education, Karen works with SRN’s Case Management Teams to provide clinical oversight. As the Director of Education, Karen provides continuing education for adjusters through Southern’s Own Unique Presentations series (SOUP), as well as for a variety of other audiences, including rehabilitation and medical professionals, attorneys, and employers.

Licenses and Certification

  • Registered nurse in the state of North Carolina
  • Certified Occupational Health Nurse – Specialist (COHN-S)

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Cyndi Reaves
Billing and Collections Manager

Cyndi has been with Southern Rehab since 1991.

She has previous billing experience in a hospital/medical setting. She maintains attendance at area workshops regarding computer and billing technology to enhance her expertise.

Susan Wooters
Executive Assistant
to the President

Susan joined Southern Rehab in 2021

Terri Williams
Intake/Referral
Coordinator

Terri joined Southern Rehab in 2016.

Tiffany Hall
Intake/Referral
Coordinator

Tiffany joined Southern Rehab in 2021.

Mary Pisani, M.Ed.
Supervisory Assistant

Mary has been with Southern Rehab since 2007.

She has 30+ years of experience in the rehab field, having worked as a certified vocational case manager and as a case manager in a rehab hospital.  She has done private counseling and worked with the mentally ill.

Education

  • M.Ed. degree in Counseling from Florida Atlantic University
  • BA in Psychology, Florida State University

Steve Vardas
Lead Account Representative

For over 15 years Steve has provided a variety of managed care services in the Workers’ Compensation and Healthcare industry from sales to account management that includes diagnostic, durable medical equipment, pharmacy benefit management, spine/orthopedic programs, and working directly in clinical settings with dialysis patients.

Steve offers an additional level of support and experience to provide better solutions and outcomes to our workers’ compensation payors. With the ever-evolving regulations and rising costs, it has never been more important to have the right management solutions in place that help our clients make the best decisions for the entire claim and most importantly for your injured worker.

As lead Account Representative, Steve will be strategic in the development of new sales opportunities for Southern Rehab Network by marketing and working directly with self-insured employers, TPAs, carriers, municipalities, local and regional government agencies, as well as connecting with strategic partners to meet revenue goals to ensure long term success of Southern Rehab Network’s valued clients.

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Contact
Phone: 704-614-2121
Click here to email Steve.

Lee Lyon
RN, M.Ed., CCM

Account Representative
Central and Eastern North Carolina

Lee has been with Southern Rehab since November 2005.

Lee understand the needs of insurance adjusters having served as both a rehabilitation nurse and account representative for more than 10 years. She has expertise in orthopaedics, mental health and traumatic brain injury.

Licenses and Certifications

  • Registered nurse in the state of North Carolina
  • Certified Case Manager

Education

  • Nursing degree from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, N.C.
  • Bachelors of Science in Therapeutic Recreation, University of Georgia in Athens, GA
  • Masters in Education in Rehabilitation Counseling from University of Georgia in Athens, GA
Lee Lyon

Contact
Phone: 919-630-5579
Click here to email Lee.

Dawn Thomas
RN, BSN, MBA, CCM

Account Representative
South Carolina

Dawn joined Southern Rehab in November, 2014.

With a Master’s degree in business administration, Dawn understands the needs of insurance adjusters. She also brings expertise in cardiac, neurological and medical/surgical rehabilitation, having served as an RN.

Licenses and Certifications

  • Registered nurse in the state of South Carolina

Education

  • Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Medical University of South Carolina
  • Masters in Business Administration – George Washington University
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Contact
Phone: 843-480-3505
Click here to email Dawn.