Nicole Hendricks joins Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbia with over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience in the acute care hospital setting most recently the system chief operating officer of Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, SC. In her previous roles as COO of Regional Medical Center, AdventHealth Polk and Bartow Regional Medical Center, Nicole directed operations for a wide variety of hospital services, including cardiology, oncology/ infusion therapy, orthopedics, rehabilitation, imaging services, and the development of new ambulatory services including physician practices, free-standing emergency departments, ambulatory surgery centers and multi-million-dollar hospital expansion projects. Nicole also served as vice president of operations at Belton Regional Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology/audiology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and her master’s degree in health administration from Saint Louis University.  She is a fellow with the American College of Health Care Executives.

Dr. Troyer has been at Encompass Health, formerly HealthSouth, Columbia since 1991 and has served as the hospital’s medical director since 1993. He has also served on the Encompass Health Physician Advisory Board since 1999. Dr. Troyer graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree and doctorate of medicine. He performed his internship in internal medicine and residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh. A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Dr. Troyer is married and has four children.

Dr. Troyer is an independent private practice physician.

Melanie came to Encompass Health, formerly HealthSouth, with more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the healthcare industry. She is passionate about quality patient care and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. She worked with Rock Hill and Columbia Encompass Health hospitals for a total of seven years as a rehabilitation liaison before being named director of marketing operations in May 2014. As director of marketing operations, she leads a dynamic team of healthcare professionals responsible for business development, community outreach, patient education and marketing in the midlands area of South Carolina.

Jessica brings more than six years of healthcare financial expertise to Encompass Health, formerly HealthSouth, Columbia. A South Carolina native, she graduated from Limestone College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Jamie was promoted to director of plant operations in November 2006. His responsibilities include supervision of security, engineering, dietary, housekeeping, materials management and emergency response. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Jamie has been employed by HealthSouth since 1994. During his employment with HealthSouth, he earned an associate's degree in electronics engineering from Midlands Technical College in 2002.

Sonya brings more than 15 years of human resources experience with 12 years in healthcare to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbia. A Roanoke, Virginia native, she graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She received a master’s degree in liberal arts from Hollins University.

Sara joins Encompass Health with 13 years of medical social work experience, primarily in the acute care hospital setting. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Clemson University followed by a master's degree in social work degree from the University of South Carolina. The majority of Sara’s experience was gained at a local level one trauma center here in the midlands, serving as a social worker on a general medical unit, then transitioning into the team lead social worker and later, manager. She became an accredited case manager – social worker (ACM-SW) in 2012. Sara moved to Texas with her husband in 2017 and had the opportunity to work as a transplant social worker, where they did more living donor kidney transplants than any other hospital in the country. In 2019, Sara and her husband had the opportunity to move back to the midlands and she returned to the acute care setting, working with dialysis and cardiac patients. As a social worker, she understand the importance of meeting patients and families where they are, providing resources, and coordinating services to help them work toward their goals. Working within a team is something that she highly values and Sara is excited to be joining the dynamic group of leaders and staff here at Encompass.

Alyssa joined the team as director of pharmacy in 2018. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy and her doctorate degree in pharmacy degree from Shenandoah University in Virginia. Her management experience spans over 20 years in various environments in the field of pharmacy. Alyssa is a board certified geriatric pharmacist and enjoys interacting with our older patients by working with the interdisciplinary team to educate patients about medication management, diabetes, and pain. She precepts students year round from several colleges of pharmacy and enjoys helping train the pharmacists of tomorrow. Alyssa is an active member of the South Carolina pharmacy association and also holds a membership in SCSHP, APhA, ASCP, ASHP, and the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists.

Darryl Stewart comes to Encompass Health, formerly HealthSouth, after working nearly 25 years for the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He has also worked for the Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby, North Carolina, as director of quality and patient safety from 2005 to 2008. While working at Cleveland Regional, Darryl helped the quality program achieve the Carolina Medical Center’s Quality Performer Award for 2007.  From 2008 to 2012, Darryl served as director of quality and risk for the newly opened Village Hospital in Greer, South Carolina. He holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. His professional background includes experience as a respiratory therapist, an IT analyst and a quality professional. He is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (Quality) and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

Jessica joined the team at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbia in December 2020. She began her career as a registered nurse specializing in oncology. After four years of nursing in a Level I trauma center, Jessica demonstrated progressive leadership, taking on roles like unit assistant nurse manager, nurse manager and operations manager, all within the medical surgical department. She has also served as a clinical practice specialist, working closely with accountable care units, striving for exceptional patient care. Her most recent position includes care for the geriatric population in a long-term care and rehabilitation setting as director of nursing. In addition to two bachelor's degrees from the University of South Carolina, one in nursing and one in political science, she also has a master's degree in nursing, focusing on executive leadership, from Kaplan University. Jessica is passionate about the advancement of the nursing profession, serving as the commission chair on public policy and legislation for the South Carolina Nurses Association.

Paula Wedgbury assumed the position of director of therapy operations of Encompass Health, formerly HealthSouth, Columbia in March 2018. She has worked in the Encompass Health network since October 2000 when she started as a staff physical therapist at VanMatre HealthSouth in Illinois. Paula was promoted to outpatient therapy lead in July 2013, and then outpatient department manager in 2015.  Paula earned her master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Maryland and performed her field work in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Paula specializes in amputee rehabilitation and led the support group in Illinois. She has taught courses around the topics of amputee rehabilitation, prosthetic gait training, outcome measures and therapy documentation standards.

Dr. Westerkam is the associate medical director at HealthSouth Columbia focusing on the traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and amputation programs. He sits on the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund Board and is an adjunct assistant professor in the department of neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Westerkam graduated from Duke University and attended medical school at Emory. He did his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Westerkam is originally from Irmo, South Carolina.

Dr. Westerkam is an independent private practice physician.