Patients know her as Wesley Reed, a psychiatric tech at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. But to her colleagues, Reed is a star, winner of the 2020 “Atrium Health Has Talent” competition.
Reed was one of 12 finalists in the recent 71-minute virtual grand finale, the first time the event wasn’t held in person.
In all, 86 Atrium employees auditioned for the contest. Five local judges, including an actress/singer and two professional musicians, evaluated the finalists.
Other top contestants were Tia Jackson, a patient services specialist at the Women’s Center for Pelvic Health, second place; Chara Reese, team leader for patient access at Navicent Health, third place and the People’s Choice Award; and Andrea Nielsen, a clinical nurse I at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, the Executive Council Award.
Reed, 24, who says she was “making music before I could talk,” gave a soulful rendering of her composition “Over It.”
The grand finale program also included a 6-minute video produced by Atrium CEO Gene Woods of him singing and playing guitar on his own bluesy tune “Not Enuff Joy,” accompanied by professional musicians. He said it’s one of the first songs he ever wrote, and introduced it by urging his colleagues “to do everything in our collective power to bring more joy, more health, more hope and more healing into this world.”