As thousands of people soaked in the sounds of their favorite country artists at the Carolina Country Music Fest, a dedicated team from Tidelands Health stood ready to answer the call, prepared for what the four-day festival might bring.

Through showers and sunshine, 78 Tidelands Health nurses, physicians and other professionals staffed the festival’s on-site medical tent during CCMF, providing care to more than 170 festivalgoers experiencing medical conditions including dehydration, panic attacks, seizures, blisters and more.

“We treated everything we could there in the tent,” said Wendi Kobylarz, emergency department director at Tidelands Health. “Sometimes, it’s just sitting with someone for 45 minutes while they talk through their anxiety. That’s part of health care, too.”

As the official health care provider of CCMF, Tidelands Health operated the festival’s medical tent, working alongside the Myrtle Beach Fire Department, Horry County Fire Rescue and the Pee Dee Regional Medical Assistance Team.

For Kobylarz and other medical staff, the experience was more than just a weekend of providing care; it was a reminder of why they do what they do. Some of the most memorable moments weren’t just about medicine, but about connection.

And those moments of connection were matched by a strong sense of teamwork behind the scenes from professionals who often work on different shifts or in different locations at Tidelands Health but came together to serve the community at CCMF.

“We had new employees this year who had never done this before, and they did an amazing job,” she said. “You’d think we all worked together every day based on how well it went. That’s something I’ll remember.”

At the heart of it all was a shared commitment to caring for others.

“We volunteered because we care about our community,” Kobylarz said. “Whether it’s starting an IV or just handing someone a Band-Aid, we’re there to help.”