Earlier this summer, Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance announced an exciting new initiative to seek the public’s input as the organizations work together to try to solve some of our region’s most important health issues: Mental Health & Addiction; Healthy Children & Families; Research & Academics; and Population Health & Healthy Communities.
We are overwhelmed and excited by how many people in our community expressed interest in getting involved in this important discussion – over 100 people signed up to participate through our website.
Today, we’re excited to share the next steps in this initiative. Several local community leaders have been selected as chairpersons to lead the work groups, and the first of a series of community meetings have been scheduled.
Eight community leaders have agreed to serve as chairpersons of the four work groups:
- Mental Health & Addiction: Dr. Teresa Kidd, president and CEO of Frontier Health, and Eric Greene, senior vice president of Virginia services for Frontier Health;
- Healthy Children & Families: Dr. David Wood, chair of the department of pediatrics at East Tennessee State University and chief medical officer of Niswonger Children’s Hospital, and Travis Staton, CEO of United Way of Southwest Virginia;
- Population Health & Healthy Communities: Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of ETSU’s College of Public Health, and Lori Hamilton, RN, director of healthy initiatives for K-VA-T Food City;
- Research & Academics: Dr. Wilsie Bishop, vice president for health affairs and chief operating officer of East Tennessee State University, and Jake Schrum, president of Emory & Henry.
Additionally, the first two community round table meetings will take place on August 13th and 20th:
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August 13, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
425 TN-91, Elizabethton, Tenn. -
August 20, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
One Partnership Circle, Abingdon, Va.
We hope you will join us for one of these meetings, as well as future meetings as they are scheduled throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. If you plan to attend, we ask that you submit a quick RSVP online. Your RSVP is encouraged but not required.
Wellmont and Mountain States continue to explore the creation of a new, integrated and locally governed health system designed to be among the best in the nation. The discussions to occur and the findings of the community health work groups will be incredibly valuable as we plan for a bright future for health care in our region.