Champions of Health Care
America’s complex and technologically driven medical system is as sophisticated, complex and expensive as any in the world. But within that vast system are those who still put the “care” in health care and who we recognize as the winners of this year’s Champions of Health Care awards.Edge magazine, in partnership with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, received more than 150 nominations from the public about health care providers, administrators and volunteers who have made health care better in Chattanooga. From among those nominations, a panel of judges comprised of top leaders from the medical society and each of Chattanooga’s three major hospital systems – Erlanger Health System, CHI Memorial Hospital, Parkridge Health System – picked the winners that we salute in the following pages.The Champions of Health Care award winners recognize those who have tackled major community health problems, starting programs to tackle obesity and smoking, adding physical therapy training in Chattanooga, and bringing needed medical services to those without health insurance. Others are recognized for new approaches, strong leadership and simple acts of kindness during their lifetimes of achievement and service.In our second year of the awards, we have quickly discovered the rich talent and commitment from those who work every day to keep us healthy.
Rachel Schulson, the executive director of A Step Ahead Chattanooga, likes to think of herself as a pragmatist who would rather find common ground to solve a problem than argue over possible solutions.
Years ago, she wrote a book telling young children about guns that won kudos from advocates and opponents of firearms by focusing on information any child should know if they encounter a gun.
“One of the things I like to do is to take a hot issue and try to find the center,” Schulson says. “Because I feel like people are going to argue forever about abortion or gun rights… but in the meantime, here are ways you can help.”
When she started A Step Ahead Chattanooga three years ago to help women avoid unintended pregnancies, Schulson followed the same path, side-stepping the heated fights over abortion by focusing instead on something much less controversial: long-term reversible birth control.