They’ve spent time away from their families, friends and favorite pastimes, combing over the latest scientific literature and burning the candle at both ends to keep their patients, colleagues and communities safe through a rapidly changing pandemic. From intense planning and adapting, to working on the front lines and providing behind-the-scenes support, these medical experts were chosen by their peers for recognition of their integral roles in the Chattanooga region’s COVID-19 response.
Dr. Mark Anderson, director of infection prevention at CHI Memorial and medical director for specialty care, CHI Memorial Medical Group
As an infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anderson has spent his entire career preparing for – and worrying about – the day a pandemic might strike.
“Some of the things that have happened we thought about before and had planned for within our field and the community here, but there are just so many things you can’t anticipate,” he says. “The economic toll on communities and people has been extremely upsetting and unsettling. I think that’s a constant layer of stress on all of us no matter what we do.
“I would hope that we’re going to learn from this, that we need to have a better strategy in the future for national oversight and planning for dealing with this, so that we don’t have as many issues with supplies for testing, for PPE, and things like that.