ETSU Health celebrates 3 named ‘Healthcare Heroes’

JOHNSON CITY – Three of ETSU Health’s physicians received high honors during The Business Journal of Tri-Cities TN/VA’s 2024 Healthcare Heroes Awards Ceremony.

Dr. Karen Schetzina received the “Cup of Kindness Innovation Award,” while Drs. Josh Henry and Blair Reece received “Healthcare Hero” awards.

Each year, the Business Journal honors individuals and organizations that “go above and beyond the call of duty in the provision of healthcare in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.” The honorees are announced in the August issue of the magazine. “Cup of Kindness” awards are presented in five categories, and 20 individual Healthcare Hero awards are bestowed.

“I am proud to call each of these outstanding physicians a part of ETSU Health,” said Dr. Bill Block, acting CEO for ETSU Health’s physician group and East Tennessee State University’s Vice President for clinical affairs and Dean of Quillen College of Medicine. “Their dedicated service to our community is humbling to witness. Few would give of their time and talents so selflessly, and I am incredibly pleased to see them receive this recognition.”

Dr. Karen Schetzina is an ETSU Health pediatrician, professor and Vice Chair for Academic Pediatrics at Quillen College of Medicine, and Director of the Child and Family Health Institute. She also serves as the State Infant Medical Director for the Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care and as Medical Director of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Children’s Resource Center and the Pediatric Complex Care Navigation Program. These many hats are in addition to roles on numerous committees, including as Membership Chair and Board Member for the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Her nominator cited her warm heart, unwavering devotion, and creative spirit in service to the families of our community. Among her many accomplishments is ReadNPlay for a Bright Future, a collaboration led by ETSU Health pediatricians to support families. Numerous projects and partnerships have grown out of this collaboration, including a mobile kitchen, literacy trail, and journals that guide mothers-to-be through their pregnancy – all at no cost to recipients. Her work building partnerships has also produced a community forum on food insecurity, a food pantry for patients in need at ETSU Health Pediatrics, resources for new families in the Johnson City Medical Center nursery, and many other notable projects.

Dr. Josh Henry is a pediatric critical care physician with ETSU Health who also serves as faculty for Quillen College of Medicine, the medical director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Division Chief of Pediatric Intensive Care, and the Medical Director of Inpatient Pediatric Palliative Care. Dr. Henry’s nominator noted that he has at times stepped up to serve as the only pediatric intensivist within our region, shouldering what could be an emotionally devastating burden in service to our community. While now lead for a three-member team, he emphasizes his desire to always be available to the families under his care and is highly praised by his patients and their families.

Dr. Blair Reece is a physician at ETSU Health Internal Medicine in Johnson City and faculty member at Quillen College of Medicine. She received the Healthcare Hero award in recognition of her heart for service, leadership, and extraordinary patient care. Her nominator noted that Dr. Reece became a trusted voice to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, appearing in many interviews. Her patients praise her level of care, saying that she makes sure they are heard and their concerns addressed. Her students and residents note the dedication she gives to her role as a mentor, guiding them to become the best among the next generation of physicians.

With 30 clinical sites and more than 250 healthcare providers, ETSU Health is on the front lines of efforts to improve the health of Northeast Tennessee by offering leading-edge healthcare in dozens of specialties.

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