black lung

On the Bradley’s motivation to organize a community clinic in Petros, Tenn.

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Origin Stories, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Kate Bradley frames the initiative to organize a local health council and community clinic as a direct response to the Petros health fair’s preliminary identification of needs. She details early fundraising efforts, including Pat Kalmans’ key role in securing grant money, and outlines the clinic’s legal incorporation, naming John Kennedy and John Williams not only …

On the Bradley’s motivation to organize a community clinic in Petros, Tenn. Read More »

On John Kennedy’s management of UMW’s Black Lung Treatment Programs, Kentucky and Tennessee

Personal/Professional Growth, Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

John Kennedy describes the evolution of his career and transition to Washington in 1974. Upon suggestion from Eula Hall, Director of the Mud Creek Clinic, and with an official offer from Tom Ludwig, the union rep responsible for occupational health and safety initiatives, Kennedy began to manage the Kentucky and Tennessee programs under UMW’s Black …

On John Kennedy’s management of UMW’s Black Lung Treatment Programs, Kentucky and Tennessee Read More »

Changes in perception of black lung, 1971 vs 1975

Impact of SHC, Stories / By

John Kennedy reflects on the difference between 1971 and 1975 perceptions of black lung, including recognition of the disease, access to healthcare, and availability of legal support. For more information on John Kennedy’s involvement with the East Tennessee Research Corporation (ETRC) and work related to black lung, follow this link for footage of the full-length …

Changes in perception of black lung, 1971 vs 1975 Read More »

On the East Tennessee Research Corporation (ETRC) in eastern Kentucky

Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

In supplement to ETRC’s involvement with the Black Lung Association in LaFollette and the Black Lung Clinic in Jacksboro, John Kennedy describes its ongoing activity outside of East Tennessee, too. Namely, he discusses his role setting up clinics in eastern Kentucky–including Prestonsburg, Harlan, and Mud Creek. In addition to mentions of Eula Hall and John …

On the East Tennessee Research Corporation (ETRC) in eastern Kentucky Read More »

Progression of black lung care toward government-funded clinics, 1973

Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

John Kennedy describes monumental developments in black lung care during the summer of 1973, primarily as it pertains to the establishment of state and federally funded clinics. He details the complex effort in acquiring these funds, including the role key players had in placing pressure on the Tennessee State Health Department to monitor black lung …

Progression of black lung care toward government-funded clinics, 1973 Read More »

On miner’s limited access to health and/or legal support for Black Lung Disease management

Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

John Kennedy describes the initial inundation of legal clinics with Black Lung cases, due largely to nonexistent dust control in underground mines and extremely limited access to physicians and lawyers who could help with disease management. He provides further insight into the issue by discussing the indifference of United Mine Workers (UMW) under the leadership …

On miner’s limited access to health and/or legal support for Black Lung Disease management Read More »

Key issues tackled by ETRC

Stories / By

John Williams and Neil McBride share a list of the East Tennessee Research Corporation’s range of legal issues addressed between 1974 and 1977, including but not limited to: coal industry regulation, industrial development, environmental litigation, barriers to independently-run rural health clinics, and black lung.   Full footage of the 2017 ETRC panel featuring John Williams, …

Key issues tackled by ETRC Read More »

John Kennedy

People, Student Health Coalition Participants, Theme: Health Care, Theme: Health Care - People, Theme: Organizing, Theme: Organizing - People / By

Contributed by John E. Davis, November 2019. The summer before his final year at the Vanderbilt Law School and during the summer and fall after his graduation, John Kennedy worked for the Student Health Coalition in 1971 and 1972. He provided assistance to former miners who were seeking black lung benefits and disability payments from …

John Kennedy Read More »

Byrd Duncan

Community Members, People, Theme: Health Care, Theme: Health Care - People, Theme: Organizing, Theme: Organizing - People, Themes / By

Contributed by John E. Davis When the newly recruited medical workers and community workers of the Student Health Coalition gathered in Nashville in June 1970, beginning a week of orientation for the SHC’s second summer in Appalachia, they were introduced to several people from East Tennessee who had volunteered to serve as their sponsors and …

Byrd Duncan Read More »