Cultural Encounters

Recollections of local hospitality in St. Charles, Va.

Grandson Howard Elliot III and daughter Fay, of Howard and Elsie Elliot from St. Charles, Va., reminisce their family’s hospitality toward Vanderbilt students during SHC summer health fairs. This recollection of local generosity is but one piece of a larger conversation about the St. Charles community with Polly McClanahan-McArthur and Biff Hollingsworth. Art Van Zee …

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Charles Scott and John Kennedy ruminate on the racism intrinsic to the SHC’s work in Appalachia

Charles Scott and John Kennedy discuss the racism intrinsic to the Student Health Coalition’s work, particularly in Morgan County, Tenn. Scott underlines the importance of (1) recognizing and (2) remembering the power they (as majority White students) had in these communities, why, and what that meant contextually. Follow this link for access to the full-length …

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On the evolution of treatment and maintenance for opioid addiction in St. Charles, Va.

Art Van Zee discusses the evolution of treatment for opioid addiction, including monumental shifts particularly valuable to rural communities such as St. Charles, Va. He explains that access to methadone maintenance treatment is extremely restricted for many people in isolated regions, as it would incur unsustainable expenses (both financial and time-related) just to get to …

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Reflections on the legacy of coal camp healthcare and success of the St. Charles Clinic

Several closely tied to the St. Charles Clinic gather to discuss what contributed to its success and reminisce about past generations of healthcare in the area, namely during the time large coal companies were active. They emphasize the determination of local residents and role of widespread community collaboration in establishing and maintaining the clinic. Those …

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Reflections on culture: camaraderie, family, and the destructive fallout of addiction in St. Charles

Art Van Zee reflects on the rich coal mining culture of St. Charles, Va. and surrounding communities. He describes its positive impact on the connectedness of extended family units and overall sense of camaraderie among neighbors. In doing so, Art highlights the ongoing cultural shift away from this reality–citing the destruction of families as one …

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Margaret Ecker’s perspective on local home-stays and her experience among the Melungeon Community

Margaret Ecker shares her perspective on the Coalition’s unique opportunity for students to stay with local families, and the power doing so had on the relationship-building element crucial to effective community organizing. As an example, she reminisces her experience among the isolated Melungeon community near Sneedville, Tenn. during the summer of 1970. Follow this link …

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On the joy and impact of living with local families in East Tennessee

Rosie Hammond shares the highlight of her SHC experience: living with and getting to know local families. She names several from her time in Briceville, White Oak, Petros, Stoney Fork, and Rose Creek, Tenn., including (but not limited to) the Phillips family, the Burns Family, Vada Evans, and J.W. and Kate Bradley. She also comments …

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Sir George Pickering visits East Tennessee

Bob Hartmann shares the story of his trip escorting Sir George Pickering, a well-respected hypertension specialist from England who was at the time visiting as a guest professor, and Dr. Grant Liddle and his family to East Tennessee as an example of how the Medical School benefited from the accomplishments of the Student Health Coalition …

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