J.W. Bradley

Findings of the 1971 land ownership study and subsequent legal action

Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

John Gaventa elaborates on initial findings from the 1971 land ownership study and what transpired in response. With documented evidence of inequitable corporate control over land and natural resources (due in large part to unfair property taxation practices and the absence of proper mineral rights assessment), local citizens sought legal action. These included (but were …

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Overcoming adversity from Morgan County

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

Kate and J.W. Bradley discuss the Morgan County Health Council, from its formation around the same time as the Coalition’s health fair in Petros, Tenn. to the challenges Morgan County officials created for the clinic. These hurdles were in no small part due to the actions of a man by the name of Charlie Jance. …

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On the Petros Health Council’s response to altercation with Dr. Chester Caster

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

Kate Bradley discusses the local Petros Health Council’s response to an altercation with the clinic’s doctor, Chester Caster. He tirelessly incited clinic opposition among community members and rallied to take over, but Kate’s determination to protect the clinic was stalwart. Several members of the council are mentioned, including Billy Christopher, Jim Schercks, Junior Coontz, Martin …

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Kate Bradley on a problematic provider’s attempt to take over the clinic in Petros

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Power and Politics in Health Care, Stories / By

Kate Bradley describes the internal conflict that arose with the doctor, Chester Caster, who came to Petros after Rick Davidson. He rallied for clinic opposition among community members and made irate threats against her in what was a futile (albeit persistent) attempt to take over. Follow this link to a follow-up clip about the Petros …

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More on local opposition to the Petros Clinic

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Kate Bradley expands on the issues she explains are often characteristic of small, rural communities and how such things as ignorance and jealousy impeded their efforts to build a community clinic in Petros, Tenn. She describes a few specific examples of local opposition and details their collaborative lobbying in response, featuring Irwin Venick, Bill Corr, …

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“We had to work with one hand and fight with the other”

Health Fairs, Community Clinics & Councils, Origin Stories, Power and Politics in Health Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Stories / By

Kate Bradley narrates the process by which Mountain Peoples Health Council (MPHC) acquired land to build the Petros Clinic. She describes the stiff political atmosphere in Nashville, where she went to plead her case before a judge, and explains why local response to MPHC being granted the land was less than enthused: ignorance and jealousy. …

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