FWKCC Breakfast Series
Importance of having ETCH featured in August
According to a 2021 study, “there were an estimated 6,000-plus medical centers in the United States (in 2021).”
Of those, “only 2 percent are dedicated to children’s care,” Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Julie Blayock cited. “That’s not a lot.
“So if you are a business owner or are employed by a business in the area and you have a family, whether your children do or don’t have medical needs, it would be important to you to be able to have access to the best medical care for them should you need it,” she added.
“That’s part of why East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and its continued growth and success is essential to the health of region.”
FWKCC will delve into the importance of having East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in its region during its Breakfast Speaker Series Tuesday, Aug. 2, in Rothchild Catering & Conference Center, 8807 Kingston Pike, featuring ETCH CEO Matt Schaefer.
While the breakfast and networking take place starting at 7:30 a.m., the presentation will begin 8 and end at 9 a.m.
Presented jointly by FWKCC, Knox County Government and Town of Farragut, the Breakfast Series is open to the public. Chamber members can get their tickets for $30 each or buy a table of 10 for $275.
Non-members can purchase tickets for $40 each or a table for non-members for $350. Students can attend for $15 each. Tickets are available at farragutchamber.com or call the Chamber office at 865-675-7057.
The event sponsor is First Utility District. Media sponsor is farragutpress.
“This would be a great opportunity for business owners or anybody to buy a table and invite colleagues, invite neighbors in your community, invite guests because I think this would be very interesting,” Blaylock said. “Just knowing that we have a children’s hospital, I think, is not enough.
“I think it’s important for people to meet and get connected to the leadership within our community, especially as it relates to healthcare because that’s been a very important topic for the last two years,” she added.
“They should take advantage of the opportunity to connect with one of our healthcare community leaders, but also to be able to learn the ins and outs of what Children’s Hospital offers, how they can improve the health and well-being of our children and to understand how much of an asset having a facility like this is to our economy.”
The idea to feature Schaefer as speaker was the result of requests from several Chamber members, such as Mike Arms of Tennessee Strategies, who had heard Schaefer speak at other events.
Despite challenges, “we have heard that he has done a wonderful job of attracting new and younger physicians in various specialties to the hospital,” Blaylock said.
