Health:

Assisting patients and their families through illness, Lawson says the thing she most likes about her job is the fact that she’s "there to help others through a difficult time." During a previous illness and hospital stay, herself, Lawson said, "I saw how important the nurses can be to someone in such a stressful and difficult situation as being ill, and I want to be there for
others in the same way that the nurses were there for me."

Lawson, a Maryville High School graduate, is a 2006 graduate of Lincoln Memorial University where she earned an associate of science degree in nursing. Proud of that accomplishment, Lawson said, "I’m proud to show my children that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and work hard."

Living in Maryville with her husband and two children, Lawson says she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching movies, reading and listening to music in her spare time.

Dr. Elisa LaFountain joins BMH active medical staff
Internist Dr. Elisa LaFountain has joined Blount Memorial’s active medical staff. LaFountain is a hospitalist at East Tennessee Medical Group’s office at 266 Joule St. in Alcoa.

LaFountain received a bachelor of science degree from St. Martin’s College in Lacey, W.Va. in 1988. In 2003, LaFountain earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo. In 2006, LaFountain completed an internal medicine residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Penn.

LaFountain is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association.
Cancer groups at Blount Memorial

The Blount Memorial Cancer Center offers free groups for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and family members and friends of cancer patients and survivors.

On Tuesdays at 10 a.m., a group for cancer patients and survivors meets in the Blount Memorial Cancer Center Conference Room One on the second floor. Before attending, cancer patients and survivors are encouraged call 865-980-5025 to schedule an orientation appointment.

Meeting simultaneously in an adjacent room, also at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, the family members and friends of cancer patients and survivors meet in the center’s Conference Room Two, also on the second floor.

For more information or to schedule an orientation appointment, call health education and social services coordinator Debbie Roberts at 865-980-5025.

Wellness Center offers kids programs to community
The Blount Memorial Wellness Center at Springbrook’s "Especially for Kids" program now is open to non-members’ children.

• The center’s program is filled with fitness-based classes for 6- to 12-year-olds. Members’ kids pay the WellKid rate per class, and for non-members’ kids, the cost of each class is $5.
  
• On Monday, Nov. 27, kids can participate in "Musical Monday," a movement-to-music program, at 6 p.m. and "Jr. Fittrek" at 5 p.m.
  
• "WellKid Swim" starts at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The class also meets on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. Kids swim for one hour and accumulate mileage in the pool, which has one lane marked off in an effort to teach kids how to swim with others.
  
• Thursday, Nov. 30 also bring with them a 7 p.m. "Storytelling" session.
  For more information or to register your child for any of the programs, call 865-980-7100.

Surgeons host bariatric surgery lectures
In November, Blount Memorial Hospital’s ongoing Bariatric Lecture Series program features two presentations by Blount Memorial surgeons who will discuss the surgical and laparoscopic treatments of obesity.

Dr. Mark Colquitt and Dr. Jonathan Ray are the speakers at a presentation at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 30.
The programs will be presented in the Blount Memorial Hospital auditorium and are free to the community. To register, call 1-
866-300-8644.