David Bullock – Vernon Kentucky

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION?
Physician – I do Family Practice, ER and help to provide care to patients at the long-term ventilator care facility at the Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center.

WHERE DO YOU WORK?
Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU.
I have an office practice that entails seeing babies through elderly patients. One to three days a week I work in the Emergency Department at our facility. I also, along with three other partners, provide care for the largest standalone ventilator care facility in the nation. We have 142 beds for patients that require long term ventilator use to live.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS AFFECTED YOUR JOB?
Our facility has been fortunate to only have had one positive test for COVID-19 at this point. We have changed patient patterns of entering our practice, employees are screened everyday, masks are worn in most settings and we no longer allow visitors into the facility.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE HORSE BUSINESS AND/OR HOW ARE YOU RELATED TO THE = TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE INDUSTRY?
My father had Tennessee Walking Horses as trail horses so I have been involved for many years. I purchased my first performance horse in 2006 and have had show horses since that time. We enjoy all facets of the  breed including breeding, performance and flat shod horses.

DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE HORSES IN TRAINING AND IF SO WHO ARE THEY AND WHO IS YOUR TRAINER?
We have horses at Cottonwood Farms, Hankins Stables and Robby Bradley Stables.

TELL US ABOUT A SPECIAL HORSE RELATED MEMORY WHETHER IN THE RING, ON THE TRAIL OR AT THE BARN?
My favorite memories of our horses all involve my children. Davany has won a reserve world championship at The Celebration and Zane was fortunate to win a world championship his first time showing there. I love spending our Thursdays together, going to ride at one of the barns.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY?
I know that the current situation seems bleak and seems like it will last forever. That is not the case and we will get through it. Have we had to change our life patterns and miss things we wanted to do? For sure, however, if we continue to try to prevent the spread of this virus, we will eventually be on the other side of the curve and be able to resume our life. Medical technology is working at an unbelievable pace to develop better testing, treatments and vaccines. Take this time to enjoy the slower life, spend more time with immediate family and reconnect to our God that always provides no matter the struggle.