We salute our Tennessee Walking Horse Medical Family

We want to hear from those on the front lines! 

Ron Lawrence – Knoxville, Tennessee

WHERE YOU ARE FROM?
I was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. After attending the University of Tennessee and earning a degree in business, I spent four years in the Air Force as a squadron commander.

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION?
I am the CEO of Summit View Health Management, based out of Knoxville. Summit View Health Management is an intergraded senior care company located in five counties in East Tennessee. Our facilities provide post-acute care, pharmaceutical, physician practice and has one of the largest dietary consulting groups in the state.

WHERE DO YOU WORK?
Summit View Health Management

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL AND WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU?
I do long range planning and ultimate oversight of all the operations on a daily basis. I am a motivator and solution driven manager to our employees.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS AFFECTED YOUR JOB?
We currently have no patients or staff with the virus. The panic that has been created has caused a great deal of stress on our staff since the guidelines. We have seen our physician's practice have a small reduction of patients. They are focusing on critical patients instead of a lesser degree of routine care.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE HORSE BUSINESS AND/OR HOW ARE YOU RELATED TO THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE INDUSTRY?
I attended my first Celebration in 1992 when Bud Dunn won on Dark’s Spirits Rebel. I was smitten by the beauty and grace of the Tennessee Walking Horse, as you know the rest is history.

DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE HORSES IN TRAINING AND IF SO WHO ARE THEY AND WHO IS YOUR TRAINER?
I have two horses, In Ted's Image and An Apocalypse, in training at Callaway Stables.

TELL US ABOUT A SPECIAL HORSE RELATED MEMORY WHETHER IN THE RING, ON THE TRAIL OR AT THE BARN?
One of my favorites is of course my first world championship which came in 1997 on Gen's Picture Perfect. She was a beautiful, sorrel mare and we won the Amateur Specialty Mare title. Recent favorites are my shows in both Fine Harness and under saddle with five-time World Champion In Ted's Image.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY?
Whatever obstacles we all face I think patience and perseverance can go a long way toward resolving these difficult times.