In Campbell County, Tennessee, where winding roads meet mountain views, Community Health of East Tennessee (CHET) is more than a clinic—it’s a lifeline for thousands.
What began as a Black Lung Clinic in 1980 has grown into a full-fledged Federally Qualified Health Center serving nearly 5,000 patients a year. CHET now operates a behavioral health clinic, a medical clinic with thirteen providers, two domestic violence shelters, and a free clothing thrift store—meeting a wide range of needs for a community with limited resources.¹
Teresa Dabney, CHET’s CEO, has been there since the beginning. “Our mission statement is ‘Answering the Need,’ and that’s been my heartfelt mission too,” she says. Teresa was awarded the Logan Beasley Leadership Excellence Award last year by the Tennessee Primary Care Association for demonstrating exemplary leadership skills.
Teresa stepped into leadership in 2008, and under her guidance, CHET has continued expanding access to care—especially for uninsured and underinsured patients. In 2023, nearly half of those served lived at or below the Federal Poverty Level.² As a community health center, no one is turned away based on their ability to pay.
“I think that’s what keeps us motivated,” Teresa says. “We see the needs there, and we want to help people get services however we can.”
CHET’s diverse range of services has grown organically, often because the community reaches out to them first. “Over the years, our services have become so diverse by default,” Teresa explains. “That’s how we ended up with a domestic violence shelter. A small church group started it, but when they couldn’t finance it anymore, we stepped in.”
Listening to Teresa, it’s clear why CHET is so trusted. She doesn’t just lead the organization—she embodies its mission, constantly seeking out new ways to fill the gaps left by other systems.
“Twenty-five years ago, the local newspaper did a series on what would happen if CHET wasn’t here,” she recalls. “The truth is, uninsured and underinsured people would have nowhere to go for care. So to be able to expand our services—it's been wonderful.”
When asked what advice she’d give to new leaders in community health, Teresa smiles. “I don’t want to sound corny, but if you’ve got a dream and a vision—and you're trying to serve people to the best of your knowledge—just go for it. You might get knocked down, but you can figure out a way to make it happen.”
This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
¹Community Health of East Tennessee, https://chetn.org/about-us.
²TPCA 2025 Site Guide, https://www.flipsnack.com/tnpca/tpca-s-tn-community-health-center-site-guide/full-view.html.
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