Dr. Karen Shelton, vice president/chief medical officer for Bristol Regional Medical Center and Smyth County Community Hospital, was named 2021 Bristolian of the Year by the Bristol Herald Courier newspaper for her efforts during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Dr. Shelton is the former director of the Virginia Department of Health’s Mount Rogers health district, and led the department through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, overseeing testing, contact tracing, quarantine measures and developing mitigation strategies — all while advising cities, counties, school districts and individuals on best practices, then marshaling mass efforts to get people vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
She was honored by the Herald Courier for her leadership creating and directing efforts to guard the health of tens of thousands of Southwest Virginians against the global pandemic — efforts which helped save countless lives and enabled area public school systems to open when most in the state and nation were closed.
This is the third year the newspaper has presented the award to individuals whose efforts go above and beyond to make this community and region a better place to live. Congratulations to Dr. Shelton for the recognition, and thank you for your efforts!
