Press Releases

Athens, Texas (December 16, 2019) — A number of individuals recently were recognized by UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1 for their quick actions, which helped save the life of a man experiencing a heart attack.

Charles Crutchfield was at First State Bank of Athens when he collapsed this summer. "The quick action from the bank employees, Athens Fire and Rescue and UT Health EMS, all working together, lead to Mr. Crutchfield being alive today," said Todd Loper, UT Health East Texas EMS Henderson County Regional Director.

Tyler, Texas (December 12, 2019) UT Health East Texas has acquired Urology Tyler, PA, which will now operate as part of UT Health East Texas Urology, providing urological care through diagnostic testing that includes prostate ultrasound/biopsy, cystoscopy, CAT scan, urodynamic studies, post void residual and PSA blood test. Other services include in-office surgery, implants and therapeutic treatment. Physicians include:

Tyler, TX (December 5, 2019) UT Health East Texas Olympic Centers last month collected 26 barrels of food that will benefit the East Texas Food Bank.

Throughout the month of November, donation barrels from the East Texas Food Bank were placed at Olympic Center locations in Tyler, Lake Palestine, Cedar Creek Lake, Jacksonville, Hideaway Lake, Chandler, Mineola, Rusk and Pittsburg. UT Health Tyler, Jacksonville and Pittsburg also had a donation barrel at their main hospital locations.

Tyler, Texas (November 26, 2019) — UT Health East Texas, a leading health system, and Premier Health, a nationally respected urgent care operator, announce a new partnership to open urgent care clinics in Tyler and surrounding areas. The first clinic will be a new, state-of-the-art urgent care clinic in Henderson, Texas. This is the first step in a long-term strategic partnership that will increase access to fast, convenient healthcare across East Texas.

The urgent care clinic in Henderson is slated to open in July 2020. It will be branded as UT Health East Texas Urgent Care, with Premier Health managing day-to-day operations.

Tyler, Texas (November 26, 2019) Fewer than two years ago, Shawn Gonter was a trauma patient at UT Health Tyler after a serious motorcycle accident. Gonter now works for UT Health as a physician assistant, and on Dec. 3 he will have the honor of lighting the hospital's outdoor Christmas tree during a public ceremony.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. when Santa arrives in his sleigh, with live reindeer, on the hospital's front lawn. The tree-lighting ceremony is set to begin at 5:20 p.m. with Gonter illuminating the tree, carrying on a 31-year tradition of former patients lighting the tree. There also will be refreshments and Christmas carols performed by the Moore Middle School sixth-grade choir. Santa will be at the event until 6:30 p.m. and free parking is available in both parking garages. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Tyler, Texas (November 19, 2019) — UT Health East Texas EMS and Champion EMS are pleased to report that the parties have settled the lawsuit regarding ambulance services in Tyler, Texas.

Since 1992, ETMC EMS, now operating as UT Health East Texas EMS, an affiliate of UT Health East Texas, has been proud to serve the citizens of Tyler and Smith County, Texas as their exclusive ambulance service.

Mt. Pleasant, Texas (November 7, 2019) — UT Health East Texas Physicians has opened a new clinic in Mt. Pleasant. This clinic will provide quality care close to home in the Mt. Pleasant area. The clinic not only offers family medicine care, but has an otolaryngology (ENT) clinic.

Providers at the clinic include:

Eric Reed, DO, FAOCO, is a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT) at UT Health East Texas Physicians in Mt. Pleasant, Pittsburg and Quitman. Reed focuses on treating the whole patient. "I try to counsel as extensively as possible so the patient and family understand. I view the patient as the most important member of the healthcare team."

Jacksonville, Texas (November 7, 2019) - From before it even began, one could argue that the life of Dr. Mary Alice Bone, in many ways, was shaped by the Jacksonville hospital.

It’s where her parents met and fell in love. Her father was a physician, a young widower whose wife died during the flu epidemic of 1918. Her mother was a nurse who had been recruited from out of state to work for the hospital, then known as the Cherokee Sanitarium, after her own husband and infant also succumbed to the 1918 flu.

Tyler, TX (October 30, 2019) UT Health East Texas Olympic Centers on Friday will kick off a food drive benefitting the East Texas Food Bank.

Throughout the month of November, donation barrels from the East Texas Food Bank will be placed at Olympic Center locations in Tyler, Lake Palestine, Cedar Creek Lake, Jacksonville, Hideaway Lake, Chandler, Mineola, Rusk and Pittsburg. UT Health Tyler, Jacksonville and Pittsburg also will have a donation barrel at their main hospital locations.

Tyler, Texas (October 25, 2019) - Becker's Healthcare recognized two UT Health East Texas leaders as rising stars in the industry. Tracy O'Daniel, division director of quality, risk and patient safety at UT Health East Texas, and Patrick Swindle, CEO of UT Health Quitman and UT Health Pittsburg, were among the 66 people named to the list of healthcare leaders under 40 years old.