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A celebration of Linda Buchanan’s 31 years of service at Tallulah Health Clinic will take place Saturday at Robbinsville High School. Buchanan is pictured with Dr. Patricia Johnson, who has organized the event.
By Dr. Patricia Johnson
Special to The Graham Star
On Saturday, our community – led by Dr. Patricia Johnson – will have an appreciation/fund-raising benefit honoring Linda Buchanan (known to her friends as “Poss”), for her 31-plus years of dedicated service to Tallulah Clinic and to the community at large.
Married to Gary Buchanan, Poss began working at the clinic when she was 23 years old, and had two small daughters. She continued to grow in her knowledge and experience throughout her medical career.
If you are familiar with the area of the clinic Poss occupied, it was in the center of the clinic. If you were a patient of the clinic, you might agree she was in the “heart” of the practice, seeing many of the patients at the time of their visit.
Chances are good that she might have hit you up for a donation for a fund-raiser she might have been having to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. Thanks to Poss and others like her, the outlook for cystic fibrosis patients has greatly improved.
Poss had a leadership role in both the laboratory and X-ray, and experienced many changes in health care over the years. She helped develop programs in many areas – from mammography to CAT scans – and was always willing and eager to expand services to the patients. She led our laboratory to be certified to be a lab of a higher complexity, allowing the doctors to obtain results quickly, enhancing health care for all of us.
This required passing multiple exams throughout each year, as well as passing rigorous laboratory inspections. She held many duties that often go unseen, and therefore under appreciated.
Both Poss and Gary have been there for others so many times, that it is now a good time for us to give back some of the love and support they have given to others.
Thirty years is a long time for selfless service and our hope is that it does not go unnoticed.
Due to progressive health issues – including multiple broken bones – Poss has been unable to work the required number of hours and she was quietly dismissed from her position. This job loss is accompanied by loss of health insurance for the couple. She is still several years from being eligible for Medicare.
In the meantime, they need our help. We feel it is time we have a “Party for Poss.” Let’s take the opportunity to express our appreciation and love.
The benefit provides a light meal – with lots of items to raffle – and an auction at 5 p.m. There are some great items to auction, including some antiques specific to this county.
If you have questions – or items you would like to donate for raffle or auction – you may reach Dr. J at 735-1343. Donations of all types are appreciated, as well as coming out for the event.
The event will be rescheduled in event of inclement winter weather.