Blessing Mount Sterling Clinic now open

November 6, 2021 | By Muddy River News

Mt. Sterling Ribbon Cutting 11-3-21 copy

Pictured from left are Pat Gerveler, chief financial officer, Blessing Health System; Gina Genenbacher, director of rural health, Blessing Physician Services; Scott Koelliker, EVP, Blessing Physician Services; Quentin Mayer, administrative director operations, Blessing Physician Services; Dawn Koch, Blessing Physician Services; Maureen Kahn, president and chief executive officer, Blessing Health System; Tim Koontz, BCS, board chair; Alex Geisler, executive director, Action Brown County; Matthew Bradbury, mayor of Mount Sterling. | Photo courtesy of Blessing Hospital

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — A ribbon cutting and open house was held Nov. 3 at the Blessing Mount Sterling Clinic, 521 E. Main.

In addition to family medicine acute and preventative care in person or by telemedicine, Blessing Mount Sterling Clinic will offer lab, X-ray and EKG testing and worker’s compensation cases. Care will be delivered by Dr. Dawn Koch, family medicine, under the direction of Dr. Terin Blanchard, medical director.

Koch, a resident of Mount Sterling, is certified by the American Board of Family Practitioners. She earned her nursing degree through Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Quincy University, and her nurse practitioner degree from Chamberlain University.

“Growing up in a rural community, and now raising my family in the town in which I was born, I know that it is extremely important to have access to high quality healthcare without traveling long distances,” Koch said in a press release. “Rural areas deserve great healthcare, including preventative health measures. I am dedicated to building a strong trustworthy practice for the residents of Mount Sterling and surrounding communities.”

After earning a master of science degree in biology from the University of Texas-San Antonio, Blanchard received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. A veteran, Blanchard completed residency at Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, N.C., and an internship at Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in the state of Washington.

“I dedicated a total of 17 years to providing high quality medical care to our service members and their families at home and abroad,” Blanchard said. “I’m excited about playing a role in providing that same level of care to the residents of the communities that will be served by the Blessing Mount Sterling Clinic.”

“Blessing has a decades-long commitment of bringing healthcare to the rural residents, instead of always making them travel for their healthcare,” said Gina Genenbacher, director of rural health, Blessing Physician Services. “Blessing operates nine rural health clinics, and we are honored to be welcomed into Mount Sterling to improve the health of the communities of Brown County and the surrounding counties.”