Oak Ridge Pediatrics Welcomes A New Physician To Practice
Oak Ridge Pediatrics, a part of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, serves children from around the area.
Sponsored by: East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
A new physician is in town, and chances are, you’ll be seeing her all over Oak Ridge, TN. Fresh from Chicago, where she recently wrapped up her residency at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Dr. Allison Byrd of Oak Ridge Pediatrics is ready to roll up her sleeves and make a difference — inside and outside the office.
“I’ve always wanted to not just be a doctor in the office but also a doctor in the community,” Byrd says. “I feel like Oak Ridge is a place where I can make an impact in that way and not only affect the health of my patients but the families in Oak Ridge, as well.”
Originally from Atlanta, GA, Byrd has always had a natural connection with kids. She grew up teaching dance, and between high school and college, she served as a swim coach for Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Kids, Inc., a Georgia-based nonprofit that works to prevent childhood obesity. Now, she wants to be just as involved in her new community.
“I know there are rowing teams, and that swimming is big down here,” she says. “I swam competitively in high school and college, so maybe I’ll get involved in something like that.”
In addition to building connections with her patients and other locals, Byrd is eager to get settled and just enjoy her new community.
“I love the green space. There are a lot of parks here. It’s close to the river. Those are things I’ve always sort of looked for because I’ve always liked having that outdoor activity space to go and walk or run or sit outside and read a book,” she says.
“I know I’ll be serving a more rural community,” she adds, “and even though I’ve grown up mostly in cities, my family is from rural communities, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to tap into is serving those types of communities.”
