MADISONVILLE-When Puspa Das left Houston to come and run Chota Community Health Services in Monroe County, she knew it would be a change for her, but she was surprised at how much slower, yet faster, everything moved.

"There's a lot less traffic," Das said. "Here, you can say I'll be there in 10 minutes, and you're there in 10 minutes. After 16 years in Houston, that was a definite change of pace."

Das has been the CEO of Chota since July and her number one goal is for people to take care of themselves from conception to death.

"We want to offer access to medical care for all of Monroe County," she said. "From infant to geriatric, we want to be there."

Chota started in 2004, having bought Family Practice in Madisonville. They later established offices in Vonore and Tellico Plains. It is a non-profit charity organization and a federally qualified health care facility.

See full story in the Wednesday, Oct. 3, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.