Exeter Citizen of the Year: Doctor recognized for guiding SAU 16 through COVID pandemic

EXETER – Dr. Kristen Johnson, a pediatrician and the consulting physician for SAU 16, said she was never much of a public speaker, but that all changed a little more than a year ago.

In her role as the school district’s consulting physician, Johnson was thrust into the spotlight when SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan announced the closure of all the schools at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of last year.

Last week, Johnson was acknowledged for her help guiding SAU 16 through the pandemic when she was recognized as the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Citizen of the Year,” during the virtual Business of the Year Awards ceremony held on April 8.

“(Receiving Citizen of the Year) was a really wonderful surprise to be recognized for the extra work I’ve done in the community,” said Johnson. 

Over the last year, Johnson said she gained unique insight into the schools’ decision-making processes. She said she sympathizes with students, parents, and educators, who were all confronted with a scary public health crisis.

“I was lucky to have come to the school question from several perspectives as a parent with two children in the school district, the spouse of a high school teacher, while trying to translate the medical information we were seeing on the ground,” Johnson said. “It was an ever-changing and complex situation, and I saw how many downstream consequences of decisions being made about school were having on public health.”

George Soderberg, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, said Johnson went “above and beyond” to provide “patient care, expert counsel, and support to so many” throughout the pandemic.

“Dr. Johnson is a dedicated and caring pediatrician who not only has been on the front line of the pandemic but has served as a critical community partner ensuring the health and safety of our community,” Soderberg said Thursday. “She has tirelessly worked to support her patients and community throughout the COVID crisis.”

In addition to her work in her practice and advising SAU 16, Johnson said even prior to the pandemic, she was advocating for expanding telehealth services. She was set to launch a pilot program at Newfields Elementary School on the day schools were ordered closed. 

Johnson was recently named to the state of New Hampshire’s Emergency and Medical Trauma Coordinating Service Board after being appointed by Gov. Chris Sununu.

“I want to continue working on being a voice for kids in our community on many levels, while trying to work with mental health providers, child abuse advocates, substance abuse advocates, both as an individual pediatrician and as a group of pediatricians within our community,” Johnson said. “It’s all made me feel like I need to continue to push my comfort zone and continue to advocate.”

Among the other winners recognized at the Chamber’s Business of the Year Awards were, East Kingston Elementary School teacher Katie Young, receiving Educator of the Year; Exeter TV, receiving the President’s Award; and Krista Cambara, a real estate agent with Voluminous Properties, receiving the “Ambassador of the Year” award.

The Small Business of Year award went to Bridge Brothers Movers. Large Business of the Year went to Service Credit Union. Other businesses and organizations recognized were SOS Recovery, as the Small Nonprofit of the Year, and Southern District YMCA, named Large Nonprofit of the Year. Also, this year the Chamber of Commerce awarded the first-ever “Main Street” award, which was given to Fire & Spice Bistro.

“We were excited to recognize some of our exemplary businesses and community leaders who have helped ensure the continued vibrancy and vitality of the communities we love,” said Jennifer Wheeler, president of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce. “While the past year has presented us with many challenges, there is much to celebrate in our communities.”