Community Health Worker Combines Medical Support with Musical Passion to Serve Michigan Residents
Katherine Schutt has built her career around connecting with people and meeting them where they are. As a community health worker with Genesys PHO, she divides her time between the Burton office and the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, providing crucial resources to patients and helping them achieve their health goals.
“I’ve faced numerous challenging situations where my compassion and resourcefulness truly shine,” Ms. Schutt said. “There have been times when I intervened in cases of homelessness, job insecurity, food insecurity, inadequate access to transportation and other resources, and health literacy.”
Her work extends beyond traditional healthcare settings. Ms. Schutt serves as a swim teacher for all age groups at the Henry Ford Genesys Health Club and teaches private piano and flute lessons at Grand Blanc Music, where she has been sharing her musical expertise since 2014.
Ms. Schutt’s path into music education began unexpectedly at age 16, when her piano and flute teacher had to stop working. “She said, ‘Do you want to take over?’ I said, I’ve never really taught anyone anything. I’m only 16. But sure, I’ll try it,” Ms. Schutt recalled. “I was very young, and everybody thought, ‘Oh, are you old enough to be a teacher?’ I said, ‘Yes. I know what I’m doing.'”
Despite concerns in the music teaching community about technology replacing personal instruction, Ms. Schutt remains confident in the value of face-to-face lessons. She discovered this firsthand during the COVID-19 pandemic when virtual lessons proved challenging.
“During COVID, I did virtual lessons, and it was so hard. I couldn’t hear things right. I couldn’t see things. I couldn’t see their hands on the keyboard. It was not efficient,” she explained. “I think what they really want to have is a personal connection with their teacher.”
Ms. Schutt earned a Bachelor of Science in public health from the University of Michigan-Flint in 2021 and became a certified community health worker through the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance in 2022. She maintains active memberships in several professional organizations, including the Music Teachers National Association, the Michigan Music Teachers Association and the Flint Music Teachers Association.
Her commitment to service extends through extensive volunteer work with such organizations as FOCUS Detroit, Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, Center for Hope Soup Kitchen, North End Soup Kitchen, Carriage Town Ministries, the Flint Orthodox Christian Fellowship and the International Orthodox Christian Charities. She also contributed to the hospital elder life program at Hurley Medical Center, earning recognition with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
“I think being passionate about it really helps,” Ms. Schutt said about her approach to work. “I always make sure I have time for family and for things that I enjoy. Even when I do work so much, I always make time to do the things I enjoy.”
Ms. Schutt credits her success to her family’s support, her church environment and learning compassion early in life. She plans to continue her role with Genesys PHO while maintaining her involvement in music education, with aspirations to obtain a teaching certificate in early 2026.
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