G.A. CARMICHAEL FAMILY HEALTH CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Corporate Compliance & Risk Management
- Member of the Guiding Light Church of God
Bridgette is a graduate of Kosciusko Senior High School. Bridgette received her Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education from Jackson State University. She desired to become an educator; however, God had a different path that led her to gain experience in Human Resources, Payroll, Accounting, and other aspects of a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Bridgette is a member of the Guiding Light Church of God in Christ, serving as the Sunday School secretary. She also serves as a member of the Sanctuary Choir, Young People Willing Workers, and the Women's Fellowship. Bridgette is a member of the Just Move Women Outreach Ministry. They host community events focused on worship, physical and mental health, and education. As well as helping women and girls believe in Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." They would instead take preventative measures that maintain wellness physically and spiritually than treat an illness. Bridgette is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Bridgette is passionate about ensuring that her family and friends are adequately protected, financially independent, and debt free as a Primerica Agent.
Bridgette is the proud mother of two gorgeous girls, Brittlyn and Aziah. She strives to instill in them Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Also, Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." The quote that resonates with Bridgette is: "You cannot go back to start a new beginning, but you can start today for a new ending."
Candace Thompson started her tenure here at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center back in 2004 as a front desk receptionist. From there, she continued as the front desk receptionist at our Canton School-Based Clinics.
Ms. Thompson then furthered her education and received a certification as a medical assistant from Delta Technical College. From there, she was promoted to office manager at the Canton Main Site. Her diligence and loyalty to G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in unmatched.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Director
- Director of Human Resources for G.a. Carmichael Family Health Center
Candace Trotter is the Director of Human Resources for G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center. She has spent the last three years working tirelessly, alongside G.A. executives, to help manage the organization's most important resource - its people. As a former educator, Candace has three years of teaching experience in the public school system and six years of experience teaching in the federal prison system. She attended Mississippi College, a Christian University, located in Clinton, MS, where she earned her bachelor's of science in elementary education. She received her master's of science in leadership from Belhaven University, located in Jackson, MS, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in business administration from Belhaven as well. Both her educational and career choices demonstrate her passion for people and her desire to serve others.
Candace's favorite quote is, "Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others." -H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Clarence Webster III is a 2002 graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame and Phi Beta Kappa. After Ole Miss, he attended Yale Law School, at which he served as a member of the Yale Law Journal and the Moot Court Board. He also served as the National Attorney General for the National Black Law Students Association. After Yale, in 2005, Clarence returned to Jackson to clerk for then-Chief Judge Henry T. Wingate, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Clarence joined the Jackson office of Bradley Arant in December 2012. Clarence has been providing legal services to G.A. Carmichael since 2016, offering guidance on labor and employment, contract, and regulatory matters, and overseeing its civil litigation.
Clarence has been recognized as a Mid-South Super Lawyer in the area of Class Action/Mass Torts since 2013. He is A/V Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings System. He is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel.
Clarence is married to Keishunna Randall Webster. They have one daughter, Ilana Reed Webster. In his spare time, Clarence enjoys cycling, Ole Miss sports, all things related to Game of Thrones, and occasionally playing golf and tennis poorly.
Dr. Rice is originally from Jackson, MS, but relocated to Madison County. She completed her undergrad at Mississippi College and medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Due to her southern roots and a spiritual calling to return home, Dr. Rice returned to Mississippi to complete a family medicine residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and continue serving patients in the community. She currently serves as a Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Rice also works part with the UMMC family medicine residency program, where she serves as an assistant professor and staff physician. She is currently a member of the American family of Physicians, MS board of family physicians, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and American Board of Family Medicine. She also serves as a preceptor for medical students, nurse practitioner students, and physician assistants.
Due to her history as an MS all-star basketball player and love for athletics, she also volunteers as a youth girls' basketball coach. Her family sponsors several area youth teams that focus on keeping kids active and motivated.
Job Titles:
- Chief Dental Officer of G.a. Carmichael Family Health Center, Inc
- Member of the American Dental Association
Dr. Candice B. April is a native of Canton, Mississippi, and a graduate of St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Mississippi. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2005 with a bachelor of science in biological sciences. Dr. April attended Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee, and obtained her doctor of dental surgery degree in 2011. During matriculation through Meharry, Dr. April was awarded the Colgate-Palmolive Scholarship, as well as the Dental Scholars, Inc. Scholarship. It was at Meharry Medical College that the motto, "Worship of God through Service to Mankind" was forever embedded in her heart and spirit.
Following dental school, Dr. April returned to Mississippi to complete a general practice residency and advanced general dentistry fellowship at The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, an advanced dental education training and hospital-based program focused on medically compromised patients.
Dr. Candice April is currently the Chief Dental Officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center, Inc. She is committed to providing exceptional and quality dental care, as well as educating and empowering patients to manage their oral health at home. Dr. April's passion to provide the highest quality dental services to all patients, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is a driving force for her dedication and purpose to G.A. Carmichael and her community.
Dr. April is a member of the American Dental Association, Mississippi Dental Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also the proud mother of two beautiful girls, Caleigh and Carrigan.
Dr. Cedric Torry, PharmD, Rph, is a native of Utica, Mississippi, and spent most of his early years building the foundation that has supported his distinguished career. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree at Xavier University in New Orleans and then obtained a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the same university.
Dr. Torry is a board-certified pharmacist currently based in the Jackson metro area, where he has worked in some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the United States. He was also a clinical pharmacist at Molina Healthcare and is the Chief Pharmacy Officer at GA Carmichael Family Health Care Center in Canton, Mississippi.
Dr. Torry is a motivated, result-focused customer service professional. He is passionate about improving patient access to their medications and preventive healthcare needs. His work at GA Carmichael has been transformational in streamlining the pharmacy processes and initiating programs that aim at delivering much need medications to patients in locations closer to their homes. He is an advocate for preventive care and has been very active in providing preventive healthcare services, including immunizations and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV for at-risk population groups.
In his words, "lack of access to care is just one of the numerous health disparities that disproportionately affect African Americans and people from low-income backgrounds, especially in rural Mississippi. The people of Mississippi deserve easy access to world-class, life-saving preventive and therapeutic healthcare services".
He is an active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, where he applies his extensive experience in community service events, serving as a mentor/role model for many young black children and adolescents. Dr. Torry is a very active White Oak Church of Christ Holiness member and has organized numerous mentoring events for adolescents and young adults in his community.
Outside of his pharmacy roles, he is a licensed real estate agent. He is always eager to guide homeowners on purchasing their dream homes and provides information on programs and services that help make home ownership dreams a reality. When he is not working or volunteering, he spends quality time with his 5-year-old son and his family, to whom he has been an exemplary father, son, brother, and uncle.
Dr. James L. Coleman, Jr., a native of Camden, South Carolina, received his Bachelor of Science from Winthrop College, Rock Hill, South Carolina; master of science from the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas; and doctor of education degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee. He is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center, Inc., a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC). Dr. Coleman comes with more than 23 years of experience and knowledge in the areas of public health and healthcare management and has served as the former Chief Executive Officer with the Margaret J. Weston Community Health Centers, another FQHC, located in Aiken County.
Dr. Coleman most recently served in the capacity of Department Chair for the Division of Health and Natural Science at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. Moreover, he is also the former Chief Executive Officer of the Wateree Community Action, Inc., a community action agency, covering a five-county area with a focus on helping poor and disadvantaged people to achieve self-sufficiency and providing them with the tools and resources necessary to achieve that goal.
He was also employed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Division of Adult and Community Health and Program Services Branch, within the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion as a Behavioral Scientist, working on efforts to eliminate health disparities through the social determinants of health.
Dr. Coleman also served as the former Director for the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. This Bureau had one office and seven divisions with the responsibility of overseeing national and state-level initiatives.
Dr. Coleman is positioning G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center to be a solid organization for the communities of Madison, Humphrey, Leake, Leflore, and Yazoo Counties in delivering the centers model, "G.A. Genuine Always" through his internal theme, "Operational Excellence."
Joseph Davis is a native of Hopkins, South Carolina, and is currently the Chief Operating Officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center, Inc. He received his bachelor of arts from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina, and his master's in health administration from Webster University in Columbia, South Carolina.
Mr. Davis is substantially experienced in proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and SysteMississippi. He reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Centers, Inc. As the Chief Operations Officer, he is involved in the strategic planning of both long-term and short-term goals of the health center. His additional duties include the implementation of monitoring SysteMississippi to ensure that the operations standards set forth by the Chief Executive Officer meet and exceed the needs of our consumers in our service areas. Mr. Davis's constructive and energetic style of leadership demands operational efficiency for ensuring that financial strength, overall operations, and efficiency takes place.
Leonela Luna started working at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in 2019 after graduating from Holmes Community Collee with an associate's degree in social work. Leonela started with G.A. Carmichael as a Receptionist, was later promoted to Billing Specialist, and now proudly works as their Revenue Cycle Manager.
Leonela was born in Mexico and moved to the United States with her parents at the age of four to pursue the "American dream." Her ultimate goal when attending school to become a social worker was to help those in need, especially immigrants who left their home countries like she did. She is grateful to have gained a wealth of knowledge throughout her years with G.A. and feels blessed with the opportunity to continue furthering her experience and career here.
Leonela is married to her high school sweetheart, Carlos Fuentes. Together they have a beautiful son and two dogs.
Lisa G. Luckett, is the Patient Services Manager at G. A. Carmichael Family Health Center. She attended Utica Junior College, where she majored in early childhood education.
She is a member of Mt. Calvary M. B. Church under the leadership of Rev. Leroy Lacy. She had been previously employed with G. A. Carmichael FHC for 21 years as a switch board operator and later as a billing clerk.
She feels her position now as patient services manager allows her the time to meet and assist patients in the community and beyond. It gives her a great joy to help others and to live up to our mission of being "Genuine Always." Operational Excellence is what she strives for when helping to improve and accomplish our mission here at GACFHC.
Joshua M. Knox, a native of Utica, Mississippi, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Alcorn State University in English Literature and a Master's Degree in Counseling also from Alcorn State University.
He currently serves as the Chief Programs Officer at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center and is responsible for writing and managing all grants and programs. Under his preview are the following grants: Women Infant and Children (WIC), Ryan White Services, Ending the HIV Epidemic Grant, Title X, Breast and Cervical, MQHC, Diabetes Prevention Program, CYSHCN (Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs) and the Delta Health Collaborative Community Health Care Workers Grant. Mr. Knox also manages the Community Outreach Team at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center.
Mr. Knox also possesses several years of experience managing federal programs in the higher education arena. Mr. Knox recently served as the Director of Student Activities/Campus Union and Special Events at Hinds Community College, the Utica Campus. His professional background includes Program Administrator of the Y.O.U.C.A.N. Institute at Tougaloo College, a 21st Century Community Learning Center-funded program, Upward Bound Assistant Director at Tougaloo College, Senior Counselor for Educational Talent Search at Tougaloo College, and Director of Student Activities at Alcorn State University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Informational Officer
Mr. Ricky Bolden is a native of Leland, Mississippi, and has served more than 20 years in healthcare as the Management Information SysteMississippi Director at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center, Inc. Mr. Bolden received a bachelor's degree in mathematics/computer science from Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, with additional studies at Washington University School of Engineering in St. Louis, Missouri, and Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. Mr. Bolden's work includes managing the network infrastructure, telecommunications management, data security, and Electronic Health Record management. He has been instrumental in moving the organization to a virtual and cloud-based environment. His past professional work experiences include computer programmer/analyst at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, and Director of Information SysteMississippi, Voice of Calvary Ministries in Jackson, Mississippi.
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer
Carolyn Collins is a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, and is currently the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi. She received her bachelor of science from Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi. She has made it this far on the belief, "If I can help someone along the way, then someone else will grasp the concept and start a trickle-down effect and success is certain." For the past twenty-seven years, Carolyn has worked in the educational arena. Her experience as an administrative assistant and predestined change have brought her to another opportunity to serve in a different arena with the knowledge and understanding of what it takes to be an efficient, effective, trustworthy, and a hardworking individual assisting the dedicated team in making G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center a model for all to see.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Position of Controller in the Finance Department at G.a. Carmichael Family Health Center
Tamika Liddell currently holds the position of Controller in the finance department at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Canton, Mississippi. She is married to Aramis Liddell, and they have raised 4 wonderful children and have been blessed with a handsome little grandson.
Mrs. Liddell is a 1994 graduate of Humphreys County High School in Belzoni, Mississippi, and went on to receive her bachelor's degree in business management. She comes to G.A. Carmichael with an extensive background in banking and finance. She was previously employed with Renasant Bank, formally M & F Bank, for 16 years. She has always been active in her community. She serves on the board of the Canton Lions Club and is a former board member of the Canton Chamber of Commerce Main Street Association and was named the 2017 Ambassador of the year for the Canton Chamber of Commerce.
Tamika attends Unique Life Church in Madison, Mississippi. One of her foundation scriptures that she applies to all areas of her life is Colossians 3:23, which says, "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord rather than for the people."
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Programs at G. a. Carmicheal Family Health Center
Tasha Brown is the Deputy Director of Programs at G. A. Carmicheal Family Health Center (GACFHC) and serves on the Administrative staff. Ms. Brown's primary responsibility as Deputy Director of Programs is to assist the Chief Program Officer with developing proposals, writing grants, and familiarizing and staying current with the organization's programs, goals, and financial needs. She also assists in overseeing and managing the Programs and Grants within the organizations, including Ryan White and Ending HIV, in naming a few.
Prior to joining GACFHC, Ms. Brown worked for the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) in the Office of Rural Health & Primary Care for 6 years. At the Mississippi State Department of Health, she managed the State Office of Rural Health Grant and the Mississippi Qualified Health Center Grant (MQHC).
Ms. Brown earned her Associate's Degree in Applied Science in 2015 from Holmes Community College. She then earned her Bachelor's Degree of Science in Healthcare Administration in 2018 and then her Masters's Degree in Public Health in 2021, both from Jackson State University, where she served as Master of Student Public Health Association Committee Chair. She is working on her Doctoral Degree in Public Health from Walden University.
Ms. Brown was a 2018 Rural Health Fellow with the National Rural Health Association. She is currently a National Grants Management Association member and the American Grant Writer Association. Ms. Brown also serves as a grant reviewer for the Mississippi Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
Ms. Brown is passionate about community outreach and serving the underserved communities in Mississippi.
Job Titles:
- Director of Facilities
- Director of Facilities for G. a. Carmichael Family Health Center
William Banks is the Director of Facilities for G. A. Carmichael Family Health Center. Banks is a native of Madison County, Mississippi. William is a graduate of Velma Jackson High School in Camden, MS. William is very energetic and skilled, with the ability to lead and manage his team and projects effectively. His success and community outreach relationships have been very meaningful in sustaining the operations of G. A. William is currently leading the new construction projects in Yazoo City and Carthage, MS. Williams' motto is, "Let Go and Let God Deal with It."
William Edwards was born March 4th, 1986, to Windell Edwards and Henrietta Ellis. William graduated from Velma Jackson Magnet High School in 2004. He graduated from Mississippi Valley State University in 2010 with a bachelor of science in accounting. William attends Greater St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church in Canton, Mississippi. William currently resides in Pickens, Mississippi, with his lovely wife, Dedra Edwards, and their 5 beautiful children (4 girls and 1 boy).
William is a member of the Boys and Girls Club advisory board in Lexington, Mississippi, a member of the Pickens Mayoral Health Council, a former alderperson of the Town of Pickens, a volunteer youth football coach, a volunteer soccer coach and volunteer basketball referee, a youth leader, and a community organizer. Currently, William is the CFO of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center, and a participant in the Leadership Greenwood Program sponsored by the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Services Director
Ms. McLaurin's way of thinking as a nurse practitioner is expansive. Ms. McLaurin forms a partnership with patients in which compassionate, holistic, evidence-based care leads to the patient maintaining optimal health and wellness. She is an advance practice nurse whose focus is entirely on the patient and compassionately addressing every aspect of their needs.
Her goal is to educate and encourage patients to become responsible for their health by working diligently with their healthcare team.
She focuses on addressing and removing the underlying cause of illnesses rather than merely alleviating the presenting symptoms. This is done by diagnosing and addressing underlying issues that can hinder the healing process and establishing a plan to remove these obstacles in order to prevent further health disparities.
Education
LPN - Holmes Community College
Associates in Nursing - Hinds Community College
Masters - Walden University
Doctoral - Maryville University