LOWER LIGHTS CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER - Key Persons
Education: Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
Joined: March 2021
I am a Franklinton, OH resident and proud Lower Lights patient. I have been drawn to community service since my AmeriCorps days and education, healthcare, social justice and human issues, food access and housing are all things that I am passionate about.
Anton Johnson serves as Chief Operating Officer at Lower Lights Christian Health Center. He joined the Lower Lights senior leadership team in November 2023. Anton obtained both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Health Administration degree from The Ohio State University. He completed an Administrative Fellowship at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital and went on to hold several progressive leadership roles at OhioHealth, most recently servicing as Director of the Primary and Ambulatory Care service line. Anton has experience leading in free clinics, rural health systems, and large statewide organizations. Anton is active member of Dwell Community Church and serves on multiple community boards. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Kimmi, his dog Tito, and the many friends and family that enrich their lives.
Education: The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine; Self Regional Family Medicine Residency.
Professional Background: Family Medicine Physician at Christ Community Health Services and Residency Faculty at Resurrection Health Family Medicine Residency in Memphis, TN; Founder, Instructor of Continuing Medical Education Center in North Africa.
Personal Statement: I am passionate to engage and empower patients, families, and the community to attain wholeness and restoration of health - physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Education: The Ohio State University, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Public Health, Bachelor of Science in Zoology
Job Titles:
- Chief Counsel of the Juvenile Department of the Office
Brooke Burns (Jackson) is Chief Counsel of the Juvenile Department of the Office of the Ohio Public Defender. Since 2006, a significant portion of her work has focused on challenging the application of Ohio's Adam Walsh Act-S.B. 10, to children, litigating multiple challenges to the law in the Supreme Court of Ohio. She now manages a team of juvenile advocates who represent children throughout Ohio's juvenile and criminal justice systems in trial level proceedings, state and federal appeals and post-conviction actions, and conditions of confinement. In addition, she serves on several commissions and boards dedicated to juvenile justice and/or racial equity in the legal system, including, but not limited to, the Governor's Council on Juvenile Justice, the Criminal Sentencing Commission, the Central Juvenile Defender Center's Regional Advisory Board, the JDAI State Executive Leadership Committee, and the Columbus Civilian Police Review Board. Brooke is a certified JTip trainer and Adjunct Professor of Law at Capital University Law School. She and her husband Matthew are raising their three children in the near-East area neighborhood of Franklin Park.
Chuck Wilson is the Lead Pastor at Lower Lights Community Church - the church that founded Lower Lights Christian Health Center. Chuck also serves on the Board of Directors for Lower Lights Ministries. Chuck is passionate about serving the community through the church and their two sister organizations. He loves the fact that these three organizations work together, arm in arm, to meet the holistic needs of the people in our community. Chuck spent 30 years in education before joining the Lower Lights Community. He is married to Donna, who also works for the church and has three adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Whitman College; Doctor of Dental Surgery from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Master's in Public Health at the Yale School of Public Health
Job Titles:
- Director of Surgical Services at Memorial Health
Joined: April 2021
Dannielle Schroeder is the director of surgical services at Memorial Health in Marysville, Ohio where she oversees perioperative services including sterile reprocessing, endoscopy, and inpatient/outpatient surgery. Prior to being tapped as the director in early 2021, Dannielle served in various clinical and leadership roles under the surgery umbrella for over 14 years as a registered nurse. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Chamberlain University in 2011, Dannielle pursued her passion for leading healthcare professionals and went on to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree from Otterbein University. She and her husband, Dustin, reside in Union County with their three young boys.
Education: Central State University, Bachelor of Science in Biology, The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Doctor of Optometry, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Master of Public Health
Honors and Awards: 2016 Optometric Educator of the Year, American Optometric Association, 2009 Student Project Award, Vision Care Section of the American Public Health Association
Deborah strives to create a safe and supportive environment for individuals' healing journey, inspiring transformation and hope through client-centered methods. Deborah studied at Malone University and Liberty University.
Education: MD, University of Toledo College of Medicine. BA in Biology with minor in Biblical Studies, Cedarville University.
Professional Background: Provider, Lower Lights Christian Health Center, 2015 to present; Residency, In His Image Family Medicine (Tulsa, OK)
Personal Statement: I am grateful for the opportunity to bring hope, health and healing to the communities we serve.
Patients seen at Health Center and Franklinton Central.
started Lower Lights Health in 2002 in response to a need for accessible and affordable health care in Franklinton. More than just a health center, Dr. Vallangeon strived to make Lower Lights a Christian-based medical home, a place where patients could go for whole-person care and spiritual wellness. Today, Lower Lights continues to meet the ever-growing needs of underserved communities, with seven locations, a staff of over 160 medical professionals and staff, and over 15,000 patients across central Ohio.
Dr. Lynette Palmer is the Chief Quality Officer at Lower Lights Christian Health Center, overseeing the Quality Department and Compliance, after serving as Senior Director, Quality from 2015-2024. Her work focuses on improving patient care through Population Health Management, Care Coordination, Care Management and Clinical Quality, among other areas.
Before her tenure at Lower Lights, Dr. Palmer dedicated 18 years to serving as a Family Physician in Sierra Leone, where she also took on leadership roles and contributed to healthcare research and education. She comes with a rich background in healthcare management and public health, complemented by her academic involvement as an adjunct faculty in the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Health Education and Research (FAIMER) Center for Medical education in Context (CenMEDIC), Keele University, UK.
Dr. Palmer holds a master's in health Professions Education from Keele University, UK, and certifications in Healthcare Quality and Lean Practice, alongside her board certification in Family Medicine by the West African College of Physicians.
Outside of her professional life, she is actively involved in her community as a member of the Vestry at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, Dublin. She is married to Kojo, both parents to two adult sons. Dr. Palmer enjoys reading, singing, and dancing in her leisure time.
Education: Mount Carmel College of Nursing, RN, BSN, Mount Carmel College of Nursing, MS, FNP
Memberships: American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
Professional Background: I have worked at Lower Lights as a Family Nurse Practitioner since September, 2017. Before that, I was a rapid response nurse at the James and an ICU nurse at Mount Carmel.
Personal Statement: I love being a nurse practitioner and I love working for Lower Lights. I truly believe that every person deserves the best health care and to be treated with respect. I enjoy the diversity of family practice and being part of the addiction treatment team at Lower Lights.
Dr. Tamura brings a wide range of expertise to our Newark office, including preventative medicine, women's health, psychiatry, pediatrics, sports medicine, addiction medicine and refugee health. Dr. Tamura studied at Barnard College, Columbia University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Education: MS, BSN The Ohio State University; BA, University of Dayton
Professional Background: Assistant Professor, Mount Carmel College of Nursing; Certified Nurse Midwife, Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers, Holly Barrows MD, Inc., Woman to Woman Midwifery Services; RN, The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Research Institute; Volunteer, The United States Peace Corps, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Patients seen at the Health Center.
Education: DO, Ohio University; MA, History of Art, The Ohio State University; BA, History of Art Major, Life Sciences Minor, The Ohio State University.
Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Fellowship, Geriatric Medicine, The Ohio State University
Education: Sinclair Community College, Associate of Applied Science in Nursing; Indiana Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Wright State University, Master of Science in Nursing; The Ohio State University, Nurse Practitioner Degree
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- LLCHC 's Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Fleck has been LLCHC's Chief Financial Officer since 2018. His responsibilities include accounting, financial reporting, and revenue cycle management. Kevin came to Lower Lights with 20 years' experience in healthcare finance, including Mercy Health, Mount Carmel and CareSource. Kevin received his bachelor's degree and MBA from Wright State University. Outside the office, he is actively involved at the Grove City Vineyard where his wife is a pastor, has coached a handful of youth sports teams, and does his best to keep up with his two kids and two dogs.
As a family nurse practitioner, Kyle implements a holistic, evidence-based approach to my practice. Kyle received an MSN and BSN from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
Dr. Nemer serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Lower Lights Christian Health Center. She joined Lower Lights as a medical provider in 2022 and specializes in primary care of underserved patients, with a particular interest in Latino populations. Dr. Nemer completed her medical education at Washington University Medical School in St Louis. Following medical school, she did a Fulbright Fellowship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working within the Ministry of Health and at a government Family Health Center, further fueling her passion for community health and advocacy. She then completed her residency in Primary Care and Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston. Dr Nemer stayed on to serve as Chief Medical Resident at Brigham and Women's, and an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Prior to joining LLCHC, she was Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Internal medicine outpatient and inpatient physician, residency preceptor, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Education: Yale University Bachelor's of Science in Biology; Washington University School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine. Residency: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Primary Care Track.
Professional Background: Fulbright Fellowship, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Chief Medical Resident, Brigham and Women's Hospital. Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Internal medicine outpatient and inpatient physician, residency preceptor, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Personal Statement: I love getting to know people and supporting them in their journey to wellness, whatever that means to them. I want my patients to feel understood, supported, and cared for as a whole person. I am Mexican-American, and I love serving the Latino community in Spanish. I am grateful to be joining the Lower Lights team to work towards the mission of high-quality, respectful, loving care for all.
Patients seen at the Health Center.
I have worked in medicine in the Franklinton and the Central Ohio area for the last 14 years and feel called here because I truly love meeting new people and serving others.
Sharmaine (Shar) Haughton has been in the Human Resources field for over 25 years. The Human Resource field has been her passion from the day she made it her career choice. She joined LLCHC in March 2019 and leads the Human Resources, Facilities, and IT functions.
Prior to joining Lower Lights Christian Health Center, she served as a Regional Human Resource Manager for national organization of skilled nursing homes and home health agencies. She holds a Master's degree in Human Resource from Strayer University. Shar enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.
Education: The Ohio State University, Bachelors of Science in Nursing; The Ohio State University, Masters of Science in Nursing
Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Job Titles:
- Community Advocate / Joined: July 2023
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Global Accounts Director
Education: Barnard College, Columbia University, BA in Neuroscience and Behavior; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; University of California Irvine and UC Davis Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship
Tracy Cloud has been the CEO of Lower Lights Christian Health Center since October of 2018. She joined Lower Lights in September 2017 and brings two decades of experience in healthcare policy and operations to include executive leadership roles in both the Government and Corporate sectors. She is passionate about patient experience and the delivery of efficient, high-quality care at LLCHC.
Prior to joining Lower Lights Health, Tracy held the role of Vice President of Operations at a Medicaid Managed Care Plan for five years, as well as serving as Assistant Deputy Director at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Mrs. Cloud earned her Bachelors degree from Miami University and a Master of Public Administration Degree from The Ohio State University. Tracy is an active member of United Church of Christ and is serves on the Board (and is a past Chair) of Community for New Direction. In her free time, Tracy enjoys traveling, hiking and spending time with her husband and four children.
Education: The Ohio State University, BA Spanish. The Ohio State University, RN and MSN (Family Practice)
Memberships: American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
Professional Background: I have worked in a variety of clinical settings, primarily family practice but I have also worked performing annual wellness assessments for Medicare patients.