Meet the SHWC Staff

Kitty Carter-Wicker, MD

Director, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center

Kitty Carter-Wicker MD, affectionately known as Dr. Kitty, was born and raised in Southwest Atlanta. Dr. Carter-Wicker received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Georgia (UGA) in 1984. She received her MD degree from Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in 1992. After completing a residency in family medicine at MSM, she joined the Maternal Child Health (MCH) team at MSM. During her tenure at MSM, she has served as the Family Medicine clerkship director, Medical Director of the Clinical Skills Center and Co-PI on several training grants. For 19 years, she trained medical students in adolescent health at the Fulton County teen clinic. Dr. Carter-Wicker was inducted into AΩA April 2022.

Dr. Chelsea Cohen, MD, MPH

Associate Medical Director, AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center

Dr. Chelsea Cohen is a board-certified Family Medicine physician. She attended Washington University in St. Louis for her undergraduate studies and received her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Cohen then returned home to Atlanta, GA to complete her Family Medicine residency at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). She is currently an assistant professor at MSM and joined the team at the Student Health and Wellness Center in December 2023. She is excited to be working with university students, as she appreciates the important role health and wellbeing play during this pivotal point in their lives. She seeks to provide each student with the quality, compassionate care they deserve. When not working, she enjoys dancing, trying her hand at home DIY projects, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Tiffany Anderson, MBA, MSN, RN

Nurse Manager, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center 

Tiffany has vast experience in nursing and patient care coordination that spans over a 17-year period. Most recently she served as Executive Director for Aveanna Home Health. In this role, Tiffany was responsible for leading a team of nurses and therapists, as well as daily clinical operations related to patient care, case management, quality improvement, along with financial and regulatory standards in home health. As a champion for Acute Care Hospitalization, she successfully reduced readmission rates for the Visiting Nursing Association of WNY, below the national reference through interdisciplinary collaboration. Tiffany joined Roswell in July 2022 as Director of Home-Based Care Services. In this role, she provided leadership and oversight of the Patient Assistance and Care Transitions (PACT) Program with the goal of improved access to care, and reduction of emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

Tiffany obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from D’Youville University in 2023, and Master's in Nursing Management and Quality Leadership in 2020. She attended Kaplan University where she earned a Bachelor's in Nursing in 2015. She began her nursing career at SUNY Erie Community College earning an Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 2007.

Lawrence Powell, MD

Assistant Professor, Family Medicine

Dr.  Lawrence Powell started his undergraduate education at Howard University in Washington, D.C.  He completed his undergraduate education and obtained his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois.  He also completed a residency in Family Practice medicine at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and went on to complete a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Hughston Orthopedic Clinic in Columbus, Georgia.  He currently is an assistant professor at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.  His sports medicine highlights include providing medical services to the United States Summer Olympics, Ringside Physician for Evander Holyfield Championship Fight, and being selected as one of the top Sports Medicine Physicians in Atlanta.  He’s served as team physician for several high schools and colleges including Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton State College, Spelman College, and Northwestern University. Currently he is team physician for Clark Atlanta University.  Dr. Powell and his wife, Denise currently reside in College Park, Georgia where he is a proud grandfather of three grandchildren.

Adrienne White, APNP

Nurse Practitioner

Adrienne White originally hails from Chicago but considers herself a resident of the world.  She has lived, worked, and traveled in the midwestern United States and in East and West Africa, working with global health organizations or volunteering with government organizations, like the U.S. Peace Corps.
 
Adrienne got her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois, master’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison along with a graduate certificate in Global Health, and a fellowship in global clinical education from Massachusetts General Hospital. She spent most of her nursing career working as a women’s health nurse practitioner in college health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Adrienne believes strongly that university students should have access to the highest quality healthcare while completing their studies as it is widely recognized that optimal physical and mental health impact positively on academic success.  She is excited and proud to have an opportunity to work within the Atlanta University Colleges Consortium, as the parent of a Morehouse College alum. 

Dr. Marissa Lapedis, MD

Assistant Professor II, MSM

Marissa Lapedis is a board-certified family medicine physician and assistant professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. She joined Morehouse School of Medicine faculty in 2019 and the SHWC at the end of 2024. She received her Bachelor of Science at McGill University in Montreal, QC where she studied psychology and neuroscience. She returned home to complete medical school at the University of Michigan and moved to NYC for family medicine residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. She completed an advocacy fellowship with Physicians for Reproductive Health through their Leadership Training Academy program.  In addition to expertise in gynecologic & reproductive health care, she has interests in integrative medicine (yoga, ayurveda, nutrition and meditation) and psychology. 

Lisha Taylor, MD 

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, MSM

Dr. Altelisha "Lisha" Taylor is a board-certified family medicine & sports medicine physician who has Morehouse School of Medicine and the Student Health Department. Dr. Taylor received her bachelor's degree from Duke University, a master's degree in public health from George Washington University, and went to medical school at the University of Florida. She did her residency training in family medicine at Emory University and completed a fellowship in sports medicine from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). Along with primary care and sports medicine, Dr. Taylor also has a passion for physician wellness through financial literacy and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. 

Danae Evans, MD

Director of Behavioral Health, AUCC Student Health and Wellness Center

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Evans received her degree in medicine from Emory University in 2009. She went on to complete General Psychiatry residency (2013) and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship (2014) at Emory University School of Medicine. She is board certified in both areas. After her training, she worked for several years in student health at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has experience working with undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. She is very honored and excited to be joining the Department of Psychiatry and the AUCC family.

Shaakira Ford, DSW

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Shaakira Ford is an Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department of Morehouse School of Medicine as well as a licensed clinical social worker with over 17 years of clinical practice experience with diverse populations. Dr. Ford attended University of Alabama-Birmingham for undergraduate studies, graduate school at Loyola University Chicago, and received a doctorate in clinical social work from Aurora University. Dr. Ford is an active board member in various professional organizations for the advancement of mental health issues. Dr. Ford is dedicated to comprehensive wellness for all communities.

Kamille Williams, MD 

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Williams is a Metro Atlanta native who was primarily raised in the southeastern suburbs of the city.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Spelman College before pursuing her medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Afterward, Dr. Williams completed her General Psychiatry Residency Training and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Training at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. During this time, she was heavily involved in community engagement and service throughout the city of Atlanta and Nashville.  

Dr. Williams is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine. She primarily works with professional students at the Morehouse School of Medicine Student Health Clinic and underserved populations with Chris 180, a community-based clinic.  

In her spare time, Dr. Williams enjoys spending time with her family and friends, baking, gardening, reading fiction, most creative endeavors, and traveling.

Jesmond Fair, M.Ed, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Bio coming soon!

Elizabeth Cardenas Bautista, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Bio coming soon!

Kristian T. Jones, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Bio coming soon!

Paula Patterson

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center

Bio Coming Soon!

Marquice Turner

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center

Bio Coming Soon!

Kara Garretson, MPH

Infection Control Response Senior Epidemiologist

Kara Garretson is a strategic public health epidemiologist with more than 13 years’ experience in epidemiological investigations, research and evaluation, project management, and strategic planning. Currently, Kara serves as the Infectious Control Response Sr. Epidemiologist for Morehouse Healthcare (MHC) and the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC). In this role, she is charged with executing all infection control prevention initiatives.

In addition, she serves as the AUCC community health specialist and is tasked with investigating patterns of SARS-CoV-2 and disseminating those findings to design and implement campus-wide programs and policies to help reduce the risk of occurrence.

Prior to joining to MHC, Kara served in various leadership roles within state and local governmental institutions where she utilized her expertise to implement successful prevention programs in the areas of chronic disease, environment health, and infectious disease.

Kara is an adaptive leader who is passionate about addressing social determinates of health to achieve health equity for all. 

Tracy Youngblood

Patient Service Representative, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center

Tracy Youngblood is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She moved to Atlanta 45 Years Ago. Prior to joining the MSM family, she worked at Southern Regional Medical Center.  She joined the Student Health team in Oct 2023 as a Patient Service Representative. Her hobbies include traveling, shopping, fishing, and attending concerts and church.  She is a mother of 1 son. 

 

Anita Davis

Patient Care Representative II, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center

Anita Davis is a native from New Jersey. She relocated to Atlanta, Ga in the summer of 1997. She joined the staff at Morehouse School of Medicine in April 2019 as the Patient Service Representative, for Morehouse Family Medicine. In June 2022 she transitioned to the Student Health & Wellness Center as A Patient Service Representative ll. Prior to coming to Morehouse School Of Medicine, Anita was an Administrative Assistant at The Fulton County Jail in Atlanta for 20 years.

Brittany Talbot, MPH

Infection Control Response Coordinator, AUCC Student Health & Wellness Center

Brittany is a native of Sandersville, Ga. She joined the Student Health and Wellness Center in October 2021 as the COVID-19 Response Coordinator and currently serves as the Infection Control Response Coordinator. Brittany received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Public Health from Georgia Southern University.   Brittany has 8 years of experience working in public health at the local, state, and federal government focusing on disease investigation.

Bria Pringle-Weston, MPH, CHES

Health and Wellness Coordinator

Bria Pringle-Weston earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Georgia Southern University and her Master’s degree in Public Health from Georgia State University. In April 2024, she became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Bria has developed her skills in student and adolescent health, focusing on promoting well-being and health education. She is passionate about health equity and is dedicated to creating strategies that empower students to lead healthy, balanced lives.

Javeria Lodi, MPH

Program Coordinator

Javeria Lodi, born in Alabama and raised in Atlanta, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Computer Science from The University of Alabama and a Master's degree in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Georgia State University. She is deeply committed to public health outreach and promoting health literacy on vaccinations. Javeria enjoys watching football, trying new restaurants, and traveling.