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Black History Gala 2024, a celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of a selection of local African-American professionals will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Dothan Country Club.
Many of the honorees boast notable accomplishments such as being the first or only Black physician in their workspaces.
The event, organized by Linda C. Garrett and Anita Dawkins Weatherington, will be hosted by Deborah Pearson, WOOF-FM Radio news director, and Reginald Jones, a local pastor and long-time WTVY news anchor.
“The committee chose to honor African-American physicians this year because of the collective value they bring to the communities where they live, work, and serve,” said co-chair Linda Garrett. “We want to bring them out of the shadows and shed a light of appreciation for the sacrifices they have made and the obstacles they have overcome to reach this pinnacle of success.”
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The 25 honorees are physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and scientists. Some grew up right here in the Wiregrass area and others have relocated and established successful careers.
Dr. Olawale Osunsanya got his medical degree from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria at the age of 22. He received his Internal Medicine training at Texas Tech University and Nephrology training at Virginia Commonwealth University. After 29 years as a doctor, Dr. Osunsanya has advice for young people pursuing a career in the medical field.
“The only limiting factor is your ambition and how much work you’re willing to put in,” said Dr. Osunsanya. “Be ambitious. The sky is the limit.”
Dr. Osunsanya is a board-certified nephrologist, the current president of Flowers Hospital medical committee, the medical director of Wiregrass Kidney Center and Ozark DaVita dialysis clinic, and chairman of Dothan Hypertension Nephrology Associates.
According to Massachusetts General Hospital, “Black Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, but just 2.8 percent of physicians in this country are Black women.”
Dr. Jerlyn C. McCleod M.D. is a part of that 2.8 percent. Serving as an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She received her degrees from University of Illinois, College of Medicine (MD), Emory University for her Psych Residency and Child Psych Fellowship, and Howard University (BS—Psychology).
“I am truly humbled,” said Dr. McCleod. “Black History Month is a time where I am much more accustomed to recognizing others than I am to being a history maker. It is extremely gratifying.”
Here is a list of the Black History Gala 2024 Honorees:
Dr. Michelle Dandridge M.D., Family Dentist. Currently a general dentist and practicing owner of Dandridge Dental Family Dentistry in Dothan.
Dr. Alicia Ward M.D., Family Medicine. Joined the Southeast Health Westgate Clinic, part of the Southeast Health Medical Group, which is the largest multispecialty group in the region.
Jerlyn C. McCleod M.D., Child Psychiatrist. Currently she serves as the Medical Director of Southeast Alabama Youth Services’ Louisville Program, Diversion Center and the Boys and Girls Attention Group Homes. She is owner and founder of J.C. McCleod, MD Psychiatric, PLLC. She serves as a clinical faculty member for the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine supervising medical students. She also supervises nursing, counseling, and social work students in the field of psychiatry as a clinical preceptor.
Dr. Danielle Tolbert M.D,. Internal Medicine. A board-certified Internal Medicine physician practicing at Southeast Health as a nocturnist.
Dr. Latoya Torrence M.D., Obstetrician Gynecologist. Currently she works at Aventa Specialized Women’s Care, where a passionate desire to provide the best care for women at all stages of life is practiced.
Dr. Olawale Osunsanya M.D., Hypertension Nephrology. Dr. Osunsanya is currently the Chairman of Dothan Hypertension Nephrology Associates.
Dr. Nowoghomwenma Ibie M.D., Nephrologist. Currently he practicing in Dothan and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System-Montgomery and Flowers Hospital.
Dr. Olusina M. Akinduro M.D., Internal Medicine, Worked with the Southern Clinic, Dothan.
Dr. Kevin Brown M.D., Internal Medicine. Currently works within the Southeast Health Enterprise Clinic.
Dr. Yusef Williams M.D., Primary Care Doctor. Currently practicing at Flowers Medical Group.
Dr. Elisha Collins M.D., Surgeon/ Urgent Care. Currently oversees Physicians for American Family Care Urgent Care Clinic.
Dr. Esiri Esin, M.D., Psychiatry. His expertise extends to the management of acute suicidal patients, offering psychiatric care to several nursing homes in the Wiregrass area of Alabama, and continuously contributing to the field through the treatment of a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders and conditions.
Dr. Shawn Watts M.D., General Surgery. Currently she serves as the Department Chair of Surgery at Dale Medical Center in Ozark.
Dr. Monique R. Trice M.D., Dentist. Currently works for the United States Army Dental Clinic Command at Fort Novosel.
Dr. Jawaunna T. Blackmon M.D., Hematology Oncologist, loves being back in the Wiregrass.
Dr. Lamesa Danzey, Chiropractic. Currently a wellness practitioner specializing in Chiropractic Care.
Dr. Aristotle Kirkland MSPT/DPT, Physical Therapy. Dr. Kirkland is an entrepreneur and self-employed Physical Therapist who loves treating patients with musculoskeletal and neuromuscular problems as well as post-surgical procedure treatments.
Dr. Leona Graham M.D., Psychiatric Services. Currently works full-time with the North Florida South Georgia Veterans Health System serving veterans with mental health and substance use disorders.
Dr. Russell D. Nichols, DMD. Dr. Nichols serves as a Board Member for Family Services, a member of Gideons International, and an active participant in the Alabama Dental Association.
Anthony Tony Cook, Hypertension/Diabetes Research Scientist. Currently practices at the School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Temeka Buggs PMHNP-BC, FNP Nurse Practitioner. Currently employed at the Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic providing mental health services to patients across the lifespan.
Tiffany “Jazz” Britt, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently working with the Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic.
Jessica Jones, CRNP, Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Jones, founder and CEO of Modern Health Family Care Practice, stands as one of the top %1 of Nurse Practitioners in the State of Alabama, pioneering healthcare solutions in rural areas through her ownership and operation of a Primary Care Clinic.
Chasity Cooper MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner. Currently, she is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at a nonprofit organization, Life Management Center of NW Florida.
Dallarie C. Jamison, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner. She currently has private practice within Wiregrass Behavioral Group, for the last four years, and has been working with the Veterans Health Administration for the past two years.
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