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Mercy Health Center
767 Oglethorpe Ave.
Suite B
Athens GA 30606
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Staff Profiles
Governing Board
David Linder
Chairman
David Linder is a partner with the firm, Fortson Bentley and Griffin in Athens, Georgia, representing individuals and businesses in commercial transactions and corporate matters. Linder received a B.S, M.S., and J.D. from the University of Georgia. He has served on the boards of The Georgia Child... Read more
Brooks Arnold
Board Member
F. Brooks Arnold, First Vice President- Investments ARH Group Merrill Lynch{32 years}. Member St. James United Methodist Church. Married with three daughters and a grandson. Read more
Steve Beard
Board Member
Steve Beard is on the executive team at Stadion Money Management in Watkinsville. An Auburn alum, Steve and his wife, Veronica, reside in Bishop. Through two of their three grown children God has blessed them with four grandchildren, Megan, Blake, Julia and Mia. They attend Athens Church. Pri... Read more
Temple Bennett
Board Member
Temple Bennett is the coordinator of college recruitment at Athens Technical College and has worked there full time since 2006. She holds a B.B.A. and a Master of Business Education degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Temple Bennett is a member of Timothy... Read more
Ross Campbell
Board Member
Dr. Ross Campbell is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology and has completed fellowship training in Mohs Surgery and Procedural Dermatology. Dr. Campbell and his family — wife Leigh and two sons Aidan and Silas — moved to Athens in 2007 to open Georgia Skin Cancer and Aesthetic... Read more
Paul Chambers
Board Member
Paul Chambers is the Northeast Georgia District Manager for AT&T. A native of Athens, and graduate of the University of Georgia, he and his wife Suzanne live in Watkinsville Georgia and have four children. They are members of Watkinsville First Baptist Church. Read more
Brian P. Hall
Board Member
Brian P. Hall is a general dentist, who received his D. M. D. degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1993. He has a private practice in Athens. He is married to Jill and has six children. He is a member of Athens Church, Athens Rotary, and the American Dental Association, the Georgia Den... Read more
Bryan Harris
Treasurer
Bryan Harris is a public relations and marketing professional for Jackson Spalding, managing their sports and university-related clients. Bryan is an Athens native and attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., where he was a member of their nationally-ranked golf team, before transferring ... Read more
Cindy Haygood
Board Member
Cindy Haygood is the Training Director for Etiquette & Leadership Institute and a teacher with Perfectly Polished, The Etiquette School. A native of Thomaston, Georgia, she has taught students from ages four-years to eighty- four years since 1978 when she moved to Athens, Georgia. She and Daniel... Read more
Ina Hopkins
Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
Ina Hopkins returned to Athens with her husband Jim in 2002. They are both graduates of the University of Georgia. Ina's career has focused on non-profit management and consulting with organizations on special projects. Ina and Jim have one daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. They are memb... Read more
Christine Jenkins
Board Member
Christine graduated from UGA and worked for GA Power as a Home Economist. While raising her children, she worked as a beautician out of her home for 25 years. She is a member of Beech Haven Baptist Church where she has taught for many years. She is married to Al Jenkins and has three wonderful... Read more
Chris Jennings
Board Member
Chris Jennings graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in accounting. Jennings has been a partner in the accounting firm of Little & Jennings, P.C. since July 1983 and specializes in various areas of tax along with small business consulting. He is a member of both the American Instit... Read more
Tina Kukanza
Secretary
Tina is an attorney who concentrates in estate law, estate planning, and income tax planning for individuals and closely-held businesses. Also a certified public accountant, she has several years of corporate and individual tax experience with KPMG Peat Marwick (Houston, TX), Coopers & Lybrand (C... Read more
A. Middleton Ramsey
Board Member
Mid Ramsey is the EVP-Senior Lending Officer of Athens First Bank & Trust and has served in the banking industry for over 36 years. He earned his BBA Degree from the University of Georgia and serves on the boards of the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Athens YMCA. Read more
Karen Schuller
Board Member
Karen Duke Schuller currently serve as Vice President & General Counsel of St. Mary’s Health Care System. She and her husband, Fred, moved to the Athens area 4 years ago and are active members of Watkinsville First Baptist Church. Read more
Jessica Webber
Board Member
Jessica Webber is certified kitchen designer in her local family business, The Cabinet Man and enjoys working alongside her dad, Dan, at Webber Development and Construction. Jessica is a native Athenian and enjoys giving back to her community through Prince Avenue Baptist Church, Athens Area Canc... Read more
Glen Wiggans
Board Member
R. Glen Wiggans, M.D. is a retired Medical Oncologist/Hematologist. He practiced for 33 years, eight in New Haven, CT and the last 25 here in Athens, GA at Northeast Georgia Cancer Care. He is married to Marlo Wiggans and they have 3 boys and one grandson. He is a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Ch... Read more
Lorenzo Wise
Board Member, Patient Representative
Lorenzo Wise was born and raised in Athens, GA. He was a student at Athens High School, now known as Clarke Central High School. He has been a client at Mercy Health Center for three years. He now does volunteer work for Mercy and is also on the Board of Directors. Lorenzo is a member of Riversid... Read more
Advisory Board
C. Pat Allen
Advisory Board Member
Pat Allen serves as Director of Community Relations for The University of Georgia. During his 25-year residency in Athens he has served on numerous boards of directors and community initiatives, many of which he chaired. He is an active member of Athens First United Methodist Church. Read more
Charlie Barron
Advisory Board Member
Charlie Barron, Jr. is a native Athenian and the owner of Barron’s Rental Center. He graduated with a BBA from the University of GA’s Terry College of Business. He and his wife Leslie have two daughters and are members of the Athens First United Methodist Church. Read more
John Blankenship
Advisory Board Member
John Blankenship is an established board certified urologist who has been in practice in Athens Ga since 2001. He graduated from the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia with honors, and he completed his residency at the University of Tennessee. He currently oversees His pract... Read more
Stan Satterfield
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Stanley D. Satterfield, Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeon, has been in private practice in Athens, Georgia since July, 1981. Dr. Satterfield received his undergraduate education at the University of Georgia (1971-1974) and his D.M.D. degree from the Medical College of Georgia (1974-1977). He co... Read more
Staff Members
Tracy Thompson
Executive Director
Tracy is originally from Huntington, WV. She has been married to her husband, Chris for 29 years and they have 2 adult children. She has served as the Executive Director of Mercy Health Center for 4 years. She previously served as the Director of Athens Pregnancy Center for over 10 years. She a... Read more
Paul Buczynsky
Medical Director
Paul Buczynsky is an Emergency Physician by training and graduated from the Emory University School of Medicine. He was a founding member of Mercy and currently serves as Medical Director. He is married to an amazing wife (Dara) and has three incredible children. He and his family are involved... Read more
Christel Lavelle
Physician’s Assistant
Christel graduated from the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, where she received a BS in Experimental Psychology. She completed the Physician Assistant Program at the Medical University of South Carolina, graduating in 2002. She previously worked for Athena Urology for 6 years. Read more
Mary Baxter
Administrative Assistant
Mary is originally from Gainesville, GA. She graduated from North Georgia College and State University with a B.A. in Spanish in 2006 and then worked in the field of social work. She recently graduated from UGA with a master’s in Education (TESOL) in 2009. She has been working with Mercy Health C... Read more
Leah Brannon
Dental Coordinator
Leah has been the Dental Coordinator at Mercy Health Center for 3 yrs. She is a life-long resident of Athens. She graduated from Athens Tech with degrees in Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene. She is a member of Prince Avenue Baptist Church Read more
Kristi Gilleland
Volunteer Coordinator
Kristi is originally from Gainesville, Georgia and graduated from North Georgia College and State University in 2004 with a B.S. in Psychology. After earning her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2009, Kristi worked in the field of Social Services for families and children prior to joining the M... Read more
Valerie Puryear
Nursing Manager
Valerie, RN, is a graduate of Georgia State University, and has lived and worked in the Athens area for over 30 years. She and her husband Walter have two adult children and one grandchild. Valerie is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Read more
Lindsey Atwater
Patient Representative
Lindsey hails from Donalsonville, a small town in southwest Georgia known to few as the "Gateway to Lake Seminole". In 2010, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S.A. in Biological Science. Lindsey was a Mercy volunteer from late 2008 until early 2011. She is delighted to now be ... Read more