Halifax Community College will host a slate of healthcare professionals with Roanoke Valley roots who will share their career journeys in an in-person and virtual talk in the fourth of its five-part 2022 Cultural Learning and Universal Enrichment Series to recognize Black History Month.
HCC’s Presidential Lecture Series strives to provide the Roanoke Valley community with a new perspective – one that will change how we see the past, present, and shape how we direct the future.
This semester, HCC is highlighting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers with a focus on healthcare.
Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Griffin Centre and through livestream via HCC’s YouTube channel and halifaxcc.edu, the college will present a panel of healthcare professionals who graduated from high schools in HCC’s service region — Halifax and Northampton counties.
Nine panelists, all of African descent, will discuss a range of topics, including growing up in the Roanoke Valley, attending high school here, taking classes and earning credentials from HCC as well as sharing their life experiences and career paths.
“Our panelists represent a wide, diverse spectrum of healthcare careers but their foundations were formed in the Roanoke Valley,” said Kim Mack, special assistant to the president for governmental, community and college affairs at HCC. “Each built upon that solid base to become successful in a range of medical, dental, science, mental health, among other workplace settings, not only here but also across the country.”
This program is sponsored by Nash UNC Health Care, located in Rocky Mount.
The panelists are:
Maureen Ben-Davies, M.D. M.P.H. F.A.A.P. is employed as a pediatrician at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital/Cone Health in Greensboro.
She holds a Doctor of Medicine from the UNC School of Medicine, a Master of Science in public health from the University of North Carolina’s Gilling School of Global Public Health and is the recipient of the National Research Service Award, Primary Care Research Fellowship at the UNC School of Medicine.
She performed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from UNC Chapel Hill. She is a 1998 graduate of Weldon High School.
Dr. Jade Mills is a clinical pharmacist for Rural Health Group.
She works for three Rural Health Group pharmacies located in Hollister, Norlina and Stovall. Mills also works on clinical projects that include medication therapy management and chronic care management.
She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Arts in exercise sport science from UNC Chapel Hill. She is a 2012 graduate of Northwest Halifax High School.
Dr. Antonio McGuire, MD is a partner at Providence Anesthesiology Associates, serving as an anesthesiologist at Nash UNC Healthcare in Rocky Mount.
He holds a Doctor of Medicine from the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine.
He performed his residency at the Medical College of Virginia and continued his studies at the University of Florida in acute pain and regional anesthesiology.
He also holds a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering and a Bachelor of Science in biological engineering from NC State University. He is a 1997 graduate of Southeast Halifax High School.
Crystal Lynch is a clinical laboratory scientist at UNC Health in Chapel Hill. She holds a Bachelor of Science in clinical laboratory science from Winston-Salem State University and an associate degree in medical laboratory technology and a certificate in phlebotomy from Halifax Community College. She is a 2010 graduate of KIPP Pride High School.
Jalen Miller, BSN, RN is a staff operating room nurse at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from North Carolina Central University and an Associate of Arts in general education from Halifax Community College as well as a practical nurse diploma from Halifax Community College. He is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and a 2011graduate of KIPP Pride High School.
Dr. Angela Alston, DNP, MPH, APRN-CNP, WHNP-BC, FNP-BC is an assistant professor of clinical nursing and the Chief Diversity Officer at The Ohio State University College of Nursing.
She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from The Ohio State University, a post-master's certificate in family nurse practitioner from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in women’s health and a Master of Public Health-Health Services Management and Policy from The Ohio State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from North Carolina Central University and she attended classes at Halifax Community Colleges while in high school. She is a 1996 graduate of Northwest Halifax High School.
Verna High is the director of Halifax Community College’s dental hygiene program. She holds a Master of Science in dental hygiene from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center as well as a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene from UNC Chapel Hill. She is a 1975 graduate of Gaston High School.
Jamaria D. Welch, MSW, LCSU is the owner of W.D. Welch Counseling, PLLC, a private therapeutic organization in Raleigh.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in African American Studies from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master of Science in social work from North Carolina Central University, in addition to performing post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies at UNC Greensboro. She holds a licensed clinical social worker certification and is a 2001 graduate of Roanoke Rapids High School.
Dr. Kesha Rooks, DNP is the chief operating officer of Rural Health Group.
She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice as well as a Master of Science in nursing informatics from Duke University.
She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from East Carolina University and an associate degree in nursing from Halifax Community College. She is a 1994 graduate of Northwest Halifax High School.
The featured moderator is Travis Gales, DJ with WNCU 90.7 FM, located on the campus of North Carolina Central University.