Talladega College is proud to announce the hiring of three health professionals to bolster its campus Student Health Services team. The strategic hires underscore the institution’s ongoing commitment to holistic student support, placing the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of its students at the forefront of its mission.
Joining the Talladega team are Heather Williams, CRNP, Maria Melville, M.S., and Dr. Hernando Carter. They each bring a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for community health and student wellness. Their collective experience, dedication to healthcare, and commitment to eradicating health disparities will play a significant role in enriching the everyday lives of students at Talladega College.
"We are thrilled to welcome these outstanding professionals to our Student Health Services team. Their expertise and dedication to student wellness align perfectly with our mission of providing comprehensive care to our students,” said Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, president of Talladega College. “We look forward to the positive impact they will have on our campus community.”
Heather Williams serves as associate vice president/director of Student Health Services. She is a dual-certified Adult-Gerontology and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. Williams completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Tuskegee University and her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has a diverse nursing background, with clinical expertise in Primary Care, Urology, and Urogynecology. Named the 2021 National Black Nurses Advanced Practice Provider of the Year, Williams is dedicated to creating individualized care plans to meet each patient's needs and is an advocate for healthy lifestyles.
“The opportunity to educate each person that I encounter is what makes me passionate about healthcare,” Williams said. “It is important that people are informed about how their lifestyle choices impact their overall health.
Coming on board as Medical Assistant/Health Advancement Specialist is Maria Melville. Originally from Georgetown, Guyana, and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, Melville holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Benedict College and a Master of Science degree in Applied Life Science from Keck Graduate Institute. She began her career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in a genetic cancer lab and has worked as a medical assistant at the Urology Centers of Alabama.
“I hope to foster relationships t with the students we take care of,” Melville stated when asked what she hopes to accomplish at Talladega College. “I want to be able to support the Student Health Center in all of the goals we are developing at TC, whether it is getting campus CPR certified, hosting health fairs, and virtual sessions to educate the community about healthcare.”
Dr. Hernando Carter fills the role of consulting physician. He is a renowned internal medicine physician, bringing his medical expertise and passion for community outreach to the College. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Morehouse College and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Carter is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and currently practices at ArchWell Health and serves as the Market Medical Director; he is a board member of the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. His special interests include the management of hypertension and diabetes, care coordination, and physician-patient communication. He is also the founder and owner of AH Carter, MD, LLC, a nursing home practice. Carter is deeply committed to the local community, having mentored nearly 200 young men through the Birmingham Kappa Leadership Development League, and has a strong focus on eradicating health disparities and promoting health literacy.
“Healthcare has been my dream since I was four years old. I was inspired to want to help people for a living by my pediatrician,” Carter said. “I’m passionate about healthcare because of the ability to help people live healthy, happy, long lives.”
The new hires reflect Talladega College's ongoing commitment to providing its students with robust support services that cater to their physical and mental health needs. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, the College continues to foster a nurturing and supportive environment where students can thrive academically and personally.
“I am extremely excited about this team of qualified professionals with excellent credentials. All are HBCU alumni, and they understand the unique needs of the student body that we serve,” said Dr. Pernella Rowena Deams, senior vice president for Student Life and Success. “It is exciting to witness the new innovation, technology, and efficiency of the Student Health Services unit.”
The Student Health Center is located in the lower right entrance to the Student Activity Center. Hours of operation to service students are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. In addition, telemedicine visits are available. For more information, call 256-761-6208 or email tchealth@talladega.edu.
