WHO WE ARE
MHI is made up of a small, but mighty team and board of directors in collaboration with a growing coalition of volunteers, community-facing agencies, and community-based organizations.
TEAM MEMBERS
MHI’s small but mighty staff
Dr. Lisa Merritt obtained her medical degree from Howard University after completing undergraduate studies at Georgetown University with honors. She underwent training in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco and completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She is also a graduate of the faculty development program at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Lisa A. Merritt
Founder
Dr. Mike Weddle obtained his medical degree from the University of Miami and a PhD in engineering from the University of Michigan. He completed his medical residency at the George Washington and Georgetown University Hospitals in Washington DC. He is now a retired physician who until recently was the Medical Director of a multi-county network of substance use disorder clinics and treatment facilities in New York. Prior to that, he was the Medical Director of an Emergency Department in Western Pennsylvania, and a 30 year Board certified Emergency Physician. His training with the Center for Mind Body Medicine began in 2014 and he received his certification in 2018.
Dr. Mike Weddle
Director of Wellness
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MHI’s governing nonprofit board.
Curtis T. Yew
Curtis T. Curtis Yew completed his studies at the University of California, Berkeley in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Accounting. He currently practices in public accounting in Grass Valley, California. Mr. Yew has served as a board member since the inception of MHI and maintains the accounting records for the organization.
Karimu F. Hill-Harvey, Esq., LL.M, retired Judge
A Municipal Court Judge in East Orange & Irvington, New Jersey since 2000 (now retired) and an attorney in practice for over thirty [30] years. She is the first African-American woman listed in the "Top 20 Verdicts and Settlements" of the New Jersey Law Journal, by obtaining a $3.25 million settlement in Grant v. Laresca, et al. It was a case which afforded her the opportunity to make new law, as she also did in Simmons-Dixon v. Ford Motor Corporation, in which she obtained a reversal of an administrative law judge's decision relating to automobile "Lemon Law", as well as, several others.
Dr. Pamela Greer
Pamela Greer, MD attended Drexel University Medical School. She completed a general Internship at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wa.. Her radiology residency was at the University of Chapel in North Carolina and at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. As a radiologist, She had a private practice in ultrasound and mammography. Her second career for 20 years was as a general radiologist with the American Lake VA Medical Center, in Tacoma, Wa. She is A relatively newcomer to the area
Teresa Petterson, MD, MPA
Teresa Maria Petersen, MD, MPA is a Clinical Instructor in the LECOM (Lake Eerie College of Osteopathic Medicine). She has been engaged for several years in community development initiatives in both Crawford and Erie counties in Pennsylvania. Most recently, she has worked in medical education at Hamot Medical Center, Family Practice Residency Program and has served both the Erie and Bradenton LECOM campuses.
Dr. Katrina Davis
Dr. Katrina Davis practices Obstetrics & Gynecology, Urogynecology in Sarasota, FL and is affiliated with Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Sarasota OBGYN Associates and Doctors Hospital of Sarasota. She received her medical degree from University of Tennessee College of Medicine and did residency at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has been in practice for more than 25 years. She is a member of many medical societies including International Academy of Pelvic Surgery and an ACOG fellow.
Dr. Washington Hill
Dr. Washington Hill practices Maternal & Fetal Medicine and also specializes in OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology) in Sarasota, FL and is affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He received his medical degree from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in 1965 with a residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Hill has been in practice for more than 54 years. He is a nationally known expert & leader in perinatology and he developed SMH’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Department and also the Maternal Transport Program for high risk pregnant women. He has held professorships at multiple universities and has been widely published in medical journals. He is an ACOG Fellow and in 2012 received Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MHI’s advisors support with strategic advice, knowledge, and connections.
➤ Bob Fitzgerald
➤ Vincent Foderingham
➤ John Guess
➤ Steven Roskamp
➤ Yusif Addae MD
➤ Randall Morgan, M.D., M.B.A.
➤ Ed Viltz
➤ Vickie Wacksman
SAFEKEEPERS
MHI Safekeepers go out into and survey the community, share personal protection equipment (like masks) and health education to vulnerable communities and the businesses that support them, and maintain a helpline that community members can call to request assistance or information.
Darlene Brown
DARLENE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST TEAM MEMBER OF MHI.
Darlene has been a steadfast team member of MHI. Darlene appreciates being part of the outreach team. Ms. Darlene has done work in Sarasota and Manatee counties. As a resident of Newtown, she attends local community meetings and often advocates for her community and encourages others to do the same. Darlene worked through the AIDS pandemic, as well as the COVID pandemic.
Bonnie Hardy-Ramsauer
BONNIE ENJOYS LEADING THE NAVIGATOR/SAFEKEEPER TEAM IN MANATEE COUNTY.
Bonnie enjoys leading the navigator/safekeeper team in manatee county. Her dedication and attention to detail makes her extremely effective at coaching clients/patients. Bonnie helps individuals and families overcome barriers regardless of circumstance. Bonnie is certified in the CDC’s diabetes prevention course and mind-body medicine.
Angela Miles
ANGIE HAS BEEN WITH MHI FOR 11 YEARS.
Angie has been with MHI for 11 years. She is often sought for spiritual healing through her faithfulness at Bethlehem Bible Church in Newtown. Angie has led our T2 diabetes prevention certified training courses in honor of her daughter, Kareema Crenshaw, who passed away from complications related to diabetes.
Helen Neal
MS. HELEN IS A COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE WORKER AND OUR AmeriCorps VISTA MEMBER.
Ms. Helen is a community healthcare worker and loves working in low-income communities with under-served people. Helen would like to educate them on health issues as well as connect them to resources they may not be aware of. She specializes in trauma and resiliency. She has experience in urban planning, youth development, writing/editing, conflict resolution community organization, public health, recruitment, environmental, and first aid.
Manuela is one of our MHI scholars and a student at one of our local colleges working towards obtaining her bachelors degree in biology. She plays a pivotal role with our Safekeeper team in Manatee County as she assists MHI in advocating and providing care to members of the Hispanic/Latinx community.
Manuela Miller
MANUELA IS ONE OF OUR MHI SCHOLARS AND WORKS WITH THE SAFEKEEPERS TEAM IN MANATEE COUNTY.
Crystal was born and raised in Newtown. She enjoys serving her community and home. Crystal is a licensed phlebotomist. She worked at a local lab company before joining MHI. Crystal brings a unique experience to our organization. Not only is she a trusted member of the community, born and bred, she champions healthy living. She is familiar with the known environmental health factors of our community. She has helped her own son battle and manage sickle cell disease. Her interests are using the MHI PEARLS to battle the heart disease that is high within the community MHI serves in honor of her son.
Crystal Johnson
CRYSTAL WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEWTOWN.
Marquia is one of our MHI Scholars and a pre-medical student. She obtained her bachelors degrees in biology and chemistry from Howard University and her masters degree in medical science from the University of South Florida. In working with MHI, she leads and organizes our Safekeepers in providing healthcare education to residents of Manatee and Sarasota Counties, such as through our CDC-certified Lifestyle Change Program.
Marquia Walker
MARQUIA IS ONE OF OUR MHI SCHOLARS AND WORKS AS OUR HEALTH PROMOTIONS AND EDUCATION COORDINATOR.