Susan Whatley, ARNP, Executive Director/Founder
Susan Whatley serves as Executive Director/Nurse Practitioner at Urban Health and Wellness, Inc. (UHW). She has over 12 years of nursing experience, with a focus in the areas of cardio-thoracic surgery, internal medicine, and nephrology.  She also has minor experience in the areas of geriatric medicine, gynecology, cardiology, vascular surgery, and pediatrics. Susan founded UHW in April 2016 in response to a pressing need that she identified while volunteering at a local food co-op.  She has grown the clinic from a one-person, one-room operation to a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization with over 30 volunteers and a part-time clinical staff serving over 550 patients. 

Cherise Thomas, Physician Assistant
Cherise Thomas joined the UHW team in August of 2019. She completed her masters education at South University in Savannah. She completed her undergrad education at the University of Georgia. Her background is cardiology with a focus on inpatient care. She has lived in Atlanta all her life and is proud at the opportunity to serve this community.

Millie Brabham, RN, Patient Care Coordinator
Millie Brabham is the Patient Care Coordinator at UHW.  She was hired in November of 2017.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Harding University in 2007.  Mrs. Brabham runs the referral program, volunteer program, and the prescription assistance program at UHW.

Joy Dallam, Receptionist
Joy Dallam is the receptionist at UHW. She was hired in March of 2019. She is in long term recovery from substance use/mental health disorders as well as commercial sexual exploitation and abuse. Currently she is a resident of Beloved Atlanta. Joy feels blessed and so grateful to be a part of the UHW team!

Trisha Anderson, Grant Writer
Trisha Anderson is an experienced Grant Writer and nonprofit professional. She has a passion to empower, equip, and strengthen organizations to fulfill short and long-term goals, mission, and overall vision by securing grant dollars to support operating and program costs.

Rachel Barber, MSSW, Director of Development
Rachel Barber has over 15 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in the areas of resource development, community outreach and communications/marketing. She joined UHW in February of 2020 and is thrilled to help grow the capacity of the clinic to serve even more patients in need of medical care. Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. Rachel lives in the Grant Park neighborhood with her husband and two young children.

Elise Hitron, MSN, FNP-C, President
Elise Hitron serves as the President on UHW’s Board of Directors and as a volunteer clinician.  She found out about UHW on a neighborhood forum in 2016 and has been involved ever since. She works as a nurse practitioner in Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute and lives in Ormewood Park with her dog, boyfriend, and garden.

Blake McGee, PhD, Vice Chair
Blake McGee started as a volunteer nurse at UHW and joined the Board of Directors in June of 2017. He is an assistant professor of nursing at Georgia State University. He earned his PhD in nursing and health policy from Emory University in 2018 and his Master’s in Public Health from Colubmia University in New York in 2007. Dr. McGee has lived in Southeast Atlanta for over 10 years.

Cheryl Porter, Treasurer
Cheryl Porter currently serves as the Treasurer on UHW’s Board of Directors. Cheryl is a Tax Accountant and has worked in the accounting field for 30 years.  She is the mother of five children and six grandchildren and lives in Flowery Branch with her husband of 37 years, David.

Ian Byrnside, Secretary
Ian Byrnside currently serves as the Secretary on UHW’s Board of Directors.  Ian is a trial lawyer and Partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP, where he focuses his practice on healthcare, media, and First Amendment litigation.  Ian has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School.  Ian lives in Marietta with his wife and son.

Member Ex-Officio/Medical Director, Dan Ayers, Physician Assistant
Dan Ayers, PA-C is originally from the Northern Virginia area. He began his PA career in Moultrie, Georgia as the first PA in the county. Mr. Ayers brings with him over 25 years of medical experience with a strong background in internal medicine, emergency medicine, bariatrics, plastic surgery and most recently, oncology. He relocated to Atlanta September 2018 to work with the lymphoma, leukemia and bone marrow transplant services at Winship Cancer Institute/Emory University Hospital. In his free time, Dan enjoys traveling with his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters, Maddie and Caroline. He and Stephanie are active members of Influencers Church in Duluth.

Cathie McBeth, Member
Cathie McBeth is retired from Emory University and Emory Healthcare after 30 years of nursing in Hematology/Oncology.  She enjoys volunteering at UHW once or twice a week, usually doing lab testing and phlebotomy.  It is a privilege to work with the fine team at UHW and offer medical care to the uninsured.  Ormewood Park in southeast Atlanta has been home for many years.

Teresa Whatley, Member
Teresa Whatley is the Director of Office Management at Atlanta Eats. She has her Master’s Degree in Accounting/Finance and is an Enrolled Agency for the IRS. She has worked in the accounting field for over 40 years. Teresa lives in Smyrna and has two sons and three grandchildren.

Chris Brannon, Member
Chris Brannon joined the Board for Urban Health & Wellness in 2019. He is an attorney who practices Estate Planning and Elder Law in metro Atlanta with Brannon Napier Elder Law. Chris earned his BBA in Banking Finance from UGA’s Terry College of Business in 2002 and graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2005. Chris lives in Decatur and learned about UHW when Susan came to speak to the Decatur Rotary Club.

Liz Long, RN, Member
Liz Long joined UHW board in 2020. She works as a registered nurse in Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute . Originally from Virginia, Liz’s 12 year nursing tenure brings a wealth of experience in public health, community engagement and program development to UHW. She is honored to play an active role in the provision of healthcare resources to aide in the uplift of patient and community empowerment.

Johnathan Colasanti, MD, MSPH, Member
Jonathan Colasanti is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Global Health (Rollins School of Public Health) at Emory University and the Associate Medical Director of the Infectious Diseases Program of the Grady Health System (HIV clinic).  He’s passionate about working toward equity through healthcare and obtained his MD and Master’s of Science in Public Health from the University of Miami. Jonathan lives in Atlanta with his wife and two daughters.