Mission | History | Board
MISSION STATEMENT
Good Shepherd Clinic of Dawson County strives to make Dawson County a better place by providing health care for those who have none.
HISTORY
The Good Shepherd Clinic was the vision of Dr. Mark Weaver, Organizing Pastor for Grace Presbyterian Church in Dawsonville, Georgia. Dr. Weaver and the congregation at Grace saw the need in the community and began to serve the community’s underprivileged with holiday meals and then a café. Dr. Weaver began sharing his vision of a clinic for those with no health insurance, and church members took on many roles in their journey to establish a clinic for the Dawson County community. In September, 2009 the clinic opened its doors in the basement of the church, with three exam rooms and an office where Prescription Assistance volunteers worked during clinic hours to help provide free prescription assistance to clinic patients.
In 2010, the clinic lost its visionary, Dr. Weaver, to a fatal brain aneurysm, but his vision lives on. An expanded Board of Directors, drawing on talented volunteers from within the community, has helped lead the clinic to its current status as a vitally important part of the community. Now located in modern facilities at 200 Dawson Commons Circle, Suite 200 in Dawsonville, an expanded wider range of services includes general medical care; basic dental care; women’s Wellness screening; prescription assistance; eye exams and glasses; and information, referral and advocacy for health and support services. The clinic does not provide emergency care or treat chronic pain requiring narcotics.
2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Tony Passarello
Tony holds a BS in chemistry from Presbyterian College. He started his career at DuPont, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Star Technologies, Sales Director for Agfa HealthCare US. Tony serves as a member of the Development Authority of Dawson County Board, President of Dawson County Civic Association, and Dawson Rotary Club. He is a licensed US Rowing Association referee for NCAA and High School regattas across the US.
Board responsibilities: Chair of the Board and Counselor.
Thomas Harter
Thomas earned his BS in Engineering and MS in Operations Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his career he was President of Engineering Associates, specializing in telecommunications and state of the art technologies from 1986 to 2015. He sold this company to Quanta Services in 2015. Resigning in 2020 as Vice President, Tom started a new company, Harter Management Company, LLC, a telcom engineering firm. Toms was past president of the Association of Communication Engineers, Dawson Co. Tiger Touchdown Club and participated in the Dawson Community Corale for 10 years. He and his wife, Leeann, attend Bethel United Methodist Church where he is Chair of the Church Council.
Board Responsibilities: Vice Chair, Fundraising Committee, Nominating Committee & Counselor.
Regina Varnado
Regina is the Branch Manager at United Community Bank in the Dawson Downtown location. Other positions held have been Loan Operations Manager and Assistant Branch Manager. She was named Employee of the Year 2009 and 2011. She is a member of Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of Dawson County having held office in both organizations. She and husband Lloyd are members of New Life Apostolic United Pentecostal Church where he is associate pastor and Regina is treasurer.
Board responsibilities: Treasurer and Counselor
Marjorie M. O’Byrne
Margie graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. She spent her career at Pacesetter Steel Service and retired in 2000 as a VP. Margie serves as a volunteer at the clinic obtaining cost-free medications from pharmaceutical companies for clinic patients.
Board responsibilities: Board Secretary, Director of Prescription Assistance, and Past Board Chair.
Board Members
Brook Anderson
Mr. Anderson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and is a registered professional engineer in Georgia. Brooke is the General Manager of Etowah Water and Sewer Authority since 2006. He is a member of American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation and the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, the Legislative Committee for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. He currently serves as Chairman of the North Georgia Water Resources Partnership, and was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to serve on the Coosa-North Georgia Regional Water Planning Council. He served as the President of the Rotary Club of Dawson County, and currently serves on the School Governance Council for Robinson Elementary School and the Dawson County Junior High School. He also serves as Chairman of the System Governance Council.
Board responsibilities. Board Member and Counselor.
Carla Boutin
Carla is a graduate of North Georgia College & State University with a BS degree in Education. She is a small business owner in Dawson County representing State Farm Insurance Companies as an Agent for over 25 years. She has been a member of the Rotary Club of Dawson County since 2003, serving as club President in 2012-2013. She is actively involved in the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce having previously served as a board member for 5 years, including Chairman of the Board. She was the recipient of the 2015 Don Gordon Business Leader of the Year award by the Chamber of Commerce for her leadership in the business community. She is currently serving in her third year as a board member for The Bowen Center for the Arts. Carla has been married to Charles, her better half, for 24 years. She attends church at Free Chapel.
Board Responsibilities: Board Member and Business Fundraising.
Jo Brewer
Ms. Brewer, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a BS degree in Clinical Laboratory Science and a Masters of Business Administration. She is the Executive Director of the Medical Plaza 400 and Laboratory Services for Northeast Georgia Health System. She serves as the 2017 Chairman of the Board of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Georgia Chapter of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association and Dawson County Rotary Club.
Board responsibilities: Past Chair, Phlebotomist Volunteer, and Counselor.
Debra H. Duke, MHA, CRA.
Ms. Duke is a Healthcare Executive Consultant with over 30 years of academic and not-for-profit experience leading hospital and physician practice operations in a multihospital system. She is currently Director, Client Services for SG&A Services, LLC, responsible for client services to include needs assessment, project structural review, and development of consultative services needed by clients. From 1998-2017 she served as Executive Director of Imaging, Neurosciences, Bariatric, Oncology Service Lines for Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville, GA. Prior to that she served as Administrator of Radiology/Cardiology at Emory Clinic in Atlanta, GA. She received a Bachelors of Medical Science degree from Emory University, Atlanta, GA and a Masters of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of St. Francis, Chicago, IL. Ms. Duke is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is Founding Chair of Rotarian of Hall County, and is an Advisory Board Member of Lanier Technical College.
Board responsibilities. Board Member, Grants Committee and Counselor.
Lisa France
Lisa has a B.S. in Business Administration from Milligan College in TN. She worked with Pepsi-Cola North America as Category Analyst, Dawson Co. Board of Education as Nutrition assistant, and Food Lion as the Front End Supervisor. She currently is employed at Dawson Pharmacy as a pharmacist technician. Lisa was a patient of the clinic for 8 years and recently re-obtained insurance. She has volunteered in prescription assistance with GSC for 9 years.
Board responsibilities: Member, Active Volunteer, and Pharmacy Point of Contact
Joseph Homans
Joey Homans is a civil attorney from Plymouth, North Carolina. He graduated cum laude from Washington State University in 1983 and earned his law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law and the University of Georgia School of Law. Joey began his career in the public sector, serving as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Gainesville and the Assistant District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. He joined Fox, Chandler, Homans, Hicks and McKinnon in 1989. He is a member of the Hall & Dawson Counties Mentor Program, Dawson Kiwanis Club (President), Gainesville First United Methodist Church member, youth coach for multiple community teams and member of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.
Board responsibilities: Board Legal Counsel.
Elaine Laney
Elaine received BA degree from High Point University. As a domestic engineer Elaine has spent her free time in service to the communities she lived in. She served 7 years with Good Samaritan Free Clinic in Tupelo MS and was a Board member of the Gardner-Simmons Home for Girls in Tupelo, MS. She was instrumental in the founding of Interfaith Ministries Good Samaritan Clinic in Gulf Breeze, FL where she headed up construction of the clinic, organized volunteer staffing and continued to serve as office manager for 7 years. Elaine was a member of Impact 100 an organization of women that fund high impact grants to non- profits. Elaine currently serves as reception coordinator at Good Shepherd Clinic. She and her husband, Steve reside in Chestatee Golf Community in Dawsonville.
Board Responsibilities: Board Member and Active Volunteer.
Steve Melching
Mr. Melching graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA degree in Journalism. During his career he worked at Federated Department Stores in Advertising, Marketing and Sales Promotion and the Atlanta Journal Constitution as Advertising Sales and Management. He served on the Board of Directors of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce for 5 years and as the 2016 Chair. He is active with the Dawson County Boy Scouts and Dawson County Relay for Life- American Cancer Society. Steve resides in Big Canoe with his wife Beverly.
Board Responsibilities: Past Board Chair and Business Fundraising Committee
David Moore, MD
Dr. Moore graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He practiced in Helen, Cleveland and, for the past 21 years, in Cumming as part of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center physician group. He is board certified in family practice and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.
Board responsibilities. Medical Director and Counselor.
Bobby Norris
Bobbie received his BS in Exercise Science from University of North Georgia, MBA in Healthcare Management from Brenau University. Bobbie comes with eighteen years of experience in healthcare management working for Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) where he is Vice President of Operations whom he has been with since 2007 starting out as manager of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. Bobbie holds PCCC & PCMH Certification.
Board Responsibilities: Board Member, Hospital Expert and Counselor.
Nichole Stewart
Nichole received her BS in Criminal Justice from University of North Georgia and is pursuing her MBA at Brenau University at present. She worked as assistant branch manager for SunTrust Bank until her election as Tax Commissioner – Dawson County, GA. in 2017. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Dawson County-2022 Board Chair, Chairman of Relay for Life. She was awarded 2015 Dawson County Outstanding Citizen, and Zell Miller Leadership – Class of 2020.
Board responsibilities: Director of Social Media
Kay Parrish
Kay studied nursing at the University of Alabama and Florida State. She subsequently attended Georgia State University and earned a BS in Accounting. She began her career with Ernst & Young. Afterwards, Kay held leadership positions with two companies where she managed administration and the accounting functions. Currently Kay is Executive Director of the clinic.
Board responsibilities: Presents a stewardship report at each board meeting and answers questions. Counselor.
Larry W. Anderson, DO, FACOFP
Dr. Anderson practices Family Medicine in Dawsonville, Georgia and associate professor of clinical medicine at the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from West Georgia College and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed his Doctor of Osteopathy degree at University Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Anderson is board certified in osteopathic family medicine and was a reviewer for both the Georgia Composite State Board of Medical Examiners and the Georgia Medical Care Foundation. Dr. Anderson also serves as Chair of the County Board of Health in Dawson County. Founding Physician of the Clinic.
Board responsibilities: Member Emeritus, Clinic Volunteer and Counselor.
Dwight R. Weathers, DDS, MSD
Dr. Weathers received his pre-dental education at Emory, his DDS and MSD degrees from Emory University School of Dentistry. He served in the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Weathers held many positions at the Emory dental School, including Chairman of the Department of Oral Pathology, and Dean of the dental school from 1985-1992. He is author of 70+ peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters, and has lectured internationally.
Board responsibilities: Member Emeritus and Counselor.
Jean A. Weathers
Ms. Weathers served 26 years as Senior Legal Assistant with an insurance defense law firm. She is past Vice President and Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee of the Georgia Association of Legal Assistants. She has been involved with organized dentistry involving the Alliance of the Georgia and American Dental Associations, and the Alliance of the Northern District Dental Society. She has served as alliance legislative chair at the state, local and national levels and received the prestigious ADA ADPAC Award. Jean is a recipient of the ANDDS Meritorious Service Award and the AADA Thelma J. Neff Distinguished Service Award.
Board responsibilities: Member Emeritus and Counselor.