Dr. Grant Scarborough, MD- Founder & CEO
A native of Columbus, Dr. Grant Scarborough graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Biology. Immediately following graduation, he spent two years on staff with Young Life in metro-Atlanta. It was during this time that Grant became involved in an outreach effort to the homeless of downtown Atlanta and soon felt called to actively work with and for the underserved around him. After seeking the counsel of several trusted advisors, Grant came to believe that this calling would lead him to practice medicine. Dr. Scarborough earned his medical degree from Mercer Medical School in 2003, completed his internal medicine and pediatric residency at the University of Tennessee – Memphis, and finished his Med/Peds residency at the University of Tennessee in June 2007. In the fall of 2007, Dr. Scarborough returned to Georgia as co-founder of Christ Community Health Services of Augusta. The next four years would see the addition of providers and staff alike, with tens of thousands of patient lives impacted for the glory of God through CCHS. After several years in Augusta, Dr. Scarborough and his family felt the call of the Lord again, this time to Columbus, where they moved in July of 2011. As a board certified pediatrician and internal medicine physician, Grant desires to see God glorified through caring for the poor and discipling young medical students to do the same.
Tony Nguyen, Chief Operations Officer
Tony was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States in 1981. He received a B.S. in Physical Education from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1999, and a B.S. in Biology from Columbus State University in 2011. After graduating from The Citadel, Tony commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer where he spent 7 years on Active Duty. His assignments included 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry at Fort Carson, Colorado and the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia. He completed several combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Tony is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. Tony is a youth wrestling coach for the Harris County Tigers and the Highland Hawkeyes. He is married to Linda Nguyen, who is an attorney at Page Scrantom Sprouse Tucker and Ford PC. Together, they have three kids, Tyler, Allie, and Jessica.
Dr. Joyce Kim, DO- Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Kim graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2009 with a B.A. in Music and Anthropology. She then completed medical training at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013. After a transitional year at University Hospitals Richmond Medical center in Cleveland, Ohio, she finished Family Medicine residency at Resurrection Health in Memphis, Tennessee. She was challenged during her time at Resurrection to think about healthcare not simply for humanitarian reasons, but as a means to provide excellent medical care for the poor in the name of Jesus. She is equally challenged at MercyMed to work in a way that communicates the love of Christ. We love having Dr. Kim in Columbus!
Billy Holbrook, Chief Development Officer
Billy graduated Columbus State University in 2004 and went on to spend nearly 10 years in the payments industry at TSYS. In December of 2014, he joined the MercyMed staff as Director of Development. He and his wife Megan, along with their three children, are members of Highland Community Church – a low income church in the North Highland neighborhood of Columbus right around the corner from MercyMed. Billy is responsible for fundraising, community awareness projects, and donor relations. Telling the MercyMed story over lunch is his favorite part of the job.
Dr. Sarah Barr, Steam Mill Road Location – Family Medicine
Dr. Barr is a native of Chicago, IL and has been in the Columbus area since 1995. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cedarville University in 1987 and her Medical Doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1991. After her internship in Kalamazoo, MI, Dr. Barr served in the United States Army for five years and then completed her training in Family Medicine at The Medical Center in Columbus. In her free time, she enjoys reading, woodworking, gardening, watching sports and spending time with her family.
She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Barr is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, Christian Medical Association, and Wilderness Medical Society.
Lindsay Simpkins, PA-C
Lindsay was born in Michigan but grew up in Chattanooga, TN. She received her Bachelor’s in Science from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, then completed the Physician Assistant program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She moved to Columbus in 2016 when her husband, Josh, became stationed at Fort Benning. Lindsay worked in Pediatrics for 2 years before joining the MercyMed team in 2019, and she is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Lindsay felt the Lord pulling her towards MercyMed so she could better serve the kingdom of God through ministering to patients. She is an avid runner, and she also enjoys baking lots of yummy cakes for her family and friends.
Marie McIntosh, FNP
Marie loves meeting all sorts of people. People are her passion. Practicing medicine is her ministry. She is thrilled that it allows her to get to know patients, their families, and meet them where they are at. After beginning as a technician, she studied for her Associate’s Degree in Nursing. She finished at Columbus College (now Columbus State University.) She followed it with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the same school. Afterwards she finished her Master’s Degree in Family Practice as a Nurse Practitioner at Troy University. She worked at a local hospital for 26 years. Then, she came to MercyMed to give back. “God has helped me in my life, now it’s time to give back to others.”
She brings a wealth of experience to MercyMed. And, she shares practical knowledge about nutrition, healthy eating habits, and holistic weight management.
Megan Huwe, PA
-C
Megan grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. She then moved to Philadelphia, PA where she made the City of Brotherly Love her home for almost a decade. While there, she attended graduate school at University of the Sciences where she received a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Megan and her husband, Peter, moved to Georgia in July 2020 and are happy to now call Columbus home. Megan is thrilled to be a part of the MercyMed family, where she can share the love of Christ and provide healthcare to the community.
Kimberly Klaus, PA-C
Kimberly grew up around Atlanta, but ministering in Southeast Asia the summer after her college graduation put a passion in her heart to see Jesus worshipped among all nations. Spending six months in India volunteering with Mother Teresa’s organization the following year instilled a deep love for living among and serving the poor, as well as a calling to practice medicine. She graduated from Emory University’s Physician Assistant program in 2002, then practiced for several years before moving to Indonesia to open a clinic after the 2006 tsunami. A desire to learn more about infectious disease, prevention, and health systems later led her back to the US to obtain her PhD in Global Health in 2014, during which time she was whisked off her feet and away to Myanmar by her husband, David. After living and serving there for 5.5 years, a “short” trip to visit family and friends in the US became an indefinite stay when Covid arrived. They recently moved to Columbus for Kimberly to work at Mercy Med, where ministering through medical care, offering dignity to those often overlooked by society, and sharing the hope of Jesus delights her heart. When not working, she loves the outdoors, staying engaged with all things international, and chasing her two very active preschoolers.
Teresa Morse, PA
-C
Teresa
Scott Carow, DPT – Physical Therapist
Scott graduated from West Point in 1997 and began his career in the Army as an Armor officer. After injuring himself in 2001, he became interested in physical therapy. He graduated from the U.S. Army – Baylor University Doctoral Physical Therapy Program in 2006 and spent 13 more years in the Army helping injured Soldiers return to duty. While serving in El Paso, Scott became involved in ministering to local homeless people and those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Through this experience, Scott learned to love and serve the poor, which eventually led him to MercyMed. After retiring from the Army in 2019, Scott wanted to help the underserved in Columbus, so he called Dr. Scarborough and said, “I think MercyMed needs physical therapy, and I want to be your physical therapist!” After much prayer and consideration, we were able to secure space and equipment to offer physical therapy at MercyMed. We are so happy to offer this much needed service to our patients.
Rev R. Jay Hearn, Chaplain and Director of Mental Health Department
Jay is a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and retired Army Chaplain. He obtained a communication degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. In March 1993 he entered active duty as an Army Chaplain and served 23 years in this role. In 2002 the Army sent Jay to Tarleton State University where he obtained a Master’s of Science in Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling. At Fort Benning’s Family Life Chaplain Training Center, Jay served as a marriage counselor and later as a clinical supervisor. He has been married to his wife Karen for over 31 years and they have three grown children. Jay serves as an Elder at CrossPointe Church in Columbus. Jay brings training and experience treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to his work. MercyMed’s mission involves the whole person. And Jay focuses his attention on the spiritual and emotional needs of our staff and patients.
Rev. David Baum, Chaplain – Patient Support
David graduated from West Point in 1986 and then served for five years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. In 1996 he earned a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and was ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America. He served in the Army as a Chaplain from 1996 to 2012 and obtained a Master of Community Counseling before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. David gained insight into the unique challenges of the underserved in Columbus when he worked as a church planter in Columbus from 2013 to 2016. In 2019 he learned how to assist veterans with their benefits while working at the Georgia Department of Veterans Services. During that same year he completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at St Francis Hospital. That training formally equipped him to serve as a chaplain in a medical care setting. David loves to serve MercyMed patients. He is particularly excited about the role he has co-leading GreyRock, MercyMed’s support group for mental health patients.
Aidan Kao, MA, LAMFT – Counseling
Aidan grew up in Wisconsin but moved to Minnesota for her undergraduate studies. She attended the University of Minnesota and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Aidan then worked as a behavioral therapist for children on the autism spectrum before earning a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s University in the Twin Cities.
Prior to moving to Columbus, Aidan worked for three years as a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family therapist in Mankato, Minnesota. Aidan, her husband Tim, and their three children moved to Columbus at the end of 2018 when they began to feel God challenging them to trust Him in a new chapter of their lives.
Aidan has a passion for working with couples, families, and individuals struggling with mental health concerns, marriage difficulties, family stressors, and grief and loss.
Jimmy Bone, Office Manager – Mission Columbus Location
Jimmy is married with 2 children and a graduate of Auburn University. He brings a wealth of experience to MercyMed. He has over 11 years of pharma sales experience, and he is the former owner of a local restaurant. Jimmy is an ordained deacon and member of Christ Community Church. He enjoys working with international groups and teaching English as a second language. His favorite Bible verse is: “…let your light shine before men, so they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.” Mathew 5:16.
Brooke Franklin, Office Manager- Second Avenue Location
Brooke grew up in Columbus, GA. Her diverse background includes management, emergency medical training, and service through her local church. Brooke first joined the MercyMed team in 2015 as a front desk receptionist then moved on to serve the organization as a medical assistant then specialty supervisor. Her background in management, passion for client care, and eye for efficiency perfectly suited her for her current role as Office Manager.
When not at MercyMed, Brooke spends her time with her family and friends and plays an active role in her local church by volunteering in the youth ministry and singing soprano in the church choir.
Becca Gemes, Development Associate + Executive Assistant to Dr. Scarborough
Keith Sims, Patient Health Advocate and MercyMed Farmer
Born and raised in Columbus, Keith joins MercyMed as a Public Health Advocate and MercyMed Farmer. He was a Medical Assistant at MercyMed for two years. But after a year of apprenticing at Jenny Jack Farms, an organic fruit and vegetable farm in Pine Mountain, GA, he returned to MercyMed in another role. His goal is to educate, empower and enable our patients and community about healthy lifestyles. His passion is for helping people taking ownership of their health through nutrition and connecting MercyMed patients to healthy, affordable food. He’s excited to bring his farming and community health expertise to MercyMed. Keith is currently pursuing a masters degree in Public Health from Mercer University and is a graduate of LaGrange College where he holds a BS in Biology.
Casey Valencia, Physical Therapy + Wellnes Manager
Casey hails from Richmond, Indiana. She moved to Columbus for her Bachelor’s of Biblical Studies and graduated in 2005. Ministering to the local Hispanic community, she became fluent in Spanish. Then she served as a Family Pastor for 10 years. She is a registered 200 RYT yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, and a Registered Christian Yoga Association Master Trainer (R-CYAMT). In her free time she enjoys aerial silks enthusiast. But she loves everything Mexican, especially her husband, Oscar. She joined the MercyMed staff in 2019 to manage Physical Therapy. Every patient at MercyMed is fascinating, interesting, and delightful in their own way, and she loves meeting them. Praying with patients is her favorite part of MercyMed.
Jamie Benefield, Dietitian
Jamie, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, joined us from Mississippi, having completed her Master of Science and Dietetic Internship from The University of Mississippi in 2019. She works closely with the wellness team and our providers to provide nutrition consultations and education to qualified patients. Her care will complement our providers by giving patients the resources and support that enables them to live a healthy lifestyle and improves their conditions. Her heart is for individuals with hidden food insecurity. As Jamie educates patients about nutrition, she prays that each patient might come to know the hope of Christ. Jamie is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
