MONTGOMERY, Alabama (February 23, 2011) – As a service to its clients and friends in the governmental relations industry, Montgomery-based firm Public Strategy Associates has released basic biography information on each new member of the Certificate of Need Board and the State Health Coordinating Council.  Gov. Robert Bentley appointed the members listed below on February 10, 2011 after he called a moratorium on the boards’ meetings shortly after assuming office.

Certificate of Need Board Members

Dr. Swaid N. Swaid – Health Care Provider.  Swaid was born in Eilaboun, Israel.  He moved to the United States when he was 15 years old to attend Harding University in Searcy, AR where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1973 and immediately entered medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  He did an internship in general surgery at the University of California in San Diego from 1976 through 1977.  In 1977, he returned to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine to complete a neurosurgery residency.  He was Chief Neurosurgical Resident at UAB and finished his residency in 1981.  He has received many awards and honors, has published extensively and is a frequent speaker at various seminars.  Dr. Swaid is a member of many organizations including the American Medical Association, the Alabama Neurosurgical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the Jefferson County Medical Society and is a Fellow, American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Swaid is board certified in neurosurgery.

Dr. Herbert Stone – Health Care Provider.  Stone is a founding member of the Mobile Emergency Group, P.C. and is presently the Medical Director and COO. He completed his undergraduate work at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where he received his Bachelor of Science. He went on to pursue his Masters of Science at Atlanta University with a concentration in Embryology. Dr. Stone earned his M.D. at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA and completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Bob Sheppard – Health Care Provider.  Sheppard grew up on a farm in Alabama, born in 1950, the son of tenant farmers.  Though it was an almost unbearable financial burden for his parents, they insisted that he pursue college. He attended the University of Alabama, held a job while carrying a full academic load, and graduated with the necessary credentials to enter medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He continued his education through a Categorical Internal Medicine residency and remained a fourth year as a Chief Medical Resident,  an honor offered to few Internal Medicine physicians.  He practiced Internal Medicine in private practice for twenty five years and now serves as Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of Hospitalist Services at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Neal Morrison – Consumer Representative.  A former state representative, Morrison decided to leave his job with Wallace State’s Workforce Development Program after 18 years with the school so he could continue to serve on the state legislature, but later Morrison resigned his legislative post to take the position as interim president of Bevill State Community College in Sumiton.  He is currently executive director of North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments

Guice Slawson, Jr. – Consumer Representative.  A Montgomery businessman, Slawson is an executive with Southeast Wood Treating which is involved in wood preserving, and related lumber industry fields.

Gen. (Ret.) Edward F. Crowell – Consumer Representative.  At retirement, Crowell served as mobilization assistant to the Air University commander.  He grew up in a small community near Phoenix City, AL, and pursued his boyhood dream to serve in the military. Shortly after high school, General Crowell enlisted into the Air Force Reserve's then 908th Tactical Airlift Group at Maxwell Air Force Base.  Finishing basic training and technical school in maintenance, General Crowell started a stint with the 908th that would last more than 24 years. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Alabama State University, General Crowell was selected for pilot training and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1974. However, with the post-Vietnam aviation draw down, General Crowell was diverted to the emerging social actions career field in the 908th.  In 1981, then-908th commander Col. Robert S. Martin appointed General Crowell to his first command as commander of the 908th Mobility Support Flight.

Hodges Washington – Governor Representative. TBD

Dr. Michael Gosney – Governor Representative.  Gosney practices pain medication and anesthesiology in Sheffield, AL. He graduated 30 years ago with an MD from University Auto de Ciudad Juarez ESC de Medicine.  “As a physician and anesthesiologist in Muscle Shoals, Dr. Gosney came highly recommended for the appointment because he has been involved locally, around the state and with national physician organizations advocating for patient safety, quality and access,” said Gov. Robert Bentley. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Certificate of Need Board.”

Dr. Chris Harmon – Governor Representative. Harmon is a board certified dermatologist with practices in Birmingham and Montgomery.  He is a 1990 graduate of the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans and served residences at the Mayo Graduate School and the Medical Center La New Orleans Tulane.

State Health Coordinating Council Members

Dr. Ruth Yates – Health Care Provider.  Yates is an Internist and Dermatologist in Huntsville.  She has been practicing for 26 years.  She holds an MD from Meharry School of Medicine in Nashville, TN and did residencies at Presbyterian in Dallas TX and Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Dr. James Walburn – Health Care Provider. Walburn is a Tuscaloosa-based Otolaryngologist with 40 years of practice.

Dr. Vera Soong– Health Care Provider. Soong is a dermatologists practicing in Birmingham at Southeastern Dermatology Center.  She received her MD at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and practiced at the University of Alabama Hospital in dermatology and internal medicine.

Ruth Harrell, M.P.H. – Health Care Provider. Harrell is a longtime leader in Alabama's nursing profession and was named the 2008 Alumnus of the Year by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health.  Her reputation as a nursing leader in the state spans four decades and includes more than 30 years of working with the Alabama Department of Public Health. She is a past president of the Alabama Public Health Association and a two-term past president of both the Alabama State Nurses' Association and the nonprofit advocacy group VOICES for Alabama's Children.  Harrell earned her B.S.N. degree from the Medical College of Georgia's College of Nursing, and her master's degree from UAB.  She began her career as a staff nurse in Conecuh County going on to become director of nursing for the Alabama Department of Public Health from 1987 to 1993. She served on many government task forces and committees studying issues from the nursing shortage to nurse practitioner networks. Harrell was inducted into the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame in 2003.

Dr. Gillis Payne – Health Care Provider. Payne is a Montgomery-based pediatrician of 43 years specializing in adolescent medicine.  He received his MD from University of Alabama School of Medicine and conducted and internship at Vanderbilt.

Winston M. Ashurst – Health Care Provider.  Ashurst is affiliated with Physicians for Women Montgomery and Physicians for Women Prattville.  His undergraduate degree is from University of Alabama, and he graduated medical school from th University of Alabama School of Medicine.  Ashurst interned at the Medical University of South Carolina and completed his residency there.

Dr. Theodis Buggs Jr. – Health Care Provider.  Buggs is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and pioneer in minimally invasive total hip replacement surgery.  He is founder of Princeton Orthopedics, PC and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, where he received the Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship.  Buggs' career spans more than 20 years of practice in Birmingham and Atlanta specializing in orthopedic trauma, sports medicine, and joint replacement.

Dr. Tommy Bender – Health Care Provider.  Bender graduated from Murphy High School and was accepted at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.  At the academy, his major was engineering, but he soon added pre-med and landed a spot at Tulane Medical School upon graduation.  His time in medical school increased his Air Force commission, and after finishing medical school, he moved to Mississippi where he worked at Keesler Air Force Base, and later did family practice at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. While in Montgomery, he also became interested in dermatology and returned to New Orleans to complete his specialized training. He serves in the outpatient clinics at Providence Hospital in Mobile, and his practice, Gulf Coast Dermatology and Skin Care Centre.

Dr. Jeff Underwood III – Health Care Provider.  Underwood is a Montgomery-based internist.  He received his MD 30 years ago from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine in Nashville and trained at DC General Hospital at Georgetown University.

Robbie Owen – Consumer.  Owen resides in Daphne, AL and is a native of Baldwin County.  He has B.S. and B.A. degrees from the University of Mobile, and M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees from The University of South Alabama. Now in his twenty-seventh year in education, he has served as principal at Swift Elementary in Bon Secour, Daphne Elementary School in Daphne, and Rockwell Elementary School in Spanish Fort, where he currently works.  Robbie has served as an officer in many professional organizations including being president of the Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators. In 2008 he was named Alabama’s National Distinguished Principal. Robbie volunteers in various roles and capacities along with being a member of Eastern Shore Baptist Church in Daphne.

Brenda Culver – Consumer. Culver has been a resident of Alabama for over 30 years. An avid runner, she participates in many runs benefiting the community and recently trained and completed a marathon. She is a member of the Bay Minette First United Methodist Church and volunteers much of her time to community organizations. Culver works in the State of Alabama DHR Child Support Division. She has one son, Brent Culver who attends Auburn University.

William Smith – Consumer. Smith is an attorney and former county commissioner practicing in Florence, AL.

Rebecca Thrasher – Consumer.  Thrasher serves as the Secretary/Treasurer at Save Alabama PACT. Her day job is as Office Manager & Closing Coordinator at Patti Lambert Real Estate in Decatur, AL. Thrasher holds a BS in Accounting and Small Business Management and prior experience includes Restricted Grants Accountant for Calhoun Community College.

Judy Merritt – Consumer.  Dr. Merritt, 66, is President of Jefferson State Community College located in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Merritt was named President in 1979 and, with the exception of a four-year assignment at Florida International University in Miami, Florida from 1975 to 1979, has been associated with Jefferson State and its predecessor since 1965. She has served in a number of community and civic leadership roles including Chairman of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, and member of the Board of Directors of the Business Council of Alabama. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama (B.S. Secondary Education, M.A. Counseling and Guidance, and Ph.D. Educational Administration).

John Killian – Consumer. Killian is the pastor of Maytown Baptist Church in Maytown, AL.  He is also the Second Vice-President of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

Brandon Farmer – Consumer.  Farmer lives in Tuscaloosa, AL and is in the Health Care Management Business. He is a member of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club.

Mary Holcomb – Consumer. Holcomb lives in Sheffield, AL.

Rep. Jim McClendon – Consumer.  McClendon retired from his private medical practice upon beginning his first term in the Alabama Legislature in 2002. He is is a Republican state representative from St. Clair County currently serving his second term.  Dr. McClendon did his undergraduate work at Birmingham Southern College and has his doctorate from the University of Houston. He served in the Navy Medical Service Corps in Vietnam and afterwards taught clinical optometry at UAB. He was in private practice in Leeds and Moody for many years.  He is a past president of the Alabama Optometric Association and a former board member of St. Anne's Home, and the Jefferson County Health Planning Commission. Dr. McClendon is chairman of the House Health Committee, Vice Chairman of the House Technology & Research Committee and serves on the House State Government Committee where he is chairman of the Government Regulations subcommittee.

Sen. Greg Reed – Consumer.  Reed was elected to the Alabama Senate on November 2, 2010.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Alabama after transferring from Walker College, now Bevill State Community College. He is Vice President of Preferred Medical Systems, an ultrasound sales and service company for Medison.  He is Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Transportation & Utilities Committees, Vice Chairman of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee and serves on Children, Youth Affairs & Human Resources, Job Creation & Economic Development, Small Business and Local Legislation No.2 committees.

Ross Gunnells – Consumer.  Gunnells is a former college football player at University of Alabama and served as fundraiser during Governor Bentley’s campaign.  He now works in the Rural Development Office at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Mary Sue McClurkin – Consumer.  McClurkin was elected as a Republican from Indian Springs to the Alabama Legislature in 1998. She received her B.S. from Huntingdon College and M.A. from Auburn University.  She and her husband, Van, are the parents of three children: Burt, Ben, and Daniel, and they have three grandsons.  Representative McClurkin is the owner of McClurkin Enterprises, and is a member of the Briarwood Presbyterian Church. She is a board member of the Business Council of Alabama and the Jefferson/Shelby Cancer Society.

F. Wayne Pate – Consumer. Pate retired as President of Golden Enterprises on May 31, 2000. He served as President from November 1, 1998 until retirement. He also served as President of Golden Flake Snack Foods, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company from September 1991 to November 1998.

April Weaver – Consumer.  Weaver was elected as a Republican from Alabaster to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010.  She completed her Bachelor Degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama and then became a registered nurse while holding a full-time job in healthcare management at Bibb County Medical Center. She also earned her MBA and a legal nurse certificate, then served as the director of public, community and governmental affairs at Brookwood Medical Center.  For the past nine years, she has worked at Shelby Baptist Medical Center as the director of business development and has been an integral part of the hospital’s phenomenal growth.  She serves on three House committees: Health, Education Policy and Shelby County Legislation.

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