Staff
Robert Pugh, MPH, Executive Director
Robert M. Pugh, MPH, is the Executive Director of Mississippi Primary Health Care Association (MPHCA) and has held that position since October 1990. Mr. Pugh has been involved in the healthcare arena in the State of Mississippi as a health care professional since 1975 and has held numerous health care professional positions in State Government, as well as in the private sector including hospital management and operations.
Mr. Pugh holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and a Masters Degree in Public Health-Hospital Administration from the University of California at Berkeley. He has a wealth of experience in health care management, health care planning, policy research and development. He serves on numerous committees and task force groups at the state, regional and national levels involved with health care, with special interest on prevention and primary care.
Kim Hancock, MS, Director of Communications
Kim Hancock, MS, joined the staff of the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association (MPHCA) in February of 2002 as the Director of Communications. She is responsible for internal and external communications, marketing, media and public relations, member services, Federal and State policy and advocacy, MPHCA’s website and newsletter, The Focus, and MPHCA’s Annual Conference. Prior to joining MPHCA, Kim served as the Program Services Director for the Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi. She has worked in the communications and public relations field primarily in the health care arena for the past 23 years including positions with what is now Central Mississippi Medical Center (CMMC) and the Mississippi Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), IQH - Information and Quality Healthcare. Kim holds a Masters Degree in Mass Media Communications from Mississippi College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is passionate about working in the non-profit sector and being part of an association that advocates for quality primary and preventive health care services for all Mississippians, especially the underserved and uninsured. She is actively involved in numerous health initiatives as both an advocate and participant. Kim enjoys community service work and reading in her spare time. She and her husband, Jim, live in Raymond, MS with their two boys, Jamie (12) and Sam (5).
Sandi Munden, CFO, Chief Financial Officer
Sandi Munden, CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer of the Mississippi Primary Care Association. Mrs. Munden is a graduate of Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone, and Pennsylvania State University, where she majored in Accounting and minored in Economics. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Prior to joining MPHCA, Mrs. Munden served as a controller for a private company for many years and most recently worked for the State of Mississippi, first with the Mississippi Gaming Commission, auditing casinos for internal control compliance and performing corporate investigations both in the United States and overseas, and later with the Office of the State Auditor as an investigator.
Vera Walker, Executive Assistant
Serves as Executive Assistant for the MPHCA, where she provides administrative support to the management and staff, as well as performing a wide variety of administrative duties to assist the Executive Director in accomplishing corporate objectives. Ms. Walker joined the Association in 1996. She maintains the Executive Director’s calendar, arranges meetings, makes travel arrangements and supervises the maintenance of corporate files. Ms. Walker has 30 years of Office and administrative experience.
T. C. Washington, Director of Information Systems
Anne Weems, Administrative Assistant
Shermaile Williams, Administrative Assistant
Shermaile L. Williams has served Mississippi Primary Health Care Association in a couple of capacities since joining the company in 1999, being hired as the Receptionist and then being promoted to her current position as Administrative Assistant in 2001.
Shermaile assist the association in all of its day-to-day activities as well as conference tasks. Her exceptional customer service and organizational skills are fully utilized in her role as Administrative Assistant. She holds an AA Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
LaShelia Young, Communications & Member Services Coordinator
LaSheila Young serves as the Communications & Member Services Coordinator for the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association. Ms. Young joined the Association in 2000. She holds an Associate Degree in Office Systems and an Associate Degree in Graphic Design. Ms. Young has over 16 years of administrative/support experience.
Helen Brown, Financial Assistant
Helen Brown has served as Financial Assistant for the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association since 2007. She is a native of Gluckstadt, Mississippi, where she attended Madison Central High School and graduated in 1992. She holds an AA Degree in Business Accounting from Holmes Community College.
Joyce Smith, RN, Director of Clinical Quality
Ms. Smith joined The Mississippi Primary Health Care Association as the Director of Clinical Quality in 2008. Her primary role is to provide oversight, coordinate services, and provide clinical training for new start and existing federally funded health centers in Mississippi. She establishes and maintains linkages with other community organizations, faith based organizations, medical departments and related groups. She also supports legislative and advocacy activities as they relate to clinical practice, quality improvement and improving disparities in health.
Ms. Smith was born and raised in rural Northeast MS. She received her associate’s degree in Nursing from Itawamba Community College in Fulton, MS and completed undergraduate studies at The University of Mississippi. Her 20 Year nursing career began at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS and has included medical surgical, occupational health, home health / hospice, and private duty nursing. She is also a certified legal nurse consultant with extensive experience with litigation defense firms specializing in medical malpractice.
Ms. Smith is a published playwright who enjoys writing and directing stage plays. She is the President and CEO of WeR3 (Mind Body & Soul) Theatrical Productions, a company which uses Christ Centered Theatre to empower communities to become proactive in combating negative societal issues.
Ms. Smith has trainings and certifications in: Legal Nurse Consulting, Public Health Management, Occupational Health and Safety Management, Worker’s Compensation Management, Chronic Disease Prevention, Cultural Diversity in Healthcare, Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention, Chronic Disease Self Management, Teen Pregnancy /Abstinence, STI Prevention, Geriatric Disease Management, Domestic Violence Education and Prevention and Lawsuit Prevention.
Myrtis Small, MPH, Workforce Development Coordinator
Myrtis Small serves as the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Mississippi Primary Healthcare Association. Ms. Small joined the Association February 2011. She is a native of Canton, Mississippi where she attended Canton High School. She graduated from Belhaven College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Jackson State University (JSU).
While enrolled in the JSU Graduate Program, Myrtis received the Dean’s Award for her Internship with the Mississippi House of Representatives Public Health and Human Services Committee in which Representative Steve Holland is the Chairman and Representative Omeria Scott is the Vice-Chairman.
Myrtis has over fifteen years of professional experience in the health care industry.