Veda Charmaine Johnson, M.D. played a key role in establishing the Whitefoord Elementary School Based Clinic (WESHC) and the Sammye E. Coan Middle School Based Clinic (CMSBC), which are two school-based health centers that provide quality, comprehensive health care to the students and the preschool siblings of the students enrolled at these schools. The coordinated and combined efforts of these programs together with the health services have led to extraordinary outcomes for the children and their families. These outcomes range from early identification and intervention of potentially fatal illnesses (brain tumor, diabetes, HIV) in children to addressing significant developmental problems in the preschool students to improving the financial stability of families through GED and job training programs. All of these outcomes impact a child's ability to succeed in school and ultimately in life.

Dr. Johnson received her Medical Degree from Emory University School of medicine in Atlanta, Georgia where she also completed a Residency in Pediatrics. After completing an additional year as Chief Resident, Dr. Johnson served a four-year obligation with the National Health Service Corps in Meridian, Mississippi where she served as Medical Director at the Meridian Community Health Center. Her interest in school health began during this time when she developed a school health program for the clinic's adopted elementary school and the local Head Start program. In addition to serving as Medical Director and Program Director for the Whitefoord and Coan School clinics, she is an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and acts as the Medical Director for two other community-based pediatric primary care clinics affiliated with the Grady Health System.

Dr. Johnson also serves on the Boards of the Whitefoord Community Program, a community-based support program for the children and families of the Whitefoord Community and the Good Samaritan Health Center, a health center catering to the poor and the homeless of Atlanta. Dr Johnson's commitment to her work is reflected in the following quote: " I believe in providing healthcare in the context of family, home and community. Primary healthcare is the basis of this holistic approach to caring for children. Prevention, early detection and appropriate intervention can only be accomplished when there is access to all factors that affect the health of an individual."

Following is some information on the School-Based Health Centers under Dr. Johnson's direction: The Whitefoord Elementary School Based Clinic (WESHC) and the Sammye E. Coan Middle School Based Clinic (CMSBC) are two school-based health centers that provide quality, comprehensive health care to the students and the preschool siblings of the students enrolled at these schools. The clinics are operated by the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and are funded through the Bureau of Primary Health Care's Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Program. These are full service clinics that provide full comprehensive health care including physical, mental, and oral health. The staffs include a pediatrician, clinical manager, nurses, mid-level providers, health educator, social worker, mental health counselor, secretaries, clerical assistant, dentist, and dental assistant. Both clinics have been well received in the school and the surrounding community. Over the past 8 years, the elementary school clinic has maintained an enrollment of over 95% of the students attending the school and serves as the medical home to over 60% of these students. The middle school clinic, which was started 4 years ago, maintains an enrollment of over 60% of the student body.

The mission of these clinics is to increase access to quality healthcare and to improve student achievement. Success is rooted in the approach to caring for children in the context of family, home and community. In order to address the diverse needs of clinic patients and their families, the Whitefoord Community Program (WCP) was developed within six months of implementing the WESHC. WCP is a community-based, community-driven organization that strives to empower residents of the Whitefoord Elementary School catchment area to take charge of themselves, their children, and their community. It strives to ensure that every child has what he or she needs to succeed in school. This program was developed under the direction of the clinic program director and a retired Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University with input from parents, the school PTA, school administrators, and teachers. It initially addressed the issues of family support services but rapidly evolved to address the important issues of early childhood development and stimulation, adult literacy, community activism, and the challenges of welfare reform.

Located across the street from the elementary school and operated out of 6 houses, the WCP consists of a Family Resource Center, a Family Learning Center, and Child Development Program. The Family Resource Center strengthens families through supportive services, such as crisis intervention, case management, counseling, parenting classes and community workshops. The Child Development Program (CDP) provides high quality preschool education and child development for 74 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The goal is to improve school readiness and to provide a solid foundation for children before they start kindergarten. The Family Learning Center (FLC) supports the educational efforts of children and their families. The FLC supports several "Beyond School Hours" programs, such as the Whitefoord After School Enrichment Program, Summer Reading Camp, Cool Girls, Bike Rite and the Intel Computer Clubhouse. It also provides GED instruction and employment services for parents in the community.