Our Leadership
A Vision for Our Future.
A Vision for Our Future.
CareNet is led by a team with a broad base of experience in counseling and non-profit management. Together, our leadership and administrative teams provide strategic and operational direction for each of our eight regional centers and over 80 counties we currently serve. But, what differentiates this team from others is a huge combined heart for the work and for seeing clients and team members all reach their full potential.
Our Leadership Team
Bryan Hatcher MDiv, LCSW, DrPH
President, CareNet, Inc.
Since coming to CareNet in 1999, Bryan has served in many roles, including his current role as president and before that chief operating officer. He is an experienced counselor, chaplain and pastor and is an adjunct faculty member of Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity. As president, he is responsible for the strategic development of the statewide organization and advancing its mission and innovation. Currently enrolled in a doctoral program in public health at UNC Chapel Hill, Bryan has a passion for not only delivering high-quality counseling services but also advocating for and serving those who are underserved.
H. Leah Creel, MDiv, LCMHC
CareNet Integrated Care Coordinator
Leah Creel is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who joined CareNet in 2013. Leah’s experience includes collaborating with children, adolescents and families through life transitions and stressors, and currently provides psychotherapy and integrated care in two Wake Forest Baptist Health pediatric clinics. She is also a Community Resiliency Model (CRM) instructor. Additionally, Leah serves as the Integrated Care Coordinator for CareNet and has a passion for integrating behavioral health into a variety of settings, including physician offices, schools, businesses and other organizations.
Russell Siler Jones, ThD, LCMHCS
Director of Residency in Psychotherapy and Spirituality
Russell became Director of CareNet’s Residency in Psychotherapy and Spirituality in 2008. In that role, he teaches and supervises all associate-licensed therapists at CareNet. He has also worked in community mental health, as an associate pastor, as a hospital chaplain, and as a pastoral counselor in Asheville since 1996. He is author of Spirit in Session: Working with Your Client’s Spirituality (and Your Own) in Psychotherapy (2019) and is developing a national training program in spiritually integrated psychotherapy through ACPE.
Deborah A. Morton, LCMHCS
CareNet Clinical Quality Manager
Debbie joined CareNet in 2013 and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor. She has practiced in community-based chemical dependency programs, hospital-based group therapy programs, physician practices and private practice, and she brings over 23 years of experience in individual, group and couples therapy. In addition to counseling, Debbie serves as the clinical quality manager for the CareNet Counseling organization. She has a passion for continuous improvement in clinical quality for the organization.
Abby Washington, MBA
CareNet Finance and Billing Manager
Before joining CareNet in August 2022, Abby worked in the Financial, Planning, and & Analytics division with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. She enjoys spending time with her son, husband, two dogs, and three cats during her free time.
Laneita F. Williamson, RN, BSN
Trauma Informed Care Manager
Laneita is a Registered Nurse with experience in cardiac, medical surgical, orthopedics, neurosurgery, operating room, trauma rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, nurse manager, Medicare compliance coordinator, and infectious disease and substance misuse population. Laneita joined Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in 1999 and created the trauma-informed care curriculum for the hospital, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and greater community. She expanded her role to CareNet to further her drive for cross-sector collaboration in trauma-informed care efforts. She currently is enrolled in Dominican University seeking her Master of Arts in Trauma-Informed Leadership.
Our Board of Trustees
Douglas Urland, MPA – Director of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health
Doug has a strong understanding of local public health including several parts of the state and North Carolina as a whole. His leadership is reflected in the positions he has held; his expertise in such areas as visioning, changing to meet the needs of 21st century public health and Public Health 3.0; and having served as president of the N.C. Association of Local Health Directors. He is committed to inclusive excellence and to adapting the outstanding NCIPH to the changing needs and landscape of North Carolina. Urland has been a local health director in North Carolina since 1995, serving in Greene, Caldwell and Catawba Counties. He also has worked as a facility director for Skill Creations, Inc., a company that provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; worked in case management with the United States Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons; worked in personnel management for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and taught classes as an adjunct instructor at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.
Rev. Gary R. Gunderson, MDIV, DMIN, DDIV (Hon)
Appointed in July 2012, Gunderson oversees spiritual care services for patients, families and Medical Center staff. He supervises six departments — CareNet Counseling, Chaplaincy and Clinical Ministries (which includes the Clinical Pastoral Education program), FaithHealth Education, Community Engagement, the Center for Congregational Health and FaithHealthNC. Recognized as an expert in congregations and health, he also nurtures the relationship with more than 4,300 Baptist congregations throughout North Carolina and other large networks of our patients’ faith groups.
Dr. Gunderson is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Convention. He has written four books used in seminary and public health including: Deeply Woven Roots (Fortress Press), Boundary Leaders (Fortress Press), Leading Causes of Life (Abingdon) and, most recently Religion and the Health of the Public (Palgrave/McMillian). He is happily married and has two daughters and two wonderful grandsons. His pastimes include tennis, hiking and woodworking.
Kevin P. High, MD, MS
Kevin P. High, MD, MS, is president of the Wake Forest Baptist Health system. As president, High is responsible for all aspects of the health system’s clinical administrative enterprise, Wake Forest Baptist Health, and overseeing operations, facilities, budget and clinical faculty/staff.
High joined Wake Forest Baptist in 1993 and has served in a variety of administrative, academic and research positions.
Michael Lischke, EdD – Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education Northwest Area Health Education Center
Michael is a 28-year veteran administrator and educator –holding the current titles of Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, Richard Janeway MD Distinguished Director of Northwest Area Health Education Center, Associate Professor Family & Community Medicine, and Adjunct Professor in the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity. Michael is recognized in the Piedmont Triad region and across the state of North Carolina as a community leader, a change agent, straight forward communicator and partner/collaborator.
Richard W. Lord, Jr., MD, MA
As Vice President of Primary Care and Population Health, Dr. Lord develops the strategic vision and organizational capabilities needed to implement population health management across the Wake Forest Baptist system and its clinically integrated networks. Across the region, he works with health services and agencies to build community and patient engagement with effective population health approaches and tools that will improve health and wellness, minimize care fragmentation and reduce care costs.
Terry G. Williams, MBA
Terry Williams is executive vice president and chief strategy officer of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. In this position, Williams formulates and executes overall business strategy, fosters strategic alliances, and promotes growth. He provides leadership regarding affiliations, business intelligence, partnerships, clinical integration development, joint ventures and management agreements.
Williams’ duties also include oversight of strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, clinical business development, health and wellness agenda and consumer product development.
Terry enjoys mission work, cycling and co-founded the Great Atlanta Youth Walk and a camp for foster, abused and neglected children. He has served on several community and health care related Boards. He and his wife Christie, have two sons, Austin and Logan.
Our Administrative Team
Donna G. Akers
CareNet Finance Coordinator II
Tracy Herrin
CareNet Accounts Specialist
Sheena Ingram, CPC-A
CareNet Accounts Specialist
sabrams@wakehealth.edu
Melissa Wilmoth
CareNet Accounts Specialist
mwilmoth@wakehealth.edu
©2023 Carenet | An affiliate of Wake Forest Baptist Health