Ophelia Garmon-Brown, MD, M. Div
Senior VP for Community Partnerships
Novant Health
Ophelia Garmon-Brown, MD, M. Div., is a woman with many gifts and talents. A physician, a minister, a volunteer, a leader — these are just a few of the hats that she wears in her daily work. But most of all, Dr. Garmon-Brown is a caregiver and advocate for the health and well-being of Charlotte community members and beyond.
Dr. Garmon-Brown was born in Detroit, Michigan. She has two children, LaShawn and Spenser, and she is a very proud grandmother.
Dr. Garmon-Brown has spent decades caring for others around the world. As a board-certified family practitioner and Vice President of Business & Community Partnerships with Novant Health (Presbyterian Hospital), she has touched the lives of thousands of patients from Charlotte, her home since 1980, to distant countries around the world in her work as a medical missionary.
Education and Professional Development
Dr. Garmon-Brown began her higher education at North Carolina Central University where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. After encouragement from one of her favorite professors and mentors, she decided to pursue a medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Garmon-Brown graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1980 and she began her internship and residency in family medicine at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. In doing so, she became the first African-American female resident in Family Medicine.
After completing her residency, Dr. Garmon-Brown became a physician and partner of Metrolina Family Practice for the next six years. She then joined the prestigious Nalle Clinic, a multi-specialty group of 137 physicians. In 1996, Dr. Garmon-Brown moved into a leadership role by taking the position of Medical Director of Nalle Clinic Urgent Care.
As she continued to excel in her career, she became the Medical Director of all Presbyterian Urgent Care Centers in 2000 and Medical Director of Presbyterian Company Care in 2001. In 2007, she was promoted to Vice President of Business & Community Partnerships as well as Novant’s Community Benefit Department. In 2012, she was promoted to Senior Vice President of Physician Services. Dr. Garmon-Brown also served as team physician for the Charlotte Sting. She currently is chair of the Presbyterian Hospital Ethics Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of Presbyterian Hospital as well as Novant Medical Group.
In 2003, Dr. Garmon-Brown returned to school to obtain a master’s in divinity. She graduated from the Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in fall 2007. Currently she is an active member of Myers Park Baptist Church.
Community Involvement
Armed with an insatiable appetite to help others, Dr. Garmon-Brown also is a leader in the community serving as Medical Director of the Charlotte Community Health Clinic, a free clinic for the poor and uninsured; formerly Medical Director of the health clinic at the Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s Shelter; and in her spare time, she also volunteers at the Charlotte Pregnancy Care Center.
Beyond helping those across the Charlotte region, Dr. Garmon-Brown travels the globe as a missionary delivering free care to those in need. Through her leadership in Kenya, where she has traveled numerous times over the past 11 years, she set up a mini-health clinic. Dr. Garmon-Brown also has done medical mission work in Uganda, South Africa, Guyana, Jamaica and other locales in the United States.
Awards
Dr. Garmon-Brown has received numerous awards for her dedication and commitment to serving the community. Among these honors are:
- My Hero Gala Award, Bobcats Foundation
- 2007 Charlotte Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award- Local Hero, Bank of America
- The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. National Sojourner Truth and Meritorious Service Award
- Brisbane Academy Golden Apple Award
- The Black Women’s Caucus Trailblazer Award
- Featured as one of Charlotte Magazine’s Top Docs
- 100 Black Men Greater Charlotte Chapter Excellence In Health and Wellness Award
- Zetas of Charlotte Heritage Award
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen’s Award
- National Women of Achievement Outstanding Humanitarian Award
- Nevins Center Nevinsway Award
- 2009 Women in Business Award, Charlotte Business Journal
- 2010 Charlotte Woman of the Year
- 2011 Thurgood Marshall Award of the Year
- 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from Wells Fargo and Charlotte Business Journal.
- 2012 Charlotte Catalyst, Uptown Magazine
- 2012 Family Physician of the Year, North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians
Organizations
In addition to her various professional and philanthropic positions, she also has a role with each of the following organizations:
- Board of Directors of Mecklenburg County Medical Society
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Investment Study Group
- 2010 President of Mecklenburg County Medical Society
- Member of Charlotte Medical Society
- Member of North Carolina Medical Society
- Member of American Academy of Family Physicians
- Member of National Registry of Who’s Who
- Queens University Board of Trustees
- Project Lift Governance Board
- Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation Board Member
- Charlotte Chamber Board Member
- NC Medical Society Foundation Board Member
Meet The BlackDoctor.org 2nd Annual Top Blacks In Healthcare Awards Honorees was originally published on blackdoctor.org
