All paths have led Christ Community Health’s new CEO to his current role.
Will J. Jackson III recently took over the helm of the faith-based health care center and is excited about what this position means.
“One thing I love saying is when I’m in a faith-based health center, I am all of me at work,” said Jackson who spent six years at Memphis’s Christ Community Health Services before coming to Augusta. The Augusta organization is modeled after the one in Memphis.
In his position, Jackson can integrate all of his strengths — much like the center which seeks to integrate complete care for the whole person including physical, mental and spiritual health.
Jackson, who has a master’s degree in health administration and 16 years working with federally qualified health centers, can use his degree, his health care experience and his love of data as well as his heart for ministry all in one place.
“It’s a fulfillment of what God has prepared me for,” said Jackson, a Columbus, Georgia native, who is returning to his home state with his wife and three children.
Christ Community Health was founded in November 2007 with a goal of helping underserved populations.
Its main site at 127 Telfair St. is a historic one with ties to Augusta’s rich medical history.
A Georgia state historical marker, which is located on the Greene Street side of the building, briefly tells that story. The building was constructed on the site of the city’s first hospital, providing for the “sick poor.” It later evolved into University Hospital, now Piedmont Augusta.
The Medical College of Georgia was also founded on the site.
Known as the Widows Home, the three-story building was constructed in 1887 and served as a home for Civil War widows. It was donated to Christ Community Health by businessman and philanthropist Clay Boardman.
Its 42 rooms were converted to offices, examining rooms and waiting room spaces.
The center offers “a broad scope of services,” Jackson said, providing care in areas such as family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health and pediatrics. It also offers mental health services and provides spiritual support.
The center proclaims the gospel of Jesus while providing “quality affordable health care,” he said.
The Olde Town site offers dental services.
In addition to the Telfair Street site, there are two locations on D’Antignac Street — one is a dedicated pediatric clinic and the other serves adult patients. There’s also a clinic on Peach Orchard Road, which offers pharmacy services through a partnership with Barney’s Pharmacy.
The pediatric clinic is the most recent expansion and is located near where the organization first began.
Jackson said he came to the area because he believes there are needs here, and he’s drawn to places with needs. One of his goals will be to determine how best Christ Community Health can better meet them – whether it’s through expansion of services such as low-cost dental, which he said it a huge need or through additional locations.
Christ Community Health takes health insurance, but it also receives some federal funding as well as grants and donations. It works with patients on a sliding payment scale for co-pays, which can be expensive, as well as other expenditures.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s a Georgia Press Association winner and the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
