Dr. Melissa Ann Walker is a family medicine physician and the owner and founder of Carol Clinic for Family-Centered Healthcare in San Antonio, Texas. Carol Clinic is named for her late mother, Mrs. Carol Williams Walker. Dr. Walker’s mother suffered a stroke at the age of 53 and was hospitalized for greater than two years before her death. After her mother’s death, Dr. Walker’s initial desire to become a physician was reignited. She had previously placed her pursuit of medicine on hold to complete her graduate studies. After completing medical school and residency training, Dr. Walker returned to San Antonio to open the Carol Clinic. This name is also an acronym: C – Care, A– Attention, R– Respect, O– Oneness, and L – Loyalty. She believes these and so many other attributes were possessed by her mother. Dr. Walker strives to exemplify the same in the care of her patients.
Growing up in rural Louisiana, she saw firsthand the disparities in healthcare and the seeming lack of care shown by people of her community when it came to their health. Dr. Walker believes that the lack of education, not the lack of care, is the leading cause of her mother’s death and the poor outcomes of so many. She has made it her mission to provide education to not only her patients, but to the entire world. She travels both nationally and internationally providing care and education. Along with a team of twelve nurses, she journeyed with Destiny Ministries to Southern Africa and Botswana. While there, Dr. Walker and the nurses held medical clinics in the rural villages of Botswana. For her work, she received a personal note of recognition from the late Bishop Sarah Davis of the African American Episcopal Church. As an ambassador for the American Stroke Association’s Power to End Stroke campaign, Dr. Walker has traveled across the country doing talks on stroke prevention. She was the featured speaker for the San Antonio ASA’s concert featuring Kirk Franklin. Dr. Walker was also chosen to address the Congressional Black Caucus in Austin, Texas. For her work with the American Heart Association, she was the recipient of the J. Kent Trinkle Physician Volunteer of the Year. Specifically, for her work with the American Stroke Association, she was awarded the ASA’s Visionary Award. This award is given to an ambassador who has done the most to educate others and promote the cause of stroke prevention. Dr. Walker has appeared on Trinity Broadcasting Network’s (TBN)”Doctor to Doctor” show. Two of her segments on Colon Cancer and Diabetes brought many letters and emails from viewers across the Nation. She was also featured in San Antonio Medicine Magazine’s “A Day in the Life.”
Dr. Walker is the Founder of a caregivers’ conference called “Heal the Healer San Antonio.” This one-day symposium targets both formal and informal caregivers. This role Dr. Walker knows all too well; having been a caregiver for both her parents during their illnesses.
Join the NMA for an important webinar: “The Rural 50 – Ensuring Access in Rural America”
🗓️ December 9, 2025
⏰ 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
We’ll explore the impact of the new rural health fund under HR1, current implementation, political focus on rural health, and how YOU can get involved in addressing rural health disparities.
🎙️ Featuring:
• Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD – NMA 126th President
• Sara Singleton – Leavitt Partners
• Kathleen Nolan – Health Management Associates (HMA)
• Susan Ward Jones, MD – CEO, East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc.
Secure your spot today! 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Mfar3t
#NMA #RuralHealth #HealthEquity #AccessToCare #PublicHealth
❤️🎄 Holiday Heart Health Awareness
The holiday season brings joy, but also added stress, richer foods, and changes to our routines that can put extra strain on the heart. Black communities already face higher rates of hypertension and heart disease, making heart-healthy habits even more important this time of year.
The National Medical Association encourages everyone to protect their heart this season by:
✔️ Managing stress and prioritizing rest
✔️ Staying active — even short walks count
✔️ Choosing balanced meals and watching salt intake
✔️ Taking medications as prescribed
✔️ Limiting alcohol and avoiding smoking
Your heart deserves care during the holidays, too. 💪🏾❤️
Let’s celebrate the season while safeguarding the health of every heartbeat in our community.
#NMA #HolidayHeartHealth #HeartHealthMatters #HealthEquity #HealthyHolidays #KnowYourNumbers
💉🛡️ National Influenza Vaccination Week
📅 December 1–7, 2025
Flu season is here, and vaccination remains our best defense. Black communities continue to face higher risks of severe flu illness and complications, making prevention critical for protecting our loved ones.
The National Medical Association encourages everyone, especially older adults, pregnant people, young children, and those with chronic health conditions, to get their annual flu shot.
Here’s how you can take action this week:
✔️ Make a flu vaccination appointment for you & your family
✔️ Encourage patients and community members to stay protected
✔️ Share accurate information to combat misinformation
✔️ Stay home if you’re sick and practice healthy habits
Let’s work together to keep our communities strong, healthy, and flu-free this winter. 🧡💪🏾
#NMA #NIVW2025 #FightFlu #FluShotSavesLives #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #VaccinesWork
Across the country, pastors and ministry teams are navigating a moment where healthcare cuts, rising costs, and shifting benefits are directly impacting the families they serve. Many have shared the same concern: “We need clear guidance and tools we can use right now.”
That’s why the Cost & Coverage Collaborative (an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), the National Medical Association and REACH Beyond Solutions launched Standing in the Gap: Faith Leaders on Navigating Health, Access & Justice, a three-part webinar series specifically for the faith community. The goal is simple: equip leaders and allies of the faith community with the information, practical steps, and resources needed to help their congregations stay informed, covered, and cared for.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE NEXT CONVERSATION: Healing in Partnership — Faith & Health Collaborations That Work, takes place Monday, December 1 at 7:30 PM ET. This conversation will spotlight faith leaders leading innovative partnerships and community health initiatives as they share what’s working, the lessons they’ve learned, and how their models can serve as blueprints for others addressing their communities’ growing health needs.
Panelists:
Rev. Cynthia Hale - Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church
Rev. Danielle Ayers - Pastor of Justice, Friendship-West Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson - Senior Pastor, The Allen Temple Baptist Church
Register today at: https://bit.ly/4p9xETp
❤️🩹 December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month and December 1 is World AIDS Day
HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black communities, not because of behavior, but because of longstanding inequities in access to testing, prevention, and high-quality care.
The National Medical Association stands united in the fight to end the HIV epidemic, advancing health equity, supporting lifesaving treatments, and eliminating stigma that keeps far too many from seeking care.
Throughout this month, and especially on World AIDS Day, we honor those we’ve lost, uplift people living with HIV, and recognize the progress driven by science, advocacy, and community leadership.
Take action. Support health. Spread truth.
✔️ Know your status — get tested
✔️ Learn about PrEP & prevention options
✔️ Encourage treatment engagement + adherence
✔️ Advocate for stigma-free care for all
Together, we can build a future where every community is informed, supported, and thrives. ❤️🏥
#NMA #WorldAIDSDay #HIVAIDSAwarenessMonth #EndTheStigma #KnowYourStatus #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth
Join a community of over 50,000 dedicated African American physicians and professionals committed to making a positive impact on healthcare. Discover the benefits of NMA membership, access professional development opportunities, and become a part of a network dedicated to advancing health equity.
National Medical Association
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 800
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Phone: 202-347-1895
Fax: 301-495-0359
