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.
April is National Minority Health Month, and this year's theme is "Advancing Commitments to Eliminate Health Disparities."
At the National Medical Association, we reaffirm our dedication to championing policies and practices that bridge health gaps in minority communities. By fostering trusted Black physician leadership and advocating for equitable healthcare, we strive to turn commitments into actionable change.
Join us in this vital mission to create a healthier, more equitable future for all. 🩺
#NMA #MinorityHealthMonth #AdvancingCommitments #HealthEquity #BlackHealthMatters #NationalMedicalAssociation
🌟 Honoring a Trailblazer in Medicine & Public Health 🌟
Join us in celebrating Dr. Doris Browne, 118th President of the National Medical Association, as she is recognized at the National Consumers League Spring Soirée 2025 for her extraordinary contributions to vaccine education, equity, and progress.
🗓️ Tuesday, April 8 | 🕕 6:00 – 8:00 PM
This evening will celebrate champions of evidence-based care, affordable medicine, and patient rights — and Dr. Browne’s legacy of leadership and impact in advancing health equity is truly unmatched. 👏🏾🩺
Congratulations, Dr. Browne! 🎉
#DorisBrowneMD #SpringSoiree2025 #HealthEquity #VaccineEducation #WomenInMedicine #PublicHealthChampion #BlackExcellence #NCL #ScienceHealthFacts
Today—and every day—we honor the dedication, compassion, and excellence of our physicians who work tirelessly to advance health equity and uplift communities.
At the NMA 2025 Colloquium, we were proud to stand alongside so many incredible doctors leading the charge in advocacy, policy, and care.
Here’s to our members and colleagues across the country who heal, inspire, and make a difference every single day. Thank you for all you do! Happy National Doctors’ Day!
#DoctorsDay #NMADoctors #BlackDoctorsMatter #HealthEquity #NMAVoices #NMAColloquium2025
Celebrating Leadership, Legacy & Impact
This #WomensHistoryMonth and #NationalDoctorsDay, the NMA proudly honors our President, Dr. Virginia A. Caine — a powerhouse in public health and a champion for health equity.
As a nationally recognized infectious disease expert and Director of the Marion County Public Health Department in Indianapolis, Dr. Caine has dedicated her career to eliminating health disparities and improving the lives of underserved communities.
Her leadership within the NMA and beyond exemplifies the power of women in medicine driving change, advocating fiercely, and inspiring generations to come.
We salute you, Dr. Caine! 👏🏽💪🏽
#WomensHistoryMonth #NMAStrong #BlackWomenInMedicine #PublicHealthHero #LeadershipMatters #VirginiaCaineMD #NMA75
Celebrating the incredible legacy of Dr. Vivian W. Pinn this #WomensHistoryMonth!
Dr. Pinn, MD, made history as the 2nd Black woman to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1967. She broke barriers as the 1st African-American woman to lead a pathology department in the U.S. and served as President of the National Medical Association.
As the first full-time director of the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health, she advanced women’s health research and inclusion in clinical trials. Dr. Pinn’s impact continues to inspire countless physicians, scientists, and researchers.
Her legacy lives on through numerous accolades, including the renaming of UVA’s medical research building to Pinn Hall in her honor.
#NMA #Legacy #Physician #Visionary #History
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.
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