About Us
Who Are We?
We’re a nonprofit healthcare organization poised to deliver full-spectrum primary care services for the people of Liberia. Covering everything from preventative services and prenatal care, to HIV services, ophthalmology, dental care, and more, we’re on a mission to provide quality care that meets the international standard despite the resource limited environment. We will also serve as an international site for rotation of medical students, residents, attending pharmacists, nurses, physicians, social services and other volunteers in medicine, looking to provide critical support to the underserved regions of the world.
Meet Our Team
Jimmette Brooks, MD
Founder and CEO
Dr. Jimmette Brooks, a current family medicine physician at Care New England in Rhode Island, is the passionate humanitarian physician behind the conception of TBCHC. She is a Ph.D candidate and also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Brown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Brooks was born in Monrovia, Liberia and grew up in diverse places including the United Kingdom, the Ivory Coast and Providence, Rhode Island. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Rhode Island College, followed by a Certificate in Modern Biological Sciences. She is a graduate of the St. George’s University School of Medicine. She was a chief resident physician during her family medicine residency at the Robert Wood Johnson/Barnabas Somerset Hospital in Somerville, NJ. Dr. Brooks completed a one-year curriculum of integrative medicine in residency which was done through the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She is passionate about leveraging her current medical experience in the US and abroad to help improve the lives of individuals in diverse global communities that are in need, by serving these communities.
Dr. Brooks is an industrious family physician with strong experience in primary health services. Her vision is our vision: to provide accessible, low-cost, and high-quality healthcare to the citizens of Liberia and beyond, including inpatient support and medical outreach services. “I believe that as global citizens, our health is interconnected, hence, working to improve access to quality health care and education in resource limited countries is a necessity that cannot wait for someone else to do.” “You and I are the change that we all would like to see happen.”
Nekpo Brown, M.S.
Board Treasurer
Nekpo Brown is a dynamic professional with over 15-years of experience in the field of finance and leadership development, carrying a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Science in Communication & Information Management from Bay Path College. She is presently a Business Analyst at MassMutual Financial Group, previously serving as the Quality Assurance Tester, and Change Agent Consultant. “I am passionate about applying my communications development and implementation experience with the Brooks Community Health Center as we work together to insert a medical infrastructure that Liberians desperately deserve.”
Kathleen C. Toomey, MD
Board Member
Dr. Toomey is a Hematology/Oncology physician in Somerville, NJ. She is a graduate of the University of Bologna School of Medicine in Italy. Her residency in Internal Medicine was done at St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick, NJ. She completed her fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at UMDNJ – Rutgers Medical School in NJ. Dr. Toomey is a passionate physician and is actively involved in the education of Family Medicine residents during their Hematology/Oncology rotation and cancer conference at the Robert Wood Johnson/Barnabas Somerset Hospital in NJ. “I chose this career to take care of patients with serious illnesses and provide all the resources available to help with this difficult journey. The most enjoyable aspect is the relationship that I develop with you and your family, and it’s an honor and a privilege to help you through this challenging part of your life. I strive to give you hope, no matter what the situation, encouragement where my worries are not conveyed, peace in all the decisions you make for yourself, reassurance for your family, and courage to do the difficult but necessary things for your health and well-being.”
Weayonnoh Nelson – Davies,JD
Executive Director, Economic Progress Institute
Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies is the Executive Director of the Economic Progress Institute, a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders. She was previously the managing attorney of Community Legal Aid’s (CLA) Worcester County offices, where she supervised several special projects including the Asian Outreach Project, the Medical-Legal Partnership pro bono project, the CORI/Reentry Project, and the Veterans Legal Assistance Project. She also co-chaired CLA”s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She started her legal aid career over 14 years ago as a Bart Gordon Fellow at South Coastal Counties Legal Services focusing on the cumulative effects of structural racism on communities of color. She specializes in general poverty law, medical-legal partnerships, public benefits, and housing law. She has served as a small group faculty and capstone project mentor of the Patient Care in Complex Systems Gateway Program at Brown University Medical School and taught a civic engagement law-based course as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Rhode Island. She is a proud alumna of the Rhode Island Foundation’s inaugural Equity Leadership Initiative, Leadership Worcester, the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute, and City Year Rhode Island. She received her Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law and undergraduate from Rhode Island College.
Florence Chukwuneke MSN, RN, APN, CNRN
Board Member
Florence is an advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her MSN/ NP degree from Rutgers the University School of Nursing. Florence holds National Board certification in Adult Gerontology Primary Care and Neuroscience Nursing with multiple years’ experience in providing health care to adult population. She maintains professional membership with American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners and American Academy of Neuroscience Nursing. She is currently working as the Stroke Program Coordinator of the Comprehensive Stroke in a large academic hospital in New Jersey as well as practicing as Nurse Practitioner at a Primary Care /Internal Medicine Clinic.
I believe that good health is priceless and preventative care is of utmost importance for health maintenance. My passion is to empower patients and families through health promotion education to prevent, treat and /or manage cardiovascular, neurovascular diseases and chronic comorbidities.
Florence is currently the President of New Jersey Stroke Coordinators Consortium, a statewide organization comprising of healthcare professionals from acute care hospitals and rehabilitation Institutions. She is an active member of the church and serves as an elder of Presbyterian Church, USA.
Brandis Belt, MD
Board Secretary
Dr. Brandis Belt received her academic and medical training at Stanford, Yale, and Rutgers Universities. She currently resides in New Jersey where she practices traditional academic family medicine. Her commitment to reaching across cultural, linguistic, and geographic barriers started after being accepted to do a year of high school in France. Since then, she has worked and lived in Germany, El Salvador, Gabon, Belize, and Malawi. She is an avid learner of languages, and her favorite hobby is reading fantasy series in French, Spanish, or German. She continues to seek interdisciplinary answers to the intersection of medicine and humanism. She strongly believes a global society free from severe poverty and other dehumanizing forces is within reach if we choose to devote our talents and resources to this goal.
Amirali Merati M.ARCH, M.UD, M.SC
Architect
Amirali is an architectural and urban designer with more than 15 years’ experience in the discipline. He is a graduate of Tehran universities and Columbia University, holding a Bachelor and Master of architecture, a Master of urban design and a Master of science in advanced architectural design. He is currently residing and employed as project architect in New York. As a designer, Amirali has a strong and robust background. His experience ranges from small private structures to public buildings which enables him to design contexts sensitive facilities for high-end urban neighborhoods as well as low-tech rural communities with restricted budget.
Ellen Miller, BBA
Board Member
Ellen K. Miller was born in Liberia. She is a graduate of the University of Liberia who continues to enrich and broaden her knowledge by doing ongoing Continued Education Courses including Poetry Writing at Brown University.
Ms. Miller is a professional with 34 years of experience, working in the field of Mental Health and Disability as Program Coordinator at ReFocus, Inc. She is a Community Organizer, and an Advocate for Mental Health and Disability. Ms. Miller’s driven force is her desire to teach, assist, and model skills and behavior that enrich the lives of the clients with unique stories waiting to be heard. She believes that in her profession, one of the most important aspects of her job is to love and respect the clients and treat them with care and dignity.
Ellen is currently a Board Member at ReFocus, Inc. She is also a Poet and a Writer. Some of her works are waiting to be published soon. A few of them include the following: Visionary Woman, If I Could, Alphabet Of Relationship, The Lonely Path, Aging Gracefully, Time Stood Still, and, Language Of Love.
Ms. Miller perception on life is that every field of profession is inter-related. The goal is to serve humanity, be an attentive listener with compassion, empathy and ensuring that client well-being is the utmost priority.
Emmanuel Kizekai B.Sc. M.Sc.
Board Chair
Emmanuel obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with honors from Rhode Island College and Master of Science in Clinical Chemistry from the University of Rhode Island. He has over 15 years’ experience working in the biotechnology industry where he has worked on antibodies targeting rheumatoid arthritis, metastatic breast cancer, colorectal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. Emmanuel is very passionate about early childhood vaccination, early cancer screening and health education. He is an avid tennis player who takes pride in training kids develop skills on the tennis court. A mentor to several youths helping them foster good behavior and prepare for college.
Mariel Phillip, D.C.
Board Member
Dr. Mariel Phillip is a healer, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for accessible healthcare. As a Board-Certified Chiropractic Physician, she has spent over a decade helping individuals achieve optimal wellness through her practice, Heart Chiropractic and Wellness. But her vision extends far beyond her clinic doors—Dr. Mariel believes that quality healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.
Dr. Mariel’s journey into holistic health began at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Biology and discovered her passion for Complementary Alternative Medicine. She later honed her skills at the University of Bridgeport’s Chiropractic College, where she became a leader in patient-centered healing. Today, her practice is known for blending top-tier service—redefining what a healthcare visit should feel like.
Dr. Mariel’s leadership extends far beyond her business. She has received multiple citations from the local community for her commitment to health education, public service, and small business excellence. A graduate of a distinguished leadership program, she continues to use her expertise to mentor and uplift others.
Her experience in healthcare, business, and community service makes her an invaluable asset to this project. More than anything, she is committed to ensuring this hospital becomes a place of healing, hope, and transformation for those who need it most.
She is excited with her new role as a board member for The Brooks Community Health Center in Liberia, West Africa because it carries a deeply personal meaning. As a first-generation daughter of a Liberian, this project represents an opportunity to give back in a profound way—creating access to quality healthcare in the region.
When she’s not working or serving the community, Dr. Mariel enjoys physical activity, reading, discovering new plant-based recipes, and belting out her favorite songs during car karaoke sessions with anyone who is adventurous.
Our Values
As a nonprofit organization, we value honesty, integrity, transparency, and philanthropy here at TBCHC. We’re committed to a totally open healthcare process, developing a system that is fair and accessible to every single resident in Liberia, regardless of their age, creed, ethnicity or socioeconomic background. We hope to treat all that come through our doors with dignity and professionalism.
