Comprehensive and Compassionate Care.
Call us today: 1-877-647-6363.Our team of providers includes Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Dentist, Mental Health Counselors and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. We also have clinical support staff, case managers, and community health educators to provide comprehensive health services for you and your family.
Angela Albero, PA-C, MMSc
Angela Albero, Affinity Health Center's Chief Medical Officer, is a certified Physician Assistant with over 19 years of experience practicing medicine in a variety of fields including emergency medicine, urgent care and primary care. Angela graduated cum laude from Cornell University with her Bachelor of Arts in Biology and received her Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate studies from Yale University School of Medicine. Prior to joining Affinity Health Center, she worked for Atrium Health Care where she earned the Teal Acorn Award for APP Leader of the Year in 2020, was a finalist for APP of the Year award in 2019 and nominee for the Pinnacle Award in 2020. She enjoys providing evidence-based high-quality care and educating patients about symptoms, diagnoses, and preventive health in the hope it will enable patients to feel empowered to make healthcare and lifestyle decisions for a long and active life. She is married with three children and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family hiking and enjoying nature or quiet time reading.
Dr. J. Craig Charles
Dr. J. Craig Charles, Affinity Health Center’s Medical Director, is an Internal Medicine physician with a specialty in Infectious Diseases. He has been instrumental in Affinity’s growth and has been caring for patients here since 2001 as a contracted Infectious Disease Specialist for Catawba Care. Dr. Charles attended University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Alabama School of Medicine and Wake Forest University. He is a former Hospitalist at Piedmont Medical Center and has been in practice since 1998. He lives in Rock Hill.
Dr. Chika Agnes Akamnonu
A Gold Medal Award winner in her Dental School graduating class, Dr. Chika Agnes Akamnonu is a vastly experienced dentist who has practiced for many years in the United States and overseas. Originally graduating with a BDS as a Dentist in the British system, Dr. Chika did the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists in New York University New York where she obtained a Doctor of Dental Surgery, DDS. She did her Residency in General Practice Dentistry at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Bronx, New York obtaining a Certificate of General Practice Dentistry. She practiced dentistry for many years in Northeast USA before relocating South to join Affinity Health Center in Rock Hill, SC. The soft-spoken Dr Chika loves dentistry, enjoys the camaraderie with her teammates, and passionately treasures the trust and satisfaction of her patients. Dr. Chika enjoys reading an traveling. She is happily married to her college sweetheart Dr. Oliver Akamnonu, a physician and author, they are blessed with four adult children, who have followed the family's Medical and Dental profession.
Julie Blackman, CNM
Julie Blackman, Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), was born “down under’ in Australia and moved frequently with her diverse and large family, finally settling in North Carolina at the age of 15. Julie attended North Carolina State University originally as a biology major, then transferred to East Carolina University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1997. She worked in a variety of clinical settings and research with a focus on women’s health for 10 years. After getting married, she officially pursued her career in advanced practice nursing and received her Master of Science in Nursing with concentration in midwifery from East Carolina University in 2007. Prior to joining Affinity in May of 2017, Julie worked as a CNM at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, NC for approximately 8 years managing prenatal care and providing gynecologic services. She and her husband reside in Fort Mill with their two children.
Darlene Christmon-Washington, APRN
Darlene is an Indiana native and completed her psychiatric training at IU in Indianapolis, IN. As a psychiatric APRN, she has spent the last 10 years working at the VA where she proudly cared for the psychiatric needs of our veterans. She is excited about moving to the Carolina’s and looks forward to warmer weather and southern hospitality. She graduated from the IU school of nursing with a B.S.N. in 1993 and completed her MSN and psychiatric training at the IU school of nursing with a board certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist in 2007. As an RN, she cared for oncology patients at the IU Simon Cancer center where she was certified as both an oncology nurse and also as a research coordinator working with clinical trials in GYN cancers. She is grateful for the many patients she has cared for over the years and feels blessed to be given the opportunity to care for those who come to Affinity Health Center for their physical and mental health needs.
Nicole Cronquist, LPC-A, ADC-IP
Nicole Cronquist is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) and Alcohol and Drug Counselor-In Process (ADC-IP). Originally from Minnesota, Nicole moved to South Carolina in 2018. Her academic journey began at Liberty University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2021 and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2023. Nicole completed both her practicum and internship with Affinity Health Center, where she developed a strong appreciation for the integrative care model and found fulfillment in working within the community health setting. She officially joined the team as a Behavioral Health Counselor in 2024. With experience in both inpatient and outpatient substance abuse settings as well as mental health therapy in group and individual formats, Nicole employs a person-centered, holistic approach. She aims to meet clients where they are and create a safe, nonjudgmental space for them to be their authentic selves. Nicole is dedicated to helping her patients find purpose and hope amidst their pain and struggles. Outside of her professional life, Nicole enjoys horseback riding, getting away with her significant other, hiking and reading.
David Hensel, Jr., LPC, AADC
David Hensel Jr. is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He was born and raised in Indian Land, SC before moving to Rock Hill, SC in 2019. David completed his undergraduate studies at the College of Charleston in 2013 earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and his graduate studies at Liberty University earning his Master’s Degree in Licensed Professional Counseling in 2019. David’s professional experience includes Substance Abuse Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, SBIRT counseling, and Applied Behavior Analysis. He has provided care in a multitude of treatment settings including Inpatient and Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Hospitals, Schools, In-Home therapy, and Private Practice Outpatient Clinics. David’s preferred treatment modalities include Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. David is truly passionate about helping members of the community from all walks of life and working alongside them on their journeys of healing and personal growth.
Patricia Jones DNP-BC, PMHNP
Patricia was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She lived in various parts of North and South Carolina throughout her childhood and spent several years in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. She worked in rural Lancaster for several years then decided to return to school to get her Doctorate from Francis Marion University. Patricia is passionate about mental health and wanted to gain more education so she could better serve her community. She attended Gardner Webb University and received Post Doctorate Certification from Gardner Webb University and is currently dual certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner as well as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Patricia is passionate about helping men, women, college students, teenagers and younger children with mental health concerns. She is trained in all mental health disorders as well as ADD/ADHD. She likes to combine a mind/body/spirit treatment method to help improve outcomes. Patricia also provides services to help with weight loss. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and serving the community with her church.
Dr. Khadijah Kelly
Dr. Khadijah Kelly, a dedicated and compassionate dentist committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. With a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and experience serving diverse communities, she specializes in delivering comprehensive oral healthcare tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Her approach combines the latest advancements in dentistry with a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring that every visit is comfortable and stress-free. Whether you need routine dental care, restorative treatments, or personalized guidance on maintaining a healthy smile, she is there to support you on your journey to optimal oral health. When not in the clinic, she enjoys listening to music, spending time with friends and family and traveling.
Stephanie Neal, MSN-FNP
Stephanie Neal is an Advanced Practice Practitioner here at Affinity Health Center. She has provided health care in both urgent and primary care settings, encompassing all age groups. She completed her Nursing degree at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree at Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds a national board certification with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) as a Family Nurse Practitioner. As a dedicated provider, Stephanie eagerly attends continued medical education conferences to stay current on the latest treatments and advances in healthcare. In her spare time, she fundraisers for several children’s health organizations. Also, as a chapter president of a Chi Eta Phi Nursing Organization, she can frequently be seen volunteering at healthcare events in the South Carolina/North Carolina area.
Dr. Shervon Pierre, MD
Dr. Shervon Pierre, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician with over 15 years of experience. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she was raised in Maryland and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hood College in Frederick, MD. She then obtained her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., followed by completing a family medicine residency at Southern Regional AHEC in Fayetteville, NC. Dr. Pierre specializes in comprehensive family medicine, providing preventive care, managing acute illnesses, and treating chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, and COPD. Passionate about serving underserved communities, she has dedicated much of her career to working in Community Health Centers. Dr. Pierre remains committed to making a meaningful impact in the Rock Hill community through her work at Affinity.
Shaylo Reyes, PA-C
Shaylo was born in Puerto Rico but raised by parents who immigrated from the Dominican Republic. She grew up in Washington Heights in the upper west side of Manhattan which is an underserved community of mainly Latinos and African Americans. She graduated from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology/Cytotechnology. Shaylo practiced as a Cytotechnologist for 10 years before moving to North Carolina to attend Physician Assistant school. Shaylo is a board certified Physician Assistant who graduated with a Master’s degree from the first class from Lenoir Rhyne University in 2018. Her upbringing in the underserved community fuels her passion for providing compassionate care for people of the same backgrounds.
Rachel Roberts, PA-C
Rachel Roberts grew up in Cramerton, NC and is thrilled to be working as a board-certified Physician Assistant at Affinity Health Center, so close to her hometown. She received her master’s degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and during that time was awarded the National Health Service Core Scholarship. Rachel’s volunteer work includes tutoring while in school, helping in underserved clinics, and participating in programs with autistic children. She is a member of both the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the NC Academy of Physician Assistants, as well as maintains her national certification with the NCCPA. Prior to PA school, Rachel received her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from UNCG and performed professionally in New York City until 2017. She can still be seen doing the occasional community theater show locally. She looks forward to working closely with the team at Affinity to provide comprehensive care to the underserved in our community, helping to not only balance health inequity but also bring a smile to her patients' faces.