CEO Tammi Sorrells named administrator of the year for Georgia
[Reprinted courtesy Big Canoe Smoke Signals]
By Wayne Tidwell
wtidwell@smokesignalsnews.com
Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center (GSHW) is having a great month of deserved recognition.
CEO Tammi Sorrells, has been awarded the Dale S. Chapman Administrator of the Year for the state of Georgia by the Georgia Primary Care Association.
GSHW also has been awarded Gold Status as an Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
And Good Samaritan’s Phase 3 addition and renovation was awarded the first place 2025 Build Georgia Award by the Associated General Contractors of Georgia, Inc., along with Cooper & Company who was the general contractor,
Steven Miracle, Georgia Primary Care Association Board (GPCA) Board of Directors, presented Sorrells with a plaque at the September 23 Georgia Primary Care Association annual conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead.
In presenting the award, Miracle said, “This award recognizes an administrator of a primary health care program for the achievement of excellence in leadership and administration and management resulting in the improvement and expansion of services in the community. Visionary, innovator, compassionate, exceptional, mission driven are some of the words to describe this year’s Dale S. Chapman Administrator of the Year recipient.”
Miracle said for ten years at the Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center Sorrells has successfully moved the organization from a single site free clinic to a drive-in multi-site.
“Under her leadership the organization has developed a very active and needed program with dental, vision and behavioral services programs,” he said.
This is the first time in Good Samaritan’s history that one of its leaders has received this award, marking an important milestone for the organization.
“We are thrilled to see Tammi recognized at the state level for her leadership,” said Jamie King, Director of Outreach and Development. “Her dedication to ensuring access to high-quality, compassionate care has strengthened not only Good Samaritan, but also the health of the entire community we serve.”
“Tammi’s journey with Good Samaritan has been transformative. She led the organization’s critical transition from a small free clinic to a fully designated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)—a monumental step that has allowed us to grow services, increase sustainability, and dramatically expand its impact,” King said. “Over her more than 10-year tenure, Tammi has not only built systems and programs—she has built a legacy. She secured the property and oversaw the design and construction of our current state-of-the-art facility, spanning over 25,000 square feet. This facility replaced a row of mobile trailers and a gravel parking lot, and now stands as a permanent, dignified space where patients can receive high-quality care. Her leadership brought the dream of a full-service health center into reality.
“Through her vision and persistence, our patient base has grown, and the community now has access to the kind of integrated care once thought impossible in this region.
Good Samaritan Chairman of the Board Steve Franzen said of Sorrell’s service, “Tammi has done a great job keeping things together at Good Sam. She juggles a lot of responsibilities with ease, and the outcome is always good.”
Sorrells has also worked diligently over the past five years to establish a school-based health center, which launched this fall as Dragon Care on the campus of Pickens Junior High School. Her dedication to serving those struggling with substance use is evident in her tireless outreach to grow the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program, offering life-changing and life-saving care.
“Every initiative she leads is grounded in compassion, community need, and long-term sustainability,” King said. “Her ability to inspire trust, rally resources, and drive meaningful progress makes her an exceptional leader and a true champion for health equity. I can think of no one more deserving of the Dale S. Chapman Administrator of the Year Award than Tammi Sorrells. Her impact will be felt for generations.”
At the September 15 Good Sam Golf Tournament at Big Canoe, Brad Herren introduced Sorrells to those attending the event.
“Under her leadership, Good Samaritan has achieved both State and Federal Gold ACE Status, an outstanding accomplishment that places the organization among the very best in advocacy and excellence,” Herren said. “Her dedication to ensuring access to quality care has touched countless lives in our community.”
Gold Status puts Good Sam in elite company
The Gold Status recognition as an Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is the highest level of recognition by ACE and reflects Good Samaritan’s strong commitment to advancing policies that protect access to affordable, quality health care.
“This is a first for Good Samaritan, and it speaks to the dedication of our staff, patients, and community,” said King, “Advocacy is essential to ensuring every patient has the care they deserve.”
Good Samaritan is now among a select number of community health centers nationwide recognized with Gold Status.
Dragon Care is a “School-Based Health Center” (SBHC). These are healthcare clinics based in or near schools that provide comprehensive health services, including primary and behavioral/mental health care. Georgia had over 120 SBHC’s operational in 2024. Dragon Care SBHC will also offer services to students, parents and siblings as well as staff of the Pickens County Board of Education, including sick visits, injuries, sports physicals, immunizations, preventative screenings, and behavioral /mental health.
The mission of Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center is to provide quality, compassionate, and complete healthcare for all in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
More information can be found at goodsamhwc.org.
