Erica Stokes joined Saint Joseph’s Health System five years after Mercy Care began to serve the poor and underserved in the community. She was working as a part-time payroll clerk while pursuing a degree in accounting. After graduating, Erica was invited to apply for an accounting position on a team that also handled the books for Mercy Care.

Soon, Mercy Care’s growth led President Nancy Paris and the leadership team to create a grants accountant position specifically for Mercy Care. Erica saw the opportunity this could bring. She applied and got the position.

“It was during my time as grants accountant that Mercy Care stopped being just one of the ten or so health system entities, and instead became an entity I could see, feel, touch, and eventually fall in love with,” Erica said.

She was able to hire a team as Mercy Care added new service lines, billed for services when possible, and managed more clinics sites. As Mercy Care grew, so did Erica from accounting manager to director; and then vice president to chief financial officer.

“As I completed my college education and earned my CPA license, I also witnessed Mercy Care grow, evolve and cement itself as a trusted partner in the community,” Erica reflected.

Throughout the years, Erica watched Mercy Care meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness and underserved communities in the metro Atlanta area. “I have seen Mercy Care grow from a few employees to over 200; and go from renting space on 11^th street in Midtown to owning property on Decatur Street and in Chamblee,” Erica said.

“I have seen our patient services go from medical services to chronic disease management to dentistry, vision, and behavioral health. I have seen our fleet of vehicles grow from one mobile coach and a couple of vans to two mobile coaches and a whole fleet of vehicles. I have seen our CHOP team’s efforts go from screenings to Street Medicine; and our budget from $5 million to $25 million.

“Mercy Care has had and continues to have great leadership,” Erica says. “Leadership steered Mercy Care into becoming a beacon of light for the poor and underserved people we encounter every day,” said Erica.