MACON, Ga. — Growing up in west Macon, Latora Williams says she always felt the need to be a part of her community.
"I volunteered quite a bit with Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity. I made sure that I went out into my local neighborhood and worked with some of the elders there, just to make sure they were taken care of," she said.
It didn't take long to find her passion for helping others.
After graduating from Central High School, she knew she wanted to be in healthcare.
"I started off with nursing at Kennesaw State and once I fell in love with that, I talked to my advisers there, and I went on to decide that I wanted to go on to medical school and pursue a career as a physician," she said.
She went to Ross University for medical school and finished her clinical training in Maryland.
15 years later, she's bringing everything she's learned, back to the people at home.
"This is where my heart is. I want to take care of the people in my community. The people that I grew up knowing. I want to take of people that look like me. I want to take care of people that gone through the struggles I've gone through. This is where I wanted to be, no doubt about it," Williams said.
She's a Family Medicine Resident at Navicent Health.
She credits her Bibb County science and literature professors for supporting her goals.
"I think Bibb County has everything that it takes to give you a good foundation. I think having the teachers there that are very supportive and actually love their job, they enjoy teaching. Several of my classmates have gone back into the school system to help teach, so I know you're getting quality education now," she said.
She's setting an example for the students she used to be.
"As long as you do your part, the school is doing their part, and you can get to be, wherever you want to be," she said.
Williams says Navicent Health was her first choice during the match process for residency.
Williams plans to pursue a geriatric fellowship to help the elderly. Her ultimate goal is to own her own small practice here in Macon.
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