Our Founders

  Board – President 

COO/Business Manager of Carpenter Primary Healthcare Prostate Cancer Survivor/Advocate

Ken, the husband of Dr. Terrell "Terri" Carpenter, is co-founder with her of Carpenter Pri1nary Healthcare, PLLC (CPH). Prior to taking this new career in healthcare, Ken completed Medical Billing and Coding in the Division of Career 

  Board – President 

COO/Business Manager of Carpenter Primary Healthcare Prostate Cancer Survivor/Advocate

Ken, the husband of Dr. Terrell "Terri" Carpenter, is co-founder with her of Carpenter Pri1nary Healthcare, PLLC (CPH). Prior to taking this new career in healthcare, Ken completed Medical Billing and Coding in the Division of Career Technology and Adult Education at Shelby County Schools to position himself to focus on business and office management at CPH while Dr. Carpenter focused on patient care. Previously, Ken was a tenured Associate Professor of Natural Sciences at Southwest TN Community College. He received numerous awards including the Farris Award for Outstanding Faculty of the Year, President's Award for Community Service and the Outstanding Service Award. During his tenure Ken published 3 laboratory manuals, two are still being used by students taking courses in anatomy and physiology.

Ken, a prostate cancer survivor himself since 2017, started his advocacy after repeatedly being sent into exam rooms to consult with and give support to those with high PSA numbers; individuals on a journey that would be entirely new and unimaginable to them. Often motivated by high numbers of prostate cancer deaths, Ken was inspired to go out into the community and to talk with and to help others, just as he was supported when he was first diagnosed. His goal is to remove the stigma of prostate cancer for All Men, and especially Black Men.  Ken joins with Dr. Carpenter as a perfect duo when speaking to men in the community to offer both a medical perspective and a survivor perspective/prospective.

 Secretary / Medical Advisor

Terrell “Terri” Cheatham-Carpenter, DNP, FNP-BC is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with 27 years of experience in family practice. Her career in high school as candy striper at the VA hospital. After graduating from high school, she went on to pursue a BSN from Tennessee State University in 1987. Sh

 Secretary / Medical Advisor

Terrell “Terri” Cheatham-Carpenter, DNP, FNP-BC is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with 27 years of experience in family practice. Her career in high school as candy striper at the VA hospital. After graduating from high school, she went on to pursue a BSN from Tennessee State University in 1987. She was employed at the Regional Medical Center-Memphis for 10 years as a staff registered nurse in various units such as medical­surgical, medicine ICU, surgical CU, trauma ICU, and ER.

Dr. Carpenter received an MSN from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis in 1997. In 2013, she received a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Union University. Her thesis project was featured and published in the NP & PA Peer Review Journal and focused on lifestyle modification of diet and exercise in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients.

In 2015, she fulfilled her dream to open Carpenter Primary Healthcare which focuses on patient care and community service. Her husband, Ken Carpenter retired and entered school to complete course work on medical insurance, billing and coding. Together, they became associated with the BBA-Memphis, SBA and TSBDC. They developed a business model that would allow her to focus on medical services and Ken on the business and office part of the practice.

Dr. Carpenter is the recipient of the 2017 National Coalition of the 100 Black Women ­Memphis Outstanding Service in the Field of Healthcare, the 2016 Tennessee Minority Small Business Association Business (SBA) of the Year Award, the 2016 Black Business Association-Memphis (BBA)Outstanding Business of the Year Award, the 2015 Black Business Association-Memphis (BBA) Outstanding New Business of the Year Award and the 2015 Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) Rising Star Award.

Treasurer

Charles Settle is currently employed by the Shelby County Assessor’s Office where he primarily account for participants in the Property Tax Incentive Programs. This brings him in contact with a myriad of companies and government agencies. Also, he is a founding partner of Legacy Land Development, LLC located in Memphis, TN. Their

Treasurer

Charles Settle is currently employed by the Shelby County Assessor’s Office where he primarily account for participants in the Property Tax Incentive Programs. This brings him in contact with a myriad of companies and government agencies. Also, he is a founding partner of Legacy Land Development, LLC located in Memphis, TN. Their first land development project yielded over 125 semi-custom homes. Multiple private builders along with various government agencies were involved in the development. Before his employment at the County Assessor’s office, Charles served as a manager

with FEDEX, where he received numerous awards including a divisional manager of the year award.

Holding a BS degree in Business Administration from Tennessee State University, Charles remains active with the University. He is a long-time member of the President’s Society, a support group of the university, Past Board Member of the National TSU Alumni Association and Past President of the TSU Alumni Association-Memphis Chapter. Further, Charles is an active member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church where he serves with the Scholarship and New Members ministries.

Charles believes education is a key to positive decision making. Serving as a board member of Prostate Education Awareness Council (PEAC-Memphis) is a channel to educate men on vital health issues. No other health concern is more exclusive to men than his prostate health. With relentless pursue of educating, funding, providing examination, diagnosis support; PEAC will ensure no man stands alone.

Medical Advisor   

 Dr. Walter Rayford is a board-certified urologist with extensive experience in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Rayford attended the University of Kansas where he received his doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry, and his Medical Degree in 1991. He completed general surgery training at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ka

Medical Advisor   

 Dr. Walter Rayford is a board-certified urologist with extensive experience in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Rayford attended the University of Kansas where he received his doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry, and his Medical Degree in 1991. He completed general surgery training at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and urology training at the University of Kansas. Dr. Rayford completed a urologic oncology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. He was certified by the American Board of Urology in February, 2002. Dr. Rayford is known for his commitment to improving the outcomes of prostate cancer patients through cutting-edge treatment options and personalized care. He is also involved in research aimed at addressing healthcare disparities in urologic oncology.