The Empowerment Hour is excited to welcome back Pastor Eddie Bridgeman of Impact to share upcoming highlights Atlanta Family Caregiver Expo.(This episode was recorded in November 2025, before the 2025 Atlanta Family Caregiver Expo. For more information on upcoming expos, visit callforcaring.org)

About the guest:

Teacher, preacher and evangelist, Eddie Bridgeman, Sr has been an anointed servant of God in Atlanta, Georgia since 1989. He received a finance/business degree from Mississippi Valley State University and holds multi advance degrees from Millsap College, Jackson MS and Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY. Pastor Bridgeman was ordained in 1992 and commissioned as an associated minister at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, founding church of the 108 year old Hopewell Association of Churches, under the general president Bishop William L. Sheals. In 1997 he was assigned as Senior Pastor of Strong Tower Christian Ministries in Chamblee Georgia. He served this church plant for 11 years until 2009. Bridgeman also served as Associate Minister and CFO of Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, GA and currently as Care Pastor of Impact United Methodist Church, East Point, GA.

The Lewis siblings share their journey of caregiving from youth through adulthood.

About the guests:
Ferrell Lewis is a Shire Brave Award-winning caregiver and seasoned logistics professional whose life is a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and love. At just 19 years old, Ferrell made a life-changing decision, leaving college to care for his disabled mother and 12-year-old sister after a medical crisis left their family without support. With no caseworkers, extended family, or safety net, he became the nurse, chauffeur, cook, housekeeper, and sole wage earner working 12-hour overnight shifts so he could be home with his mother during the day.

His sister, who later nominated him for the national Shire Brave Award, calls him her superhero not because he saved the world, but because he gave up his own to come home. Over 17 years, Ferrell kept the family afloat, helped his sister attend and graduate college, and eventually returned to school himself, earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in Information Technology from Volunteer State Community College in 2016.

Today, Ferrell lives in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, just north of Nashville with his wife Jessica. He has built a successful career in logistics and operations, and he carries with him a rare depth of empathy, leadership, and determination forged by years of quiet, unseen caregiving.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee and a Vanderbilt University alumna, Dr. Feylyn Lewis grew up as a youth caregiver for her disabled mother. Her experience with caregiving, disability, and living life on the margins led her on a path of global research and advocacy. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work. Her research focuses on mental health and resiliency in youth and young adult caregivers, and she conducts research in the US, Europe, UK, and Australia. Dr. Lewis currently works as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she is responsible for providing vision, leadership and strategic planning for student affairs programming that delivers holistic wellness formal support services, student life and community engagement.

Outside of work, she serves as the Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Junior League of Nashville, a board member for the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and the Brighton and Hove Carers Centre (United Kingdom), and co-chairs the Congressionally appointed PCORI Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research Advisory Panel, and she sits on numerous other international advisory boards. She currently resides in Nashville where she continues to provide care for her mother.

Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs of Sonder Health Plans and the City of South Fulton joins the Empowerment Hour to share how her work in different roles meet to support family caregivers. This episode is sponsored by Sonder Health Plans.

About the guest:
Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs compassionately represents the residents of District 2 in The City of South Fulton. She has served in her role as councilwoman since the inception of the city in 2017. With a passion for health equity, she has advocated for over two decades to promote access to quality healthcare and wellness programs, particularly for senior populations in Georgia. As a city advocate, Councilwoman Gumbs focuses on fighting for equitable resources to allocate funding to our community's most pressing concerns, such as enhancing our environmental and traffic infrastructure, fostering strategic partnerships for economic growth, and advocating for transparent governance alongside our city leaders. Her achievements are a true testament to our community. With the support and trust of South Fulton residents, Councilwoman Gumbs remains motivated to lead with progress and compassion pushing The City of South Fulton to thrive, while truly cultivating a city on the rise. Sonder Health Plans is a Georgia-based Medicare Advantage insurance company focused on providing affordable and comprehensive healthcare options for Georgians. Their plans include dental, vision, and hearing benefits, making them a good choice for members managing chronic conditions like heart disease or diabetes. Sonder also offers specialized plans for specific health conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline.

The cost of healthcare can be scary and often a hindrance to receiving needed healthcare. During this episode of The Empowerment Hour our host is joined by Amy Niles, Chief Mission Officer of the Pan Foundation.

About the guest:
Amy Niles is a knowledgeable healthcare executive with a passion for growing sustainable
health organizations, advocating for patients, and building strategic partnerships to address
public health needs. As PAN’s Chief Mission Officer, she leads the organization’s education
initiatives, program development, clinical affairs, and advocacy strategy, while overseeing public
policy and advocacy initiatives, external relations, and marketing and communications.
She developed the framework for PAN’s national advocacy platform in 2013 and has been
leading the initiative ever since. As a result of her leadership and proactive analysis of the
legislative and regulatory environment, external stakeholders and policymakers have come to
view PAN as a thought leader and “go-to” resource. She has been quoted in The New York
Times, TIME, and HuffPost, and she has authored and co-authored numerous opinion pieces
and articles about Medicare reforms and affordability.
Amy believes that no one with a serious illness should have to worry about how to access and
afford treatment. She is motivated every day by the knowledge that she is working to fill gaps in
the nation’s healthcare system to support vulnerable populations, one person at a time.
She has previously helped lead successful startups and growth initiatives, including the Together
Rx Access program. She co-founded, developed, and served as President and CEO of the
National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC), which grew into a national clearinghouse
for women’s health information under her leadership. Amy has more than thirty years of
experience in health nonprofit leadership, including strategy, external relations, and board
governance, but her colleagues are most impressed by the way she leads with heart and her
dedication to every person PAN serves.
Amy also serves on the Board of the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board, an unincorporated
division within the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) and is a member of the
Center for Value-Based Insurance Design’s Advisory Board.

House calls are making a come back! Join the Empowerment hour host, Dr. Michelle Bolden, as she speaks with Christopher Payne III of CenterWell Geriatric Primary Care about a growing trend, CARE provided within the home.

About the guest:
Chris Payne, Associate Director of Growth and Marketing for the State of Georgia has been providing Value Based Care solutions for over 7 years in multiple markets across the United States. He has opened and supported the growth new senior medical centers in underserved senior primary care areas of Philadelphia, Detroit, St. Louis, Orlando and Atlanta, GA.

Chris Payne is a proven value-based healthcare sales leader with an inspiring and initiative-taking approach to creating patient mindshare and exceeding market revenue net growth outcomes through direct sales team management, Information Technology applications, Medicare Advantage programs, insurance relationship marketing, and cultural community government collaborations. 

Before entering the Value Based Primary Care medical industry, Chris worked in providing Federal Information Technology Solutions to Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, The Veterans Administration and National Defense Agency. Chris Payne has worked with multiple small disadvantaged and minority owned business within the Small Business Administration 8A Program successfully securing contracts for African American, Native American, disabled veterans, and Woman Owned small businesses.

Chris enjoys live music festivals and eclectic culture dining.

Welcome to the Call For Caring Empowerment Hour. Topic: The Care Team Matters. Dr. Michelle Bolden is joined by Pamela Johnson as they share their CARE team journey of supporting and advocating for their father. Listen in as Pam, Registered Nurse, shares her recommendations to create and maintain a CARE team utilizing family, friends and healthcare professionals.