Dr. Ford is the founder and medical director of Internal Medicine Affiliates, a cutting-edge internal medicine clinic in Birmingham, AL whose motto is “We care for people not just disease”. Dr. Ford is one of the first five African American female graduates of the UAB School of Medicine and the first African American female to practice internal medicine in Birmingham. Dr. Ford is a board-certified internist whose special interest is in preventive medicine and healing with nutrition. These special interests tie in with her avocation as a ordain Minister. Dr Ford, a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., believes that only through pursuing and finding your purpose can a person experience true success or happiness. Dr. Ford found happiness and purpose in the work that she is doing in the Black Belt counties of Alabama. “The Black Belt: Alabama’s Third World” is the title of a special report written in the Birmingham News in 2002 that inspired Dr Ford and her husband, Henry, to co-found the Spirit of Luke Charitable Foundation. They sponsor “A Promise to Help,” Black Belt faith and wholeness initiative.
A Promise to Help (APTH) is a volunteer-based organization whose goals are to assist in eliminating healthcare disparities in the underprivileged, under served and underinsured populations of the Black Belt region. Once a month, on the first Saturday, Dr. Ford leads a team of volunteer doctors, nurses, ministers, healthcare professionals, media specialists, counselors, social workers, business leaders, skilled laborers, community activists and lovers of mankind on a mission to work toward accomplishing the goals of APTH. APTH, aided by their mobile medical van, sets up a mobile hospital on each mission and the members of the community can get a free medical exam, eye exam, dental exam, blood work, free medicine, free clothing, free food, a spiritual nugget and prayer. Over the past 17 years. APTH has had more than 8,755 volunteers participate, examined and treated over 8,213 patients, served nearly 26,156 plates of food, given away over 22,675 bags of clothes, given 5,025 gifts at Christmas to kids, passed out 4,450 book bags at their annual back to school rally and witness to 3,467 men, women and children who gave lives to Christ. APTH also has a community adoption program where churches in Birmingham adopt one of the communities in the Black Belt. Dr Ford, her husband and volunteers have done many wonderful things to bless the Black Belt communities, They have renovated an old school building and turned it into a community center, build play grounds in the communities, built a brand new Community Center, offer college tuition assistance to deserving students, and helped develop community gardens. This is just a sample of what Dr. Ford’s commitment has accomplished through APTH without an established funding source or budget but through the power of God.