Leadership Team

Harry M. Lightfoot, Jr. is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Whole Health Advocates, a healthcare company engaged in pursuing innovative solutions to address health inequity and enhance overall healthcare and wellness for patients and communities. With over 25 years of dedicated work towards achieving the highest standards in educational, clinical, and research endeavors, Dr. Lightfoot brings a wealth of experience to this mission.  He is a seasoned general, advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgeon and has an interest in health disparities.  He is dedicated to serving marginalized populations and recognizes the pressing need to advance health equity and inclusivity in today’s intricate, dynamic, and increasingly diverse healthcare ecosystem.  Serving in roles as mentor, educator, clinician, and active community member, he is confident in his ability to collaborate with other leaders and realizes the importance of addressing social determinants of health’s impact on patient access and care.

Dr. Lightfoot was born and raised in Washington, D.C.  He had the privilege of living in various developing countries as his father worked as a foreign service diplomat for USAID in Haiti, Rwanda, Niger, and Zambia.  Dr. Lightfoot’s educational path took him through Kent Preparatory School, where he excelled both academically and in sports.  After graduating from Tufts University, and having worked as the sole laboratory technician in a basic science lab at Georgetown University, he matriculated to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine.  He completed his surgical training and a clinical research fellowship in Surgical Oncology at UNC Department of Surgery.  Dr. Lightfoot joined the faculty of Duke University Medical Center as an Assistant Professor of Surgery after finishing his training in 2006.  In 2008, he relocated to Atlanta and launched his surgical practice with Wellstar Medical Group at Cobb Hospital.  Dr. Lightfoot’s dedication and expertise led to his nomination as the first Intuitive Robotic Surgery Epicenter for General Surgery in the Southeast Region, placing him among the top 1% of robotic surgeons based on successful patient outcomes and high surgical volume.  In addition, he received numerous awards for patient safety and was selected as Atlanta’s Top Doctor from 2017-2020 and Georgia Trend in 2021.  Dr. Lightfoot, while working in Durham, NC, served on the board of directors for the Lincoln Community Health Center and M-PowerHouse.

Whole Health Advocates is committed to the principles of highly reliable organizations and seeks to disrupt the healthcare ecosystem through collaborative efforts.   As a thought leader in the field of robotic general surgery, Dr. Lightfoot has established a distinct domain of expertise having trained fellow surgeons in the use of the da Vinci robotic system, developed training programs for surgeons, nurses, hospital staff and students and advised hospital leaders on strategies to establish and enhance robotic surgery programs.  His involvement in hospital specific strategic planning, as well as his work in developing outcome tracking methods to improve patient satisfaction and value, has honed his skills which he intends to leverage to address health disparities, healthcare access, and wellness.

Dr. Marshall, Co-Founder, brings a wealth of experience in clinical service development and operations. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Dr. Marshall has held pivotal roles, including serving as the “High Reliability Organization” Lead at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and as Chief of General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. His academic journey includes esteemed appointments in the Departments of Surgery at Georgetown University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A proud graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Marshall completed his medical training at Howard University College of Medicine. He is a board-certified Trauma Critical Care Surgeon, having completed rigorous training at Georgetown University Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh, Trauma/Surgical Critical Care.

Dr. Marshall’s passion for addressing health disparities is deeply rooted. With over 30 years of active duty and reservist service, including multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, he is committed to leveraging his extensive background in Medical Readiness Training. He has participated in many MEDRETEs (Medical Readiness Training Exercises) in Panama, Grenada, Jamaica, Belize and South Africa.

His focus extends to healthcare access, chronic care management implementation, and promoting health and wellness in underserved communities. Dr. Marshall’s dedication to improving healthcare outcomes is evident in his tireless advocacy and pursuit of holistic solutions.

Dr. Robyn Anderson is originally from Washington, D.C.  She is a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurosience.  She received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  Her internship and residency in Internal Medicine were at The John Hopkins Hospital.  She completed her training with a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at Cooper University Hospital.

Dr. Anderson has over 20 years of experience in adult medical care including outpatient primary care, hospital based care as a hospitalist, and intensive care unit management for the last 14 years.  She has also been named a Baltimore Top Doctor.

Dr. Anderson currently lives in Prince George’s County Maryland with her husband, the youngest of four children and two dogs.  She enjoys international travel, modern dance, and cycling.

Crystal L. Scott, MSN, RN-BC, LNHA, is the Chief Operating Officer of Whole Health Advocates. She has over two decades of experience in executive leadership in the healthcare industry. She received her Bachelor of Science Nursing degree at Howard University. She later received her Master Degree in Nursing Administration from George Mason University. She is currently the the Executive Administrator at Forest Hills of DC (FHDC) and Forest Side. In this role, she manages the operations of a comprehensive healthcare facility, encompassing a 130-bed skilled nursing facility, assisted living residence, and memory care community. Her impressive career has been marked by numerous national awards and recognition for her unwavering commitment to achieving excellence in quality healthcare.

In 2021, Crystal initiated the first groundbreaking Registered Apprenticeship Program in long-term care in Washington DC., responding to the workforce challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This innovative program, designed to recruit and retain front-line healthcare workers, has become a best-practice solution under her leadership. Crystal believes in the transformative power of the Apprenticeship Model and its impact on the long-term care workforce.

Beyond her role at FHDC, Crystal is the CEO of SummaPrime Healthcare, a company she founded to develop and train healthcare professionals. SummaPrime’s School of Healthcare, accredited in the District of Columbia, provides instruction, training, and support for career pathways. The school offers certifications for Nursing Assistants, with future training for the Medication Aid and Patient Care Technicians in acute care settings. Crystal’s ability to foster a culture of excellence and innovation has been instrumental in helping healthcare professionals navigate their professional journeys and reach new heights in their careers.

In addition, Crystal is known for her passion for quality improvements and seeks opportunities to enhance patient care, streamline processes, and optimize healthcare outcomes. She is recognized for her outstanding achievements, leading her organizations to national quality awards. In 2022, FHDC out of 15,000 nursing centers across the nation became one of 47 to be recognized as a 2022 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award recipient by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes providers across the nation that have demonstrated improved quality outcomes for staff, residents, and individuals with disabilities in long-term and post-acute care.

She is actively involved and has held various key roles in the District of Columbia Health Care Association (DCHCA), and the Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington D.C. Area Inc., Black Nurse
Collaborative (a founding member), the University of the District Student Board, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, and Gamma Beta Chapter of Sigma and other associations. In the past, she was recognized as the Nurse of the Year by the Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington DC Area.

Crystal L. Scott stands as a beacon of leadership, innovation, and dedication in the healthcare sector, making a lasting impact on the lives of those she serves and the broader community.

Deborah M. Banks, is a distinguished leader in the field of nutrition, renowned for her expertise in therapeutic counseling, community health initiatives, and advocacy for minority participation in clinical research. With a rich background in state, school, and community nutrition, Deborah brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chief Nutrition Officer at Whole Healthcare Advocates.

As a licensed dietitian and certified food safety professional, Deborah has dedicated decades to promoting holistic well-being and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering focus on client satisfaction.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Deborah is deeply engaged in community service and advocacy. She serves on the Morehouse School of Medicine Clinical Research Community Advisory Board, where she works tirelessly to increase minority participation in clinical trials and studies. Her active involvement in numerous research initiatives, including those focused on Alzheimer’s disease with Emory University, underscores her dedication to advancing medical research and addressing health disparities within minority communities.

Furthermore, Deborah is an enthusiastic participant in the Vanderbilt University and NIH All of Us (AOU) Participant Advisory Board, where she champions the initiative to accelerate health research and unlock new insights into personalized medicine. Her passion for this groundbreaking program exemplifies her commitment to driving positive change and fostering innovation in healthcare.

In addition to her professional commitments, Deborah is an entrepreneur and community leader, having founded Essence of Pearls Wedding & Event Planning and Sassy Lady Concierge Service. Her multifaceted experience and entrepreneurial spirit enrich her approach to nutrition advocacy, allowing her to engage diverse audiences and effect meaningful change.

Outside of her professional pursuits Deborah is her active in her church’s Health and Wellness Ministry. Her holistic approach to life and unwavering dedication to improving the health and well-being of others make her an invaluable asset to the team at Whole Healthcare Advocates.

Claude Tolbert has Board of Director experience with public, private, and nonprofit companies and currently serves on the board of directors of Utility Telephone and the Just Love Foundation. As a Director, he guides c- suite executives to balance corporate outcomes, community impact, and social responsibility. With a commitment to collaboration and engagement with diverse perspectives, Claude helps align business leaders across the corporate portfolio. Mr. Tolbert is a seasoned operator and translator of disruptive technologies. His industry experience spans telecommunications, software, and industrial goods and his functional expertise includes business development, organizational transformation, and supply chain management. He has led mergers and acquisitions, network expansion, operational scaling, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Tolbert understands technology and tech adjacent entities and how they can be positive while also causing indirect harm to communities.

Mr. Tolbert takes complex business problems and creates solutions incorporating individual contributors, senior management teams, and boards of directors to achieve success with an eye toward civic and community responsibility. At BitTorrent, he aligned stakeholders on a revenue strategy that required deal negotiation, engineering execution, and respect for the end user experience-scaling revenue from $3M to $30M annually. Claude trained as a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) after graduating from Harvard. With Covad Communications, he led a corporate turnaround resulting in a $50M swing in EBITDA on annual revenue of $500M.

Claude Tolbert embraces progressive leadership- forward-thinking, open-minded, and people-centered ways of work- while working with start-ups, the Fortune1000, and private equity and venture capital backed companies. He is the experienced operator that has navigated corporate reorganization through bankruptcy, participated in more than 20 M&A events, and managed the financial operation of a consumer software client which served more than 170 million monthly active users. Businesses face the continuing challenge of adjusting to changing market conditions and shifts in internal culture as they mature. Boards of directors are accountable for corporate governance and the delivery of long-term success. Directors must keep an eye on the future, be receptive to innovation, and balance risk as they navigate their fiduciary responsibilities. In his career, Mr. Tolbert has demonstrated these competencies and more.

His community includes the alumni of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and members of both the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.