by Dr. Veronica Wiltshire
photos by: JEJ PHOTOS
As a pediatrician, I always say that taking care of a child means taking care of their entire world. Their health is shaped not only by what I hear when I place a stethoscope to their chest, but by what happens beyond the clinic walls, as well. It is based on what they eat, how they sleep and whether or not they feel safe, supported and loved. It is shaped by their homes, their schools, their neighborhoods and the systems that surround them. Caring for a child means caring for their world. When access exists, when families feel seen, valued and supported, health isn’t just improved, it is transformed for generations.
I was born in the beautiful country of Guyana and moved to New York when I was 13 years old. From an early age, I understood the importance of community, shared responsibility and the strength that comes from supporting one another. That foundation guided my path into medicine. I attended Ross University School of Medicine and completed my pediatric residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. I have been practicing pediatrics since 2011, and from day one, my career has been rooted in community health. I have served in Federally Qualified Health Centers as both a pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer – roles that allowed me to care, lead and advocate not only for children but for entire communities, as well.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I served as Chief Medical Officer at a community clinic in New York. It was one of the most challenging seasons of my career and also the most defining. I had to stand firmly as a voice for my patients, my clinicians and the neighborhoods we served. I saw firsthand how social determinants like housing, food access, transportation and insurance barriers shape health outcomes long before a patient steps into a clinic. That experience cemented my lifelong passion – to advocate for health equity, to fight for access and to make healthcare truly reachable for every child, every family and every community. And that is why my work as a pediatrician at Atrium Health One Health is special. Every child deserves a chance to thrive. At One Health, care is reimagined through equity, access and compassion. Access to care is not just a convenience. It is the beginning of health, hope, equity and generational change.
Why One Health Rural Hall is Special
Every parent wants the best for their child. I meet mothers, fathers and grandparents who sacrifice, work long hours, rearrange schedules and travel miles because they love fiercely. Often, they don’t need more motivation, they need more access. At Atrium Health One Health Rural Hall, access is exactly what makes it unique. Our clinic offers both primary care and urgent care. Families can be seen for wellness visits, chronic conditions, school physicals, sports forms or unexpected illness, all in the same place. As a pediatrician, I am grateful to serve in both capacities, especially when a child needs care quickly or a last minute appointment stands between them and school or sports. One Health Rural Hall also has compassionate and kind family medicine clinicians who care for both children and adults, allowing whole families to receive support under one roof. Having this opportunity to take care of the whole family at the health center matters because healthcare should fit into a family’s life, not the other way around.
Whole-Person Care, Rooted in Equity
One Health is guided by a principle that speaks to my soul – Reimagining Care. Restoring Trust. Transforming Medicine. At One Health, we don’t just treat problems, we remove barriers. We recognize that a patient’s health is affected by transportation challenges, access to healthy foods, stable housing, financial strain and emotional well being. One Health brings together medical care, mental health support and community partnership, so families don’t have to fight for care alone. No child should ever be turned away because a parent is short on funds. No family should have to decide between groceries and a doctor visit. I have seen children receive care here even when payment was uncertain, and that is what healthcare with dignity looks like.
To Me, Medicine Has Always Been Community
I believe that if we truly want to improve healthcare in our communities, we have to work together. Healthcare is a collective responsibility which is why I stay deeply connected beyond the exam room. I currently serve on the board of directors for the Community Care Clinic and the board of directors for the Mental Health Association of Forsyth County. I am also a part of the executive committee for the Healthy Forsyth Coalition and participate in various local health equity organizations. These spaces allow me to advocate for patients, amplify community voices and work on long term solutions that improve the lives of families who may never meet me but who will feel the impact. We know that healthy children become healthy adults and that healthy adults build healthy families. Healthy families strengthen entire communities. However, being “healthy” starts with having access, and having access starts with us. We must make care possible for everyone.
Gratitude, Purpose & The Future Ahead
My family and I relocated to Forsyth County in July of 2021. We have received a lot of support and love since being here. We love being a part of this community. Forsyth County is our home now. The children I meet daily are very special to me, and I am honored to serve them, whether it is welcoming newborns into the world, helping teens find their confidence, supporting parents through late night fevers or the first day of school nerves. It is a privilege I do not take lightly. At One Health Rural Hall, we are not just treating illnesses. We are nurturing potential. We are expanding access. We are building healthier futures, one child, one family, one community at a time. And I am grateful to be part of the story.
