Tanisha Collins-Johnson –A Servant’s Heart to Help Others

By Kathy Gaillard

            Tanisha Collins-Johnson has spent most of her life working in health care in some capacity. She is currently employed by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, in partnership with C. H. Mason Health Clinic, as its Project Manager.

            Growing up in Milwaukee, watching her single mother work and juggle caring for six children—three girls and three boys—Tanisha developed a strong work ethic.

            “My mother took care of us the best she could, and my siblings did what we could to help ease her load. I started out working at St. Joseph’s Hospital part-time in the cafeteria, while also working part-time at Walgreen’s Drug Store. Walgreen’s has a program that pays for employees to become pharmacy technicians, so I took advantage of it. I’ve been working in some capacity of health care since then,” she said.

            A teen mom, Tanisha attended Shalom High School. She also attended Waukesha County Technical College, where she earned an Associate’s degree in Human Services. A first-generation college graduate, she continues to pursue her education through American College.

            After completing training as a pharmacy technician, Tanisha transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital Pharmacy where she worked for seven years.

            “My passion is to serve and educate others who may not have the educational resources or understand how to navigate the health care system,” said Tanisha.

            Prior to covid, Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ, under the late Bishop Sedgwick Daniels, relaunched the C.H. Mason Health Clinic. Through a partnership with now-defunct St. Michael’s Hospital, parish nurses primarily ran the clinic. During covid, the clinic shut its doors.

            “We were able to re-launch the C. H. Mason Health Clinic, through grants and a partnership with my current employer, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wisconsin,” said Tanisha.

            The C. H. Mason Clinic is free to the community. It is open Monday through Friday and is staffed by a nurse practitioner, nurses and clinical support staff. Doctors are on staff Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  and on Fridays, from

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On average, about 40 people a week access services at the clinic.

            Dr. Kemba Banyard, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Practice Nurse Practitioner, also runs a weight loss management program at the clinic. The program focuses on healthy lifestyle, and even serves a healthy lunch, through one of their more popular initiatives called “Healthy Lifestyles Lunch and Learn.”

            “During ‘Lunch and Learn,’ which meets every fourth Tuesday, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., some 50 to 60 people attend. We address important health topics such as diabetes, obesity, and depression. We also offer blood pressure screenings, annual checkups, glucose screenings, and provide a number of other screenings, vaccinations, and services.

            “Health is the key to success. If we have a healthier community, we will have healthier families. Providing access to health care goes a long way in helping individuals value healthier lifestyles and enables them to be successful in whatever they pursue,” she said.

            Tanisha is grateful for the encouragement she received from her mother, Joanne Collins, and her ‘number one’ encourager and husband, Christopher Johnson.

            “My mother always told me to go after my dreams, believe in myself and always trust God and trust the process. At the end of the day, it’s not about me; it’s about others. If I can help someone along the way, I’ve done my job,” said Tanisha.

            As Bishop Daniels always said, “If God can do anything, God can do everything. There is nothing too hard for God,” said Tanisha.

Registration for the “Lunch and Learn” session is encouraged. Visit www.chmasonhealthclinic.com/ for more information. While walk-in patients are accepted, appointments can also be scheduled by calling (414) 249-4613.