Extra
June 2026
Alum impacting medical professionals through work
Medical professionals spend their working hours caring for other people in their time of need. But when they encounter a need of their own related to the stress of their jobs, few people probably consider where that help can be found.
For Brenda Gambrell Williams-Denbo, that mission is part of her everyday work as communications
director and development coordinator for the Tennessee Medical Foundation based in Nashville. In late 2025, Brenda was named a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal, recognized for a program she introduced that helps proactively screen healthcare professionals in the state and identify possible mental health issues before they spiral out of control.
“I volunteer in suicide prevention here in Tennessee with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AFSP, and they have chapters in every state. The AFSP developed an online platform that is a mental health screening tool,” explained Brenda, a 1983 graduate of Wayland’s Plainview campus. “My volunteer and work lives kind of came together when I suggested it to my medical director, who was looking for some early intervention tools to address clinician mental health. He wanted to reach people before a phone call to us was necessary.
“I suggested this platform. It took us about 18 months to go through demos with the AFSP team, customize the website, and launch it. It’s an online mental health screening tool for healthcare providers – the Tennessee Professional Screening Questionnaire – and it’s free, anonymous and confidential. They can get referrals through that portal anonymously.”
Brenda said the program she oversaw from the start has been hugely successful, and it has already helped more than 1,000 clinicians since its launch in February 2020. After presenting on the program at a national conference, Brenda said four other states have adopted something the same platform and more are considering it.
Personal interest
The child of a military father who attended high school in San Antonio, Brenda has a vested interest in preventive measures after losing her first husband Billy to suicide in 2012. Her work at the Tennessee Medical Foundation is another fitting tribute, as it provides recovery programs for health professionals struggling with substance abuse, mental health, behavioral health and cognitive issues,
“anything that can impair them to the point where it affects patient care,” she noted.
“Addiction and particularly mental health issues have been increasing under the stress and strain of
the healthcare system,” she said. “Since COVID, patients have become a lot tougher to deal with, too. So we have a big demand for our services. We work hand-in-hand with state healthcare licensure boards to take care of their referrals, as well as receive referrals from many other sources including hospitals, practices, coworkers, family members, and even the clinicians themselves.”
As part of her regular duties, Brenda raises funds for the foundation through grant and health professional organizations, hospitals, practices, and other stakeholders. She handles all communications for the foundation, from media releases, newsletters, social media and emails to annual reports. She also helps coordinate some events for the foundation, including an annual Mental Health Summit for clinicians statewide.
Birth of a passion
Most of that draws on skills she honed at Wayland, where she studied mass communication and journalism based on a love she developed working on her high school newspaper. She visited the Plainview campus with a church youth director who took students to tour colleges.
“April Walkup was my big sister that weekend – she was Miss Popular. She ran me around tirelessly, and we had a great weekend. I was impressed,” she recalls, noting that since Wayland had a Communications major it was a no-brainer. “She showed me the Trailblazer office, and I met Eddie Owens. I wound up working on the newspaper my first two years. I also wo rked at KVOP radio doing afternoon news during my junior and senior years.”
While at Wayland, she had a number of great experiences, including a summer internship at the San Antonio Express News, which she called “one of the most exciting things I ever did.” She was involved in International Choir, Student Foundation, Student Union Board and student government. After graduation, Brenda went to work at KVII Television in Amarillo and then to radio station KGNC in Amarillo. When she married Billy, a musician, they moved to Nashville.
She worked in radio for many years in Tennessee with a state network, then worked from home doing public relations and marketing to be available for her husband and son, who was then heading into high school. After he left for college, she went back to work full time, this time for the Tennessee Medical Association, a professional organization that advocates for doctors. She was working there when her husband passed away, and she eventually resigned to take some time to grieve and determine her next steps.
“I got called by the TMF to work part-time for them because one of their staff members had developed cancer. I came in one day a week to do their newsletter, and when the staffer couldn’t return, they hired me full time as an executive administration assistant,” she recalled. “It was a learning curve for me, a whole new set of skills. When the fundraising staffer left, I moved into that position and have been doing it since 2016.”
Making an impact
Brenda said the organization gets much support from other health professionals, many of whom have benefited from the program, know a colleague who has, or is a healthcare stakeholder who uses the program for its employees, including the medical director of a group or hospital.
“We don’t just take care of doctors anymore; we have a whole list of health professionals we serve. We really do see people on their worst day.
“There's a whole group of organizations working to erase the mental health stigma for health
professionals who need help,” Brenda said, adding the TMF has joined those efforts at the state and national level. “There’s fear that if you admit you're struggling and you're a health professional, you’ll be seen as someone who can't handle the job, or they’re going to pass you over for career opportunities... So they just don’t speak up.
During her earliest days at TMF, Brenda happened to take a phone call from a professional in crisis and she was able to share parts of her own story and encourage the man to let them help. Through tears on both ends of the phone, she knew she had found her place.
“It was confirmation from God that I was where I needed to be. This program just envelops them. They get help, go to treatment, get intense therapy, and they are getting support from our staff,” she said. “I wish there had been a program like this for Billy. It’s amazing to see people turn around and manage an addiction or mental health condition – one they’ll have for the rest of their lives. They are
fulfilling their career dreams, living their lives, enjoying their families, and I just see that as a miracle. It’s incredible the stories we hear and witness.”
In 2017, Brenda married another musician, Tim, a studio session bass player and double bassist for the Nashville Philharmonic. He was a friend of her late husband’s and honors Billy by joining her in volunteering for suicide prevention events. She has one son, Aaron, and five (soon to be six) grandchildren.
Devotional: Rooted and Growing
Scripture: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." — Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)
June often marks the beginning of a new season. Students celebrate graduations, families begin summer plans, and many of us find ourselves reflecting on where God has brought us and where He may be leading us next.
When Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae, he encouraged them not merely to begin their walk with Christ but to continue growing in Him. He used the imagery of a tree with deep roots—stable, nourished, and able to withstand changing seasons. Just as a tree draws strength from its roots, we draw strength from our relationship with Christ.
Life's seasons change. Careers evolve. Families grow. Ministries shift. Opportunities arise that we never anticipated. Yet amid every transition, God's call remains the same: stay rooted in Him.
As alumni and friends, many of us can look back and see God's faithfulness through different chapters of life. The lessons we learned, the friendships we formed, and the experiences that shaped us all become part of God's ongoing work in our lives. But faith was never meant to be something we leave behind in a classroom, chapel, or a particular season of life. It is meant to continue growing and bearing fruit wherever God plants us.
This month, take a moment to evaluate your spiritual roots. Are you spending time in God's Word? Are you seeking Him in prayer? Are you investing in relationships that encourage your faith? Healthy roots often grow unseen, but they produce visible fruit over time.
As we move into the summer months, may we remain firmly rooted in Christ, continually built up in Him, and overflowing with gratitude for His goodness.
Reflection Questions:
- In what ways have you seen God's faithfulness throughout your life's journey?
- What spiritual habits help keep you rooted in Christ?
- How can you intentionally grow in your faith during this season?
In the Mix: Invest in a Pioneer's Future Through Mentorship
One conversation can make a lasting difference.
As Wayland alumni, each of us has a unique story. We remember the professors who challenged us, the friendships that shaped us, and the experiences that prepared us for life beyond graduation. Today’s students are on that same journey—and they can benefit from the wisdom, encouragement, and real-world experience of those who have gone before them.
That's why we invite you to consider becoming a mentor.
Mentoring is one of the most meaningful ways alumni can give back to Wayland Baptist University. Whether you're a recent graduate navigating the early stages of your career or a seasoned professional with decades of experience, your insight can help a student gain confidence, explore career paths, and prepare for life after college.
The best part? Mentorship doesn't require a significant time commitment. Sometimes a simple conversation about career choices, workplace expectations, graduate school opportunities, or life lessons can have a profound impact on a student's future.
As a mentor, you have the opportunity to:
- Share your professional and personal experiences
- Help students explore career possibilities
- Offer encouragement during important life decisions
- Build meaningful relationships with future alumni
- Strengthen the Wayland community across generations
For students, mentorship provides valuable guidance, networking opportunities, and practical advice that cannot always be found in a classroom. For mentors, it is an opportunity to invest in the next generation of Pioneers while staying connected to the university you love.
The Wayland family has always been built on relationships. By mentoring a student, you're helping continue that tradition of support, service, and community that makes Wayland special.
If you've ever wondered how you can make a difference in the life of a student, this is your opportunity. Your experiences matter. Your story matters. And your willingness to invest in someone else's future may become a turning point in their journey.
Together, we can help today's students become tomorrow's leaders.
Ready to Get Involved?
To learn more about becoming a mentor and being matched with a Wayland student, contact:
Jeffrey Vera
Director of Alumni Relations and Career Services
Wayland Baptist University
Phone: 806-291-3600
Email: veraj@wbu.edu
We would love to help you make a lasting impact on the next generation of Pioneers.
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