News & Media

Leadership & Governance

Leadership & Governance

Mission

The mission of Weems Memorial Hospital is to improve the health status of the residents and visitors to Franklin County, by providing quality, compassionate, cost effective and convenient health care through community leadership and in collaboration with other healthcare organizations which serve our communities.

Governing Board of Directors & Administration

Duffie Harrison, Chair

William Zester, Vice-Chair

Myrtis Wynn, Secretary

Dolores Croom

Kristin Willis

John Berry

Patrick Conrad, MD

David Walker, CEO

Courtney Alford, Director of Nursing

Medical Staff

Your health is our priority!

Weems Medical Centers provide primary care, family medicine, and rotating specialty care services.

Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola is located on the campus of Weems Memorial Hospital. The medical center offers primary care and non-emergent care services.

Appointments are recommended. Weems West is staffed by Sussete Valdueza, APRN and Amanda Pache, APRN. Weems Medical Center East is located just off Highway 98, west of Carrabelle on 5th Street. The medical center offers primary care and non-emergent care, as well as several specialty care services. Weems East is staffed by Dana Whaley, APRN and Amanda Pache, APRN.

Medical Team

2022 Dana Whaley

Dana Whaley, APRN, FNP-BC

Dana Whaley, APRN, FNP-BC, is a family nurse practitioner at Weems Medical Center East with more than 25 years experience. She is a true Franklin County native, and considers it an honor to serve the community where she was born and raised.

Sussete Photo

Sussete Valdueza, APRN, FNP-BC

Sussete Valdueza, APRN, FNP-BC, is the friendly face you’ll find at Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola. Sussette is a board-certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse specializing in family medicine.

Amanda Pache Headshot

Amanda Pache, APRN

Amanda Pache, APRN is the newest member to our team of medical providers. She has experience working in a fast-paced, high-volume clinic setting, and is a great addition to Weems Medical Centers East and West.

History – Celebrating 65 years!

Celebrating 65 years of service to Franklin County!

Weems Memorial Hospital opened on June 21, 1959 in its current location on Washington Square. But it was not Apalachicola’s first hospital. Historians note that Apalachicola’s first hospital was actually a renovated Army barracks building at the airport with 13 beds, a small obstetrical wing and operative suite. The hospital served the needs of the community from the time of its opening in 1948 until the completion of the new hospital with 25 beds at the present site in 1959.

The site of the current Weems Hospital was once the site of the original Franklin County courthouse. The courthouse was later converted into the health department and operated until it was demolished in 1957 to make way for the new hospital which exists there today.

Dr. George E. Weems arrived in Apalachicola in 1909 and married Lillian Emma Wefing. Together they had two daughters, Ruth and Marjorie. Dr. Weems dedicated himself to our community until his passing in 1956. In 1959, as the hospital was under construction, a group of local citizens appeared before the Franklin County Commission urging them to honor Dr. Weems by placing his name on the new building. Pictured here is Mrs. Lillian Wefing Weems cutting the ribbon at the official opening of George E. Weems Memorial Hospital on June 21, 1959, exactly 65 years ago this Friday! J.R. McDonald served as the first administrator and worked alongside four physicians. Also pictured is: - Jody Fortunas Wilson on the far left in the flowered dress. - Carol McCormick to the right of her in the plaid dress. - Victor McDonald on the far right in the striped shirt. - Sonny Shuler is the gentleman in glasses to the left of him. *Do you recognize anyone else in the photo? Let us know!
Dr. George Emerson Weems was raised in McDonough, Georgia. After graduating from primary school, he received his medical training at Emory University. He graduated in 1904 and did his internship at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, before practicing for a short time in Newnan, Georgia. In 1909 Dr. Weems moved to Apalachicola where he opened a practice in the rear of Robbins Drug Store. In 1913, he married Lillian Emma Wefing and they had two daughters, Ruth and Marjorie (pictured below). Dr. Weems considered his work a mission of first importance and was known to his patients as a friend. He exemplified the role of country doctor by seeing many patients in his home with his dining room table often used for late-night emergency surgeries. Weems was active in his community as well as national affairs, serving on the local draft board during World War I. Dr. George E. Weems died November 26, 1956. - Apalachicola, 2009
This photo from the 1940s features some familiar faces from Apalachicola's history! - Dr. Photis Nichols (left), served as medical director of our very own George E. Weems Memorial Hospital! - Dr. James A. Steely, another pillar of our community's medical care, was also part of the first medical team of Weems Memorial. - T.J. Hicks, the owner of Hicks Drug Store, which bustled with activity. Fun fact: the Hicks family lived upstairs over the store! We love seeing these historical connections and how Franklin County's healthcare landscape has evolved.
Many Greek immigrants came to Apalachicola in the early 1900s. The Nichols family was one of them. From left to right are Dr. Photis Nichols who was part of the original medical team at Weems Memorial Hospital. Also pictured are John Nichols, Nick Nichols, Garaphalia Nichols, and Jimmie Nichols. The Nichols family ran a groceries and dry goods store called Economy Cash Store. Jimmie Nichols served over 16 years as mayor and was responsible for many changes in the town. He died in August 2009.

Help us tell our Weems story!

Do you have photos of Weems Memorial over the years? Please share! Email photos with details to pr@weemsmemorial.com.

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News & Media

News & Media

Expanding Access: Weems Is Bringing a Pharmacy to Carrabelle

April 24, 2026

At Weems Memorial Hospital, part of our work as a critical access hospital is paying close attention to where our community’s healthcare needs aren’t fully met – and stepping in to help when a project is both viable and valuable for the people we serve. A retail pharmacy in Carrabelle is one of those opportunities, and we’re excited to share that the project is officially moving forward.


How we got here
The Weems Board of Directors commissioned a professional retail pharmacy study to take a careful, honest look at whether a Carrabelle pharmacy could serve the community well and operate sustainably over time. The analysis, presented by pharmacy consultant Jason Prokopik of Blue and Co., confirmed that the vision was both viable and valuable – projecting steady growth, long-term financial sustainability, and meaningful benefit for residents on the eastern end of the county.

On April 15, the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners reviewed the plan and gave it their full support, clearing the way for Weems to begin next steps.


A word from our Board Chair
“When the board looked at this opportunity, it wasn’t just about opening a pharmacy – it was about expanding access to care in a practical, sustainable way. The study confirmed what we believed: this is a smart investment for the hospital and a real benefit for the community.”
— Duffie Harrison, Chair, Weems Memorial Hospital Board of Directors


Why this matters: the 340B program
As a critical access hospital, Weems participates in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows us to offer significantly reduced prices on many medications. That benefit will extend to the Carrabelle pharmacy.


A pharmacy that serves everyone
The Carrabelle pharmacy will be open to the full community – not just Weems and health department patients – and will be located at Weems Medical Center East (110 NE 5th Street, Carrabelle).


What’s next
These kinds of projects take time. Between regulatory approvals, staffing, build-out, and stocking, we’re realistically looking at nine months to a year before the doors open. We’ll share updates along the way.

Reports

Reports

Community Health Needs Assessments

A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is a study conducted to better understand the most pressing health needs in the community. Using local health data and feedback from residents, providers, and community partners, the assessment helps identify key health priorities and barriers to care. The results guide the hospital’s planning and programs to improve health outcomes in the communities it serves.

2023 Weems Memorial CHNA Report

Weems Outpatient Services Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Weems Memorial Hospital will close Weems Medical Center East, Weems Medical Center West, and all outpatient services on Monday, January 19.

While outpatient clinics will be closed for the holiday, Weems Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department remains open 24/7 to provide care for urgent and emergency medical needs.

All outpatient clinics and services will resume normal operations on Tuesday, January 20. We appreciate the community’s understanding as our team joins in honoring the legacy of Dr. King and his impact on our nation.

For emergencies, please call 911 or visit the Weems Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.

Weems Memorial Hospital Hosts AHCA Rural Health Transformation Town Hall

Apalachicola, Fla. — December 5, 2025 — George E. Weems Memorial Hospital recently hosted the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) as part of Florida’s Rural Health Transformation Program Town Hall series — a statewide effort focused on strengthening healthcare access in rural communities.

AHCA, Florida’s chief health policy agency, is meeting with rural hospitals and healthcare providers across the state as it prepares for a new, multi-year federal grant initiative designed to support rural health systems. The Rural Health Transformation Program is intended to help rural communities address shared challenges such as workforce stability, access to technology and telehealth, care coordination, and long-term sustainability.

By hosting one of these town halls, Weems Memorial Hospital helped ensure that the needs and priorities of Franklin County and surrounding rural communities are part of Florida’s planning process for this important funding opportunity.

“We appreciate AHCA coming to Weems to hear directly from our rural facilities,” said David Walker, CEO of Weems Memorial Hospital. “The Rural Health Transformation Program has the potential to make a real difference for hospitals like ours. When rural providers have the resources to strengthen local access to care, it benefits every family and every community we serve.”

The discussion highlighted the essential role rural hospitals play in Florida’s healthcare system and the importance of ensuring that rural voices are represented as new programs and investments are developed. Conversations during the town hall focused on current challenges facing rural providers and how future funding could support continued access to quality care close to home.

Hosting this event reflects Weems Memorial Hospital’s ongoing commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and long-term healthcare stability for Franklin County. As planning for the Rural Health Transformation Program continues, insights shared during town halls like this one will help guide Florida’s approach and ensure that rural communities remain a priority.

About Weems Memorial Hospital

Celebrating 66 years of service to Franklin County, Florida, George E. Weems Memorial Hospital is a private, nonprofit, 25-bed critical access hospital providing emergency services, primary care, short-term inpatient rehabilitation, and a range of outpatient services. Weems is affiliated with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and contracts with Alliant Management Services for administrative operations.