On the dance line at Winnfield Senior High School, she once dreamed on pursuing dance in her postsecondary studies “but deep down, I knew I was going into pharmacy.”

Chemistry teacher Ms. Freeman was the educator who put Yasmeen Davis on that career path, the Journal learned during an interview with Davis, the Pharmacist in Charge at Pharmacy Services of Winnfield on Main Street which is now part of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

Yasmeen was born in Winnfield and graduated WSHS in 2008.  She attended UL-M where she received both her undergraduate and PharmD degrees.  Before returning to her hometown she gained valuable experience in the pharmacy field, working 7 years at Kroger Pharmacy in Shreveport before moving to Georgia, also with Kroger.

Moving back to Louisiana, she started with Walgreens in Pineville in 2023 but found no job satisfaction there and began praying and fasting.  “There were a lot of opportunities but they didn’t feel right.  A friend told my mom about Pharmacy Services, Steve Shelton’s old place.  Initially, I wasn’t sure about being back in smalltown Winnfield but the more I prayed, the more the Lord showed me it was right.”

She interviewed with Trinity CEO Deano Thornton, Mallorie Gardner and pharmacist April Boyett, knowing she’d enjoy working at what she’d know as “Steve’s store,” yet still uncertain about the move.  But, during her years in metro city environments, she had worked away from home, she didn’t know the people and there was no sense of community.  She agreed and signed on with Trinity for the change.

Now as she looks across the counter, she sees people she knows, even family.  She talks directly with the leadership of Deano and Mallorie rather than working up a chain of command.  “Honestly, there’s a lot of work but there’s less pressure.  There’s a comfort level working here.  I can breathe.”

Part of that breathing room comes through the professional staffing at Pharmacy Services.  Yasmeen has worked in the chain pharmacy environment where understaffing is often the norm.  Here, there are 6 pharmacists at Pharmacy Services including Steve Shelton and veteran Sharon Barnett.  “I’ve never had such a staff.  Usually there are 3 to 4 pharmacists on a shift.  At Trinity, they don’t mind hiring.”

Winn Community Health Center, the first of the Trinity family of health centers, also has a pharmacy with additional pharmacists, used primarily by patients of the clinic.

Yasmeen continues to make her home in Pineville where she lives with her daughter Jariyah, 2.