Our Staff //
RiverLife Wellness Center is staffed entirely by volunteers. Our clinical and administrative staff includes:
Lenora W. Berning, M.D. , M.A. | Board Certified Emergency Medicine, Board Certified Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Medical Director
Dr. Berning graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, obtained her graduate degree in Biology at Dartmouth College, and served in the USAF as a research biologist at the School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX. She left the Air Force with the rank of Captain. Dr. Berning earned her MD from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte NC. After 20 years of experience as an emergency physician, Dr. Berning subspecialized in palliative medicine, caring for hospitalized patients and home based clients. She now exclusively invests her clinical time to volunteer for the Wellness Center.
Debbie Logan, M.S., LMFTA | Therapist
Director, Counseling Program
Debbie earned her BA in Psychology from Ashford University, MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling from East Carolina University. She is also a Prepare/Enrich Facilitator. Her specializations include pre-marital counseling and marital/relational conflict, as well as disordered eating, body image issues, unresolved childhood issues, life transitions, and trauma, adoption including birthparent grief, anxiety and day to day stress management. Debbie is a health and wellness advocate who enjoys working with individuals and couples to develop their own individualized health and fitness goals that incorporate personal accountability, motivational factors and the use of mindfulness.
Debbie's private practice is located in Cornelius, NC., where she provides a range of services for adults, teens and adolescents- including Individual, Couple and Family Counseling, Life Coaching, Prepare/Enrich Assessment, Telehealth (online) Sessions and Workshops for couples.
Steve Elliott, Ph.D. | Psychologist
Consulting Mental Health Professional
Dr. Elliott graduated from Florida State University and earned a Masters degree in Professional Counseling at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He was awarded his Ph.D. in Psychology by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dr. Elliott's past experience includes providing counseling and psychological services in academic and private practice settings, supervising therapists-in training, teaching counseling skills to medical and psychiatry residents, publishing scholarly articles and speaking to professional and public audiences.
Dr. Elliott works for LifeSource Inc, providing psychological services to the geriatric population, rehabilitation patients, and disabled persons at regional skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Dr. Elliott serves as supervising mental health professional and practice consultant for the Wellness Center.
Elizabeth Gentile, PA | Physician Assistant
Medical Consultation Clinic
Elizabeth studied Biology and Literature of Eastern Europe at Wake Forest University before completing the Physician Assistant program at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. She has primarily worked in family practice and urgent care settings, serving Appalachian and rural NC communities, as well as Native American populations in New Mexico and North Carolina. She is involved in research concerning endocrinology, cardiology, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Elizabeth is active in several community outreach programs through her church. Her hobbies include hiking, birding, and animal rescue.
Leila Davis, M.S., NDTR, CLT | Nutrition and Dietetics Technician
Medical Consultation Clinic
Leila earned her B.S. in Nutrition, and M.S in Family & Consumer Science from the University of Central Arkansas. Her passion is in Health Education and Nutrition. With a background in Integrative/Functional Nutrition, Leila particularly enjoys educating people with chronic inflammatory conditions such as irritable bowel, migraines, fibromyalgia, and digestive disorders, as well as other conditions related to food sensitivities, intolerances, or allergies.
Denesia "Deni" Huttula, CPC, CPRC | Certified Life and Recovery Coach
Counseling Program
Deni earned her BA in psychology at the University of North Florida before becoming a life coach and is presently pursuing a professional counseling degree. She specializes in assisting people in recovery from addictions, trauma, or pain-filled lives employing a joy-based and Christ-led strategy. Deni is the author of The Bridges of Chara, an allegorical story that will help you understand your brain's design for emotions in a nontechnical way.
Jean Hargett | Certified Fitness Instructor
Medical Consultation Clinic
Jean is an avid cyclist, marathoner, and triathlete and has been working in the fitness world since 2005. She has a passion for helping people accomplish and even exceed their fitness goals and has worked as fitness instructor with the Lowe's YMCA and the Homestead at the Farms. Jean has the ability to encourage people of all fitness levels to improve their health through physical activity and particularly enjoys working with the elderly. Jean is employed as fitness coordinator at The Pines at Davidson.
Betsy Morley | Counseling Scheduler
Counseling Program
Betsy enjoys assisting people to find the help they need. For many years, she and her late husband, Barry, ministered in outreach to underprivileged youths; and now her ministry is toward those lacking access to adequate medical care or emotional support. As scheduler for our counseling program, Betsy is often a client's first contact with RiverLife Wellness Center. She provides a compassionate welcome and coordinates services to meet each individual's needs.
Debbie Greathead | Layminister Coordinator
Counseling Program
Debbie studied Biblical Theology through Harvest Bible Institute, a division of Southeastern University. She was an Associate Pastor at First Assembly of God for twelve years and Assistant Pastor at Freedom Christian Center for five years. She taught Teacher Certification Classes for the NC District of The Assemblies of God. Debbie and her husband Tom have served as short term missionaries in 22 countries. Debbie is owner of Let It Shine Cleaning Co. , and her hobbies are reading and cooking.
Layministers
Counseling Program
Our Layministers play a critical role by providing prayerful, timely, and encouraging support in our counseling program.