Finding Connection Through Care and Teamwork
You might call Donisha McCrae a “unicorn.” She was born and bred in Charlotte, where she’s raising her own family: her 21-year-old daughter, her 15-year-old son, and her grandson. Outside of spending time with family and working at Tryon, she enjoys crosswords and sudoku.
“I like puzzles and solving things,” Donisha explains. “My dad is a retired police officer and a detective, so I guess that love of figuring things out runs in the family.”
That natural curiosity and attention to detail would later serve her well in a career she didn’t originally plan.
What was your journey to Tryon like?
Healthcare wasn’t always Donisha’s intended path. Her first dream was to become a teacher. She enrolled in school for elementary education, but it just wasn’t for her. A pivotal conversation with her sister helped her rethink her direction.
“My sister sat me down and asked, ‘What do you want to do with your life?’ That’s when I started looking into becoming a medical assistant,” she says.
Donisha began her healthcare career at Mecklenburg Medical Group as an intern before stepping into a patient care coordinator role. Eventually, she moved into a medical assistant position, where she supported internal medicine physician, Dr. David Colon, by rooming patients, reviewing medication lists, and helping respond to patient messages.
In 2018, her teammates left Mecklenburg Medical Group to join Tryon Medical Partners. She considered making the move, but struggled with the decision and the risk it posed.
“When everyone left, I felt like I lost my family, and it just wasn’t the same,” she recalls. A week later, she decided to take the leap, rejoining Dr. Colon and her team partners at the Pineville office. “I have never regretted that decision.”
How have you seen Tryon Medical Partners change?
Since joining Tryon Medical Partners, Donisha has watched the organization grow in both size and services. She remembers moving from Tryon’s original (and very small) Pineville office to the new, expanded space in 51 Park Center in 2024. Since then, Pineville has added dermatology and gynecology clinicians and welcomed Dr. Larry Berman and his care team.
“It’s growing and changing,” she says. “We have new specialties now, and that makes a big difference for patients.”
Despite that growth, she believes one core value has remained constant: a focus on people.
“It can be a handful, but I love this job,” says Donisha, who describes Tryon as supportive, collaborative, and a true team environment. “I’m always going to help my team partners today, because I might need help tomorrow.”
Donisha also values how Tryon treats its patients: “Our patients are not just data; they are our family, too,” she says.
How has Tryon helped you grow professionally?
Donisha credits Tryon Medical Partners with helping her grow both professionally and personally to become a more confident communicator and leader.
“I’ve grown as a person,” she said. “I used to be very shy, but this job helped me learn how to talk to people.”
Professionally, she continues expanding her knowledge of diagnoses and patient care, embracing opportunities to learn new skills.
“Being a go-to for management for clinical support has added to my resume and helped me learn more.” She adds, “I love learning new things.”
Today, Donisha views her workplace as more than just a job.
“This environment feels like a second home,” she said. “I really love my team partners.”