Meet Our Team
Yashica Y Ruffin, MD MPH
Yashica Y Ruffin, MD MPH is a graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, where she was a Presidential Scholar during her 4 years obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Doctor Ruffin attended New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education where she completed a Master of Science in Public Health, focusing on community health education. She is a graduate of Ross University’s School of Medicine where she maintained the Eliza Ann Grier full Academic scholarship during her 4 years of study. During her training with the Grant Family Medicine Residency, she served as one of the program’s two Chief Residents.
Doctor Ruffin is Board certified in Family Medicine as well as Addiction Medicine. She has contributed her Passion and knowledge to patient care in the areas of Family, Obesity, and Addiction Medicine for the past 11 years. Passionate about the overall health and wellness of every patient, Doctor Ruffin currently works to treat and advocate for, those struggling with Opioid use disorder. Dr. Ruffin believes in the personal power each person holds in creating the vision for their total health and wellness as well as their ability to partner with their medical provider to utilize every tool to help make their vision a reality.
Ritch Williams
Ritch Williams has spent 25 years working in the technology industry serving in multiple roles from technical consulting, to delivery management and sales. He is currently the Microsoft Strategic Account Executive for the United States Marine Corps account. He has global responsibility for all Microsoft Services and solutions that the Marine Corps uses. Virtue Recovery House has an important meaning to Ritch, who has dealt with family addiction and recovery and understands the impact it has both on the person and the family. He is honored to be a part of the organization and excited to see the impact it can have on those struggling with addiction.
Amanda Williams - CPS-AD, MAT, CADC-T, CIT
Since 2003, Amanda has been working in the field of Addiction and enjoying helping others find their path of recovery. She has achieved her ACTS Consulting certification and is in the process of earning her CAC1 (Certified Addiction Counselor) and getting her Bachelors Degree with Capella University.
In her spare time, she likes to going to movies with her husband and her son. She also enjoys taking her son to basketball and soccer games as being present in the moment with him makes it all worth it for her.
One of Amanda’s goals is to be able to help men and women who suffer from Substance Use Disorder and gaining her bachelors degree at Capella University will get her one step closer opening doors for her professionally and with a bachelor’s behind her and it will help build her character and show her strength as a mom, wife and co- worker.
Samuel Ayala
Dr. Samuel Ayala has achieved a medical degree, a BS in Biology. He grew up most of his life in the south of Texas near the border of Mexico. Growing up in a culturally diverse area he feels comfortable he is able to relate to different cultures and enjoys getting to know new people and places. While in school he played the violin and spent as much time as he could outdoors as an Eagle Scout.
Dr. Ayala has a passion for healthcare and he is dedicating his career to healthcare administration utilizing his title to understand how the medical and administrative aspects coexist. Dr. Ayala is dedicated to behavioral health and enjoys seeing the change in each patient as they improve and become successful in life. He has nearly a decade of experience in healthcare administration.
In Dr. Ayala’s free time, he loves spending time hiking and enjoying the outdoors with his wife and three boys. He spends some of his leisure time reading studies and keeping up with current medical practices and advancements.
He is excited and enthused to be a part of Cartersville and surrounding communities and along with the leadership of Virtue Recovery House he is confident that he can be a part of a lasting impact in the lives of all those who come to our facility.
Jennifer Highsmith
I have been living in long-term recovery from drug addiction since 2017. What that means to me is I have not found it necessary to use any mind-altering substances since 2017. With the help of treatment, 12 step support groups, church, and most importantly, turning my will and my life to God’s care as I understood him, I was able to overcome my battle with addiction.
Today, I currently hold an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science Social Work, Domestic and Family Violence Specialist, Addictions Specialist, from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. I am now a student at Liberty University Online, in my Senior year for Behavioral Health Sciences and Health Sciences. After completing the program in July, I will begin my MA in Addiction Counseling. I chose this profession to give back to those who resemble me and my past struggles. I hope to provide them with hope and assurance that they too can overcome addiction, just as I did.
I enjoy spending time with my children, going on trips, kayaking, and fishing with my husband in my spare time. Also, I help my husband with our youth group at church and am involved with several outreach ministries.
Cameron Pruitt
Cameron Pruitt is a group facilitator at Virtue Recovery House. Cameron firmly believes that personal and community dedication to recovery are not only a fundamental part of the recovery process, but are also the building blocks of achieving and maintaining sobriety
Cameron believes that contemplating and enacting the proper skills to a safe and healthy recovery are not only a fundamental part of the recovery process but can safely guide an individual with ample support of his peers.
In addition to managing the substance dependency curriculum for Virtue Recovery House, he is also a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence.
Cameron has been involved in the substance abuse field since 2019 is also involved in the movement to educate men against violence towards women.
Cameron holds a BA in Communications from the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois.