Meet Our Providers
Our board certified providers and qualified staff are uniquely trained in internal medicine, women's health services, and pediatrics – so you can trust us with medical care for your entire family.
Penny Dupre, M.D.
Penny Dupre is a board certified Pediatrician. She has small town roots growing up in Chauvin and then Houma, Louisiana. She went on to attend the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts for her final two years of high school. She came to Alabama and earned her undergraduate degree as one of the first biochemistry majors at Spring Hill College. She then attended medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and completed her pediatric residency at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2011. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the Medical Society of Mobile. She currently resides in Mobile with her husband and two sons.
Taniya Smith, D.O.
Taniya Smith is a native of Biloxi, Mississippi. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Xavier University and received her Doctor of Osteopathy Degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. After returning to the Gulf Coast, she served as Chief Resident in Family Medicine at USA. During her residency, she received extensive training in Women's Health and Adult Medicine. She is now accepting new patients. She resides in Theodore, Alabama.
L. Sean Stokes, NP-C
Sean Stokes was born in Pascagoula, MS and raised in Grand Bay, Alabama. He attended Castlen Elementary Grand Bay Middle, and graduated from Mobile County High School in 1990. He attended the University of Mobile, and the University of South Alabama. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a Registered Nurse in the Neuro-trauma ICU and Cardiothoracic Surgery and Recovery. After completing his Graduate Studies in Family Practice in 1997, he managed and practiced in Rural Medicine in Covington County, Alabama. He returned to Mobile in 2000, and has practiced managing Adolescent and Adult patients. He has extensive knowledge in the management of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia. He has maintained his board certification since early 1998. He resides in Mobile with his wife and three children. He is currently accepting new patients.
Chassidy Hammond Hinton, NP-C
Chassidy Hammond is a lifelong resident of Jackson County, MS where she resides with her daughter. She attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and University of South Alabama. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2005 and her Masters in Nursing in Pediatrics in 2010. Ms. Hammond says she cannot imagine working with any other age group. Her pediatric nursing experiences range from newborn nursery, PICU, and hospital nursing to home health and clinical nursing instructor. She has been with SAMC since 2015 and says the two favorite parts of her job are seeing the unique personalities develop in her patients and the teamwork atmosphere of the clinic staff. Her life has been blessed by foster care and adoption, so she holds a special place in her heart for patients and families in those situations. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family on the water.
Blake Stokes, FNP-C
Blake Stokes, born and raised in Grand Bay, Alabama, graduated from Alma Bryant High School in 2010 and attended Troy University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014. After graduation he spent several years working as a Neuro Intensive Care Unit nurse where he was a member of the Neuro Response/Stroke Code Team. While there he received multiple nominations, including the Helen Davis Award. Blake went on to complete his Master of Science in Nursing in 2018 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Before joining the SAMC family, Blake utilized his Nurse Practitioner degree by working in occupational medicine for several years and most recently as a Neuro-Intensivist at USA Health. He is board certified in Family Practice (FNP-C), a DOT Certified Medical Examiner and certified in ACLS/BLS. He is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and American Association of Men in Nursing (AAMN). Blake currently resides in Grand Bay with his wife and two daughters. He is thrilled to be practicing in his hometown and is currently accepting new patients.
Melissa Sprinkle, CPNP-PC
Melissa Sprinkle is a board certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She was born in Mobile and raised in Grand Bay where she graduated from Alma Bryant High School in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama in 2011 along with her Masters of Nursing in Pediatrics in 2019. She served as a pediatric nurse at the University of South Alabama for 9 years before taking a career change as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Her greatest pleasure while working at Children’s and Women’s hospital was caring for her pediatric cancer patients. Her continuous passion as a nurse and nurse practitioner is building relationships with her patients and families while making a difference in their lives whether big or small. Prior to joining SAMC, Mrs. Sprinkle served as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Mostellar Medical Center for 3 years. She remains a local resident in Grand Bay with her husband and 3 children. She takes pride in caring for her local community and is currently accepting new patients.
Cherri Bedwell, Administrator
Stephanie Gaston, Front Desk Supervisor