Stern Cardiovascular search Home Find a Doctor Patient Information Care & Treatment Clinical Trials News Contact Us About Stern About Stern / Advanced Practice Providers Advanced Practice Providers Nick Albonetti, FNP-C Nick began his career as a bedside nurse for seven years. Within the seven years, he worked in many different areas: Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU), General ICU, Interventional Radiology, and Cardiac Stepdown. During his extensive nursing career, Nick decided to pursue his education, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Nick went on to receive a Master of Family Practice degree, graduating at the top of his class from Delta State University in 2015. He then began his career with Stern Cardiovascular. Nick has a certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). In his free time, Nick enjoys watching Florida Gator football and vacationing with his family. Polly Allen, MSN, NP-ACNP Polly is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (NP-ACNP) at Stern. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Mississippi. Polly worked as a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) nurse for 10 years prior to returning to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, so cardiac patients have always been her focus and love. Polly joined the Stern team in 2012 and works in the hospital setting. She is an avid reader of all types of books and a podcast enthusiast. Polly is also a runner and is a big proponent of strength training, especially for women. Melissa Barnes, MSN, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC Melissa works with an interventional cardiologist which allows her to assist in evaluation and treatment planning for general cardiology conditions but also several sub-specialized cardiac conditions. She has practiced since 2012. Melissa began her nursing career as a registered nurse in 2008, graduating from University of Memphis. She worked in a cardiac ICU stepdown unit which motivated her to further her education. Melissa received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from University of Memphis in 2012, becoming a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Melissa is certified as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner that she received in 2018 after completing her Post-Masters Certificate in Nursing at St. Louis University. She knew she wanted to remain in cardiology which led her to Stern Cardiovascular. Melissa has a vast background of caregiving in a variety of settings. Each experience greatly influenced both her desire to learn more and her interest in the field. Her passion stems from memories from her childhood which influenced the career path she chose and, along the way, that passion has continued to grow. Kimberly Cohen, MSN, FNP-C Kimberly has worked with Stern Cardiovascular since 2011 and gained acute care experience at Baptist Memphis Memorial Hospital. In 2015, she became a board certified Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner through the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine. Kimberly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English Literature at University of Connecticut then earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Southern Connecticut State University. She spent most of her career as a registered nurse in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit before obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree at the University of Memphis. Certified by American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), Kimberly is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She is the proud mother of four young men and the wife of possibly the funniest man on earth, all who fill her with joy and laughter. Kimberly is an integrated health coach, lovingly encouraging others to maintain a healthy lifestyle and live their best lives. She enjoys travel, adventures, yoga and lake life living. And, Kimberly loves Memphis!! You may spot her hula hooping, walking or biking around town. Jackie Correro, AANP Jackie began her nursing career in 2004 as a RN at Baptist Memphis before working at Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto (BMHD) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), ICU step-down, and the emergency room. Jackie decided to expand her medical career by becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Her nursing experience spanned nine years. While attending school, Jackie was also busy raising her children and working as a nurse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Phoenix and, from University of Southern Mississippi, Jackie earned a master’s degree for Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Jackie is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). In 2014, Jackie began working as a Nurse Practitioner for Stern Cardiovascular. Jackie has a passion for helping others and providing the best care possible. She loves what she does and plans to attend seminars and expand her knowledge in the world of cardiology, as things are consistently changing. Her desire is to help bring awareness of cardiovascular health to the community. Lindsey Crowe, ACNP-BC Lindsey received her degree from the University of Tennessee-Memphis and has practiced since 2009. She has a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-BC). In the nurse practitioner role, Lindsey’s past included experience as a long-term acute care hospitalist nurse practitioner and hospitalist nurse practitioner. Since 2012, Lindsey has practiced in cardiology, with a focus on clinical cardiology. She sees patients both in the office and hospital setting. Lindsey enjoys educating patients on their diagnosis and teaching them ways to stay healthy. In her spare time, Lindsey is busy enjoying her husband and their twin boys. She loves being outside and reading. Cameron Crutchfield, MSN, NP-C Cameron functions as a hospital-based Nurse Practitioner for Stern Cardiovascular. He started practice in 2013 working in the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU); that experience helped Cameron decide to further his education to become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Cameron received his training from the University of Memphis and had the opportunity during that time to receive teachings from the cardiovascular surgeons and cardiologists within the Methodist Healthcare system. In addition to his role as a certified FNP, Cameron also uses his cardiac critical care experience to provide excellent care to Stern’s patients and families. Since joined Stern in 2017 and plans to stay for many years to come. Ailyssin Dacus MSN, APRN, CNL, FNP-C Ailyssin found her passion for cardiology while in nursing school when she experienced her first clinical rotation at Baptist-Memphis on the Cardiovascular Step-Down (CVSD) unit. After graduating, she decided to continue her nursing career on the cardiac med-surg floor at Baptist Memphis. After being a bedside nurse for one year, Ailyssin continued her education at the University of Tennessee. She graduated in May 2013 with her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Clinical Nurse Leader. At that point, Ailyssin transitioned from the cardiac med-surg floor to the CVSD unit where she worked for four years and ultimately served as Head Nurse. During her time on CVSD, Ailyssin also served as adjunct faculty at Baptist College of Health Sciences in the role of clinical instructor for one year. In 2016, she left Baptist and began her career at Stern Cardiovascular as a float nurse. Through her float experience and working alongside multiple doctors at Stern, Ailyssin was able to see the interaction and role of the providers which inspired her to continue her education towards becoming a Nurse Practitioner. In January 2018, Ailyssin started graduate school at the University of Memphis and attained her post-master’s certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) in December 2018. At that point, she was welcomed back to Stern Cardiovascular by Dr. Otten to work alongside him as his Nurse Practitioner. When not working, Ailyssin enjoys spending time with her husband and three young children while also visiting their family farm in Fayette County. Pamela Denley-Humber, MSN, FNP-BC, CCM Pamela is a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Case Manager. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from the University of Tennessee at Memphis and her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. Pamela’s focus is clinical cardiology with a passion for educating patients about diet, exercise, and management of cardiac risk factors so the patient can take an active role in their own health to help prevent coronary artery disease and stroke. Pamela’s background includes 30+ years of cardiology experience including Chest Pain Emergency Room, Cardiac Intensive Care, and five years as Cardiac Educator at St. Francis Hospital-Memphis. When Pamela is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating, exercising, and reading. Stacy Ellis, CFNP Stacy graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2001 from Baptist College of Health Sciences and began her nursing career as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the cardiopulmonary transplant unit at Baptist Memorial Hospital. She worked there for six years prior to starting school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Stacy worked at UT Medical Center in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) for three years while completing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2009. She received her certification in 2010 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Stacy’s nursing experience includes having worked for three years for the Greenville Clinic in Greenville, Mississippi in a VA outpatient clinic prior to moving back to the Memphis area. Lindsey has worked at Stern Cardiovascular since 2013. Stacy works with Dr. Todd Edwards. When she is not working, Stacy enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. They spend most of their free time in the summer at the lake. Stacy enjoys traveling, watching Tennessee football, and spending time with family and friends. Cindy Etheridge, MSN, ACNP Cindy has worked in healthcare her entire adult life, first as an EMT/Paramedic. Having finished school with an Associate’s degree in Nursing (AND) in 1993, Cindy taught an EMT/Paramedic program along with various other EMS related courses for several years. She worked in, then managed, the emergency room at local hospital which became a Level 2 trauma center. Cindy also functioned as the Trauma Coordinator while continuing her education until completing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP). Throughout her adult life, Cindy has gained immeasurable experience caring for sick and injured people as well as their families at their worst, garnering their trust, and providing the best possible care she could. When she’s not working, Cindy loves to travel and spend time with family and friends. Tarra L Eubanks, FNP Tarra is ANCC board certified and has had experience with hospital practice since 1993. Tarra has extensive background experience that includes being a hospital nurse in multiple settings including emergency room, regular floor and intensive care settings. Tarra enjoys participating in the care of her fellow community population. It is her desire to educate patients and families about their disease process and goals for successful outcomes. Tarra appreciates her collaborative relationship with the team at Stern Cardiovascular who tirelessly continue to serve our communities and regional areas with their cardiovascular needs. When she is not working, Tarra enjoys cooking, sewing and gardening. Lindsey Garner RN, MSN, FNP-C Lindsey graduated as a Registered Nurse (RN) from Bevill State Community College in 2009 and began practice in an array of settings as a float nurse. She completed a Bachelor’s in Science of Nursing degree (BSN) from the University of North Alabama in 2011. At that time, Lindsey was working primarily in cardiac and medical intensive care unit (ICU) settings. Before returning to nurse practitioner school, Lindsey was a night shift house supervisor for a rural hospital. In 2015, she graduated from the University of South Alabama as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and received her nurse practitioner accreditation through American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Lindsey spent the first two years of practice in a full-time internal medicine setting. Since 2018, Lindsey has proudly been part of the Stern Cardiovascular team working with Dr Dharmesh Patel. When not working, Lindsey and her husband love to travel and are in the process of going to all the major league baseball fields. Gavin G. Gist, MSN, ACNP-BC Gavin is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. He graduated from Delta State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He spent the next six years working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and as a nurse in a cardiac outreach clinic with Dr. Frank McGrew. In 2007, Gavin graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis with a Master of Science in Nursing. He has worked in Clarksdale, Mississippi since 2008 providing inpatient and outpatient general cardiology care for a wide array of cardiovascular illnesses. He has special interest in treating heart failure and complex cardiac conditions. Gavin serves on several medical industry advisory boards for healthcare provider education and is a national speaker on a variety of cardiovascular topics. When not working, Gavin enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His hobbies include hunting and raising cattle. Kelly Gowdy, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Kelly has a background in pediatrics, having worked as MedSurg/Cardiac Registered Nurse (RN) at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center. She was then Director of Nursing for No Place Like Home, a pediatric home health company. Kelly is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association and the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). In her current role with Stern Cardiovascular, Kelly diagnoses and treats acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions, interprets EKGs, and orders and interprets diagnostic tests. Kelly is also involved with patient education and medication management. Kelly enjoys traveling with her family and donating time to mission trips. She recently visited the Dominican Republic on a mission trip and Haiti on a medical mission trip. Danielle Groves, MSN, AGACNP-BC Danielle has practiced as a nurse practitioner since 2015. She graduated from The University of Alabama (UAB) in Tuscaloosa in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and received a Master of Science degree in Nursing at UAB in 2014. From 2009-2014, she worked as an RN on a cardiac stepdown unit in Augusta, GA, then in a cardiac ICU in Birmingham, AL, prior to obtaining certification as a nurse practitioner. In 2014, Danielle graduated from UAB as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and received her nurse practitioner accreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In 2015, she worked as a Hospital NP at a cardiology practice in Birmingham, AL, prior to moving to the Memphis area. Since 2016, Danielle has enjoyed working with the Stern Cardiovascular team where she is a Hospital Float Nurse Practitioner. Danielle has a husband and two sons. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, playing with her children and spending time with family. Andrea Morelli Hall, FNP Andrea is a Family Nurse Practitioner who is board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and is currently licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi. Andrea began her career in nursing in 2001 and became a nurse practitioner in 2006. Her previous experience includes working in the intensive and interventional cardiology care arenas as well as rural and urban healthcare. Andrea is qualified to diagnose and treat a wide array of conditions focusing on cardiovascular health and well-being. Andrea grew up in the mid-south Area. She is married with one child. She spends her spare time in volunteer and educational work. She is a student of science and history. Andrea enjoys cycling, gardening and travel. Andrea believes in a holistic approach to a collaborative individualized treatment plan to achieve the patient’s best possible state of health. Tiffany Leister, MSN, FNP-BC Tiffany graduated from Jewish Hospital College of Nursing at the Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis, MO in 2001. She was elected by her peers to be the graduate speaker for the class. Following graduation, she worked mainly in the Cardiovascular ICU and Cardiovascular recovery units and Medical ICUs during her time as a nurse while living in St. Louis. Her experience and passion for cardiovascular health helped Tiffany to decide to further her career into becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. After moving to Oxford, Mississippi, she furthered her education by attaining her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2009 from Mississippi University of Women, graduating with honors. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau. She received her certification in 2009 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Tiffany is qualified to diagnose and treat an array of cardiovascular diseases: coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart-failure, pacemaker and defibrillators. She is passionate about patient education. Tiffany has worked for cardiologist Dr. Mark Strong since August 2009. When not at work, Tiffany is often with her husband and two children taking care of their six horses and three dogs. She is an active member of her church and loves to dabble in gardening as well as go snow skiing. She loves to speak and give talks on cardiovascular health and has done numerous presentations around the state over the years. Emily Lennon, MS, PA-C Emily is a native Memphian. She received her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public and Community Health from the University of Maryland in 2005. Emily earned a Master in Science degree (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies from Christian Brothers University (CBU). Emily started her medical career in the in-patient setting in the Chicago suburbs and is now grateful to be part of the Stern Cardiovascular team, where she has worked with Dr. Frank McGrew as a Physician Assistant (PA) since 2017. Emily is passionate about educating patients and ensuring their understanding of their specific disease process and treatment plans. She enjoys getting to know patients and seeing them improve as they become their own healthcare advocates. Working with Dr. McGrew, the Director of Clinical Research here at Stern, Emily gets to see, firsthand, innovative treatment options and to observe anecdotal successes of Dr. McGrew’s clinical expertise. When not working, Emily enjoys being with her husband and three children and volunteering in the community. Suzanne Margello, PA-C Suzanne Margello is a board-certified Physician Assistant working in the hospital setting. She graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science in 2011, then returned home to Memphis to work at the Church Health Center as a health educator and health coach. After three years, she decided to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant and enrolled in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Christian Brothers University. After graduating and becoming board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) in 2016, Suzanne began working as a PA at St. Francis Cardiology Associates prior to joining Stern Cardiovascular in 2019. Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys yoga, running, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She and her husband also enjoy traveling and walking around midtown with their dog, Snoopy. Rachel Matthews, FNP-BC Rachel began her education with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (2008-2012) followed by a Master of Science in Nursing and received her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) through Walden University (2015-2017) and ANCC. Rachel is a member of American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Nurses Association (ANA), and VA Nurses Association. Rachel’s work experience began on a Stepdown Unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (2012-2014) and then Bayview Cardiovascular Associates as an RN for an interventional cardiologist (2015). She then transitioned within the company to fill a nurse practitioner role after obtaining board certification. Rachel loves getting to know her patients and working with them to optimize their medical care. Her husband and she moved here after living in Virginia Beach for 8 years. They are originally from Arkansas and love traveling the country in their RV with their 3 children, showing them how wonderful America and its people really are. Sara Myers, APRN, NP-C Sara practiced as a registered nurse (RN) on an acute cardiac intervention unit for 5 years and a nurse practitioner (NP) for 5 years. From the beginning, Sara realized that she had a strong interest in cardiology. Her education in the field began at Northwest Community College where, in 2010, Sara received her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) as a registered nurse. In 2013, Sara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing as a Registered Nurse (BASN-RN) from University of Memphis and then earned her degree as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) from University of Memphis in 2015. She received board certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in 2015. While at Stern, Sara has worked in both the hospital and outpatient clinic setting. Sara also previously served as adjunct faculty at Northwest Community Collage as a clinical instructor for the registered nursing program. Her specialty is preventative cardiology. When she isn’t working, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband and twin daughters. She enjoys weight training and cooking. Kelly Nazary, MSN, NP Kelly graduated from Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) then completed several travel nursing assignments in California prior to making Memphis her home. She fell in love with the kids of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and worked in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) and Emergency Department for five years. Kelly graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Memphis and has eight years of experience practicing family medicine. Kelly especially loves encouraging patients to meet their weight loss goals through eating and exercise. She has a talent for making things exciting and fun. She has also been a certified group fitness instructor since 2000. When she’s not at work, Kelly is either at church or at the YMCA with her amazing husband and kids! Marcy C. Purnell, Ph.D., APN, FNP-C Marcy became a board-certified Nurse Practitioner in 2009. She has worked as a provider of care in acute and outpatient settings for Stern Cardiovascular and has a particular interest in improving patient care through her research interests. She has served as a Clinical Investigator on trials as well during her time with Stern. Marcy earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degrees from University of Memphis and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Marcy’s research focus is in bioelectrodynamics. She is currently looking into alternative paths to health and wellness. Tish Redden, MSN, FNP-C Tish graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and spent much of her career in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as well as in cardiovascular research. She worked for a few years in Interventional Radiology before completing her master's degree in 2012 from The University of Memphis with a concentration in Family Practice. Tish is Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified. She has worked at Stern Cardiovascular since 2012. Outside of work, Tish’s family includes her husband and two daughters They enjoy traveling and Southeastern Conference (SEC) football. Lisa Reid, MSN, NP-C Lisa began working in the nursing field right after graduating from Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences in 1993. As a Registered Nurse, Lisa began her career, spending four years in a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). She then worked at Stern for several years before moving to a cardiovascular surgery practice for 16 years. Lisa decided to attend graduate school at University of Mississippi Medical Center to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) and graduated in 2017. She was certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as a An Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) and Nurse Practitioner – Clinician (NP-C). Her first Nurse Practitioner position was in an internal medicine practice, but she couldn’t stay away from her first love of cardiology for too long! When the opportunity arose to return to Stern, Lisa jumped at the chance and is so happy to be back! Married since 1994, Lisa and her husband have two beautiful daughters. More than anything, Lisa loves spending time with her family and friends! Hope Ross, AGNP-C Hope Ross, AGNP-C became a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner at Stern Cardiovascular in 2015 where she has felt privileged to work with several outstanding physicians who nurtured and guided her thirst for knowledge and gave her exceptional experience in Invasive Cardiology and Electrophysiology. Before joining Stern as well as today, Hope worked at Urgent Care of Oxford and Kindred Hospice as a Hospice Nurse Practitioner. Her experience as an Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner allows her to care for a broad-spectrum population and stay current in all aspects of healthcare. Her role as a Hospice Nurse Practitioner allows Hope to better care for this special population that are often seen in a medical office and need special services to help them when they are at their most vulnerable state. When she is not at work, Hope is busy with her husband and their two beautiful children (as well as their dog)! She loves having “girl days” with her daughter and playing bunco with her girlfriends. Lindsey Tartera, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Lindsey began her nursing career in 2011, graduating with her BSN from Baptist College of Health Sciences. She worked as a Registered Nurse on a Med-Surg unit for two years before finding her passion for cardiology while working in the Cardiac Cath Lab at Methodist Germantown for the next six years. During that time, she decided to pursue higher education and went on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis on family practice from Austin Peay State University. She became a board-certified nurse practitioner (FNP) through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Knowing that she wanted to continue her career by caring for cardiac patients, she then began working for Stern Cardiovascular Clinic. She works for Dr. Amit Malhotra at the Desoto office. Lindsey is Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified. She enjoys expanding her cardiac knowledge and learning new and innovative treatments for her patients by attending educational conferences across the country. She plans to use her cardiac experience and focus on coronary artery disease to educate and provide excellent care to Stern’s patients. Christy Thornhill, RN, BSN, FNP - BC Christy, a Registered Nurse (RN) at Stern Cardiovascular since 1999, has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) since 2001. She worked at Methodist University Hospital from 1999-2001, then again from 2003-2008. Christy worked in long term care, the arrhythmia center, and Cardiovascular Stepdown. From 2001-2005, Christy worked with Dr. James Porterfield. She joined the team at Stern Cardiovascular in 2010. She worked with Dr. McGrew for three years and now works with Dr. Patel. Her education includes Methodist Nursing School where Christy graduated as a Registered Nurse. She has both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from the University of Mississippi. Christy and her husband have three children She enjoys spending time with family, shopping, and reading. Jessica Thornton, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Jessica is licensed in Mississippi and Tennessee. Jessica’s previous work experience was in a family practice and urgent care clinics prior to starting at Stern Cardiovascular. Her nursing career began in 2005 when she graduated with an Associate of Science in Nursing from Northwest Community College. Her undergraduate degree (complete 2006) and graduate degree were completed at the University of Memphis- Lowenberg College of Nursing in 2009. Jessica became a board-certified nurse practitioner (FNP) through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in 2010. When she’s not working, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband have two sons. They love time at the lake in the summer and hunting in the winter. Debra Turner DNP, FNP-C Debra’s role with Stern Cardiovascular involves the implementation of Autonomic Care Services. These services include diagnostics, treatment and research opportunities for our patients. Debra’s unique opportunity is based on her educational background, having earned both her master’s degree and doctorate from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Graceland University is a private university that provides the chance for students to pursue their own areas of interest while meeting core requirements. Debra’s educational focus was autonomic science. In 2007, Debra opened the first Autonomic Care Clinic in Memphis and has been fortunate to continue serving this patient population. Her board certification is maintained through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). For years, she has been an active member of The American Autonomic Society, serving on the education committee. Her knowledge on the topic includes publications such as A Patient with Autonomic Imbalance, Role of nurses and nurse practitioners in the recognition, diagnosis, and management of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a narrative review, and Understanding Cardiovascular Symptoms During Recovery from Covid-19. In Debra’s spare time, she enjoys reading and loves walking with her dogs. Raquel Vaughan MSN, FNP, ACNP-BC Raquel received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from University of Tennessee at Memphis, then later became board certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) to allow her to treat both hospital and office-based patients. Raquel is passionate about helping people get healthy and stay healthy. Her goal is to help patients prevent having diabetes, stroke or a heart attack. Since 2004, Raquel has practiced with Stern Cardiovascular. Her primary focus is clinical cardiology. Raquel completed training in advanced cholesterol testing as well as prevention of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. She practiced both in acute care (seeing patients in hospitals) as well as outpatient care (in clinics). Since 2004, she has practiced in clinic only settings. Raquel loves having the opportunity to build relationships with patients. When she’s not working, Raquel is an avid college football fan; she particularly enjoys going to Ole Miss games. Blaine Williams, NP-C Blaine attended the University of Memphis and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in 1999. He practiced as a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) nurse since 1999, then graduated from the University of Memphis with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a focus on Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in 2017. Blaine currently works with Dr. Eric Johnson in the area of electrophysiology. Randall B. Williams, PA-C Randall is certified in both Advanced Cardiac Life Support and in Basic Life Support (ACLS/BLS). For Stern, Randall performs comprehensive physical exams, initiates treatment/care plans, interprets EKG/diagnostic studies, performs regular and nuclear stress tests and performs daily hospital rounds with supervising physicians. Randall’s education began at Lindenwood University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology (BS). He then received a Master’s in Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) at Bethel University. Randall has worked at Stern Cardiovascular as a Cardiology Physician’s assistant since 2015 and part-time with Baptist Healthcare as a Hospitalist. Aside from work, Randall shared that learning was his first passion, but football and baseball came in at a close second. He was lucky enough to get a scholarship through sports that gave him the opportunity to earn a degree and propelled him into the career he enjoys today. McKenzie West Williamson, FNP-C McKenzie diagnoses and treats cardiac conditions, adjusts medications, orders and reviews diagnostic testing, and schedules procedures. McKenzie received her degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2014. Initially, she began practicing in family medicine. Her background in family practice gave her a solid foundation to educate patients about their comorbidities that directly affect coronary disease. In 2015, she joined Stern Cardiovascular. McKenzie enjoys working closely with the Stern physicians and learning from them. She is passionate about patient care and helping patients understand the importance of taking care of themselves. She stresses the importance of medication compliance, daily exercise, and tobacco cessation to all of her patients. When not working, McKenzie spends time with her husband and two sons. They love traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with their family. Alicia York, RN, BSN, MSN, FNP-C Alicia has practiced since 2011 and exclaims, “I love people! This love has spread to my profession and I get the privilege to care for people every day.” Alicia began her profession as a Women's Health Nurse in the Labor and Delivery setting. She came in to contact with women in the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum stages of pregnancy. Following, she accepted her first job as a Nurse Practitioner with a Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine clinic in the Shelby and DeSoto County areas. Alicia worked with a vast patient population consisting of those with COPD, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and many other chronic medical issues. Stern Cardiovascular had an opening that Alicia filled in 2017. A majority of her cardiology patients were previously her patients with pulmonary/sleep patients. Today, Alicia also still takes care of pregnant women who now have postpartum cardiomyopathies. Additional Providers Marisa Austin, ACNP, Amber Chittick, FNP, Meghan Kauhi, FNP, Kristy Mason, FNP, Fran McCay, FNP (PRN), Robert (Bob) Pegram, FNP, Talia Reece, FNP, Brandi Rose, ARNP, FNP-C, Yim Tackett, FNP-C, Alice Uhlhorn, FNP, Nalisha Webb, FNP Who We Are Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are medical professionals that include Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Physician Assistants (PA). APPs at Stern are regarded as part of our committed healthcare team. APPs are highly knowledgeable and are part of the development and implementation of treatment plans for our patients. Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) Acute Care Nurse Practitioners are nurse practitioners who are registered nurses with graduate-level nursing degrees. They provide advanced nursing care to patients, when needed. Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioners (AGACNP) Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioners are advance practice nurses with a clinical focus on treating people (adolescents through adult). These nurses have specialized education beyond their certification as registered nurses (RN). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Doctors of Nursing Practice represent a nurse practitioner who has received a doctorate degree in nursing. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) Family Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with specialized education and training in family practice. Physician Assistants (PA) Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals who practice medicine as a part of a healthcare team of physicians and other providers. Home Find a Doctor Locations & Directions Make an Appointment Patient Portal Patient Information Patient Education News Articles Videos Advanced Practice Providers Clinical Trials Contact Us Care & Treatment Stern Cardio Diet Careers Facebook Twitter YouTube Email Privacy | Disclaimer | Employee Login All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2006 The Stern Cardiovascular Foundation, P.A. Stern Cardiovascular site developed by Innovation Road