All People

Dr. Hoffman has nearly a decade of experience in health services research. Prior to joining Duke, she served as a Research Associate at L&M Policy Research assisting with evaluations of Medicare programs, a Research Assistant in North Carolina’s Rural Health Research Program, and a Pre-Doctoral Fellow in Duke’s Department of Population Health. Dr. Hoffman holds both a PhD in Health Policy and Management and a BA in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.   

I have been working with healthcare and information systems for many years. I enjoy taking on new challenges; there is always something new to take on. Being a part of a team that ultimately delivers information to the business entities in order to make informed decisions is very fulfilling.

My background is truly international and reflects most traditional characteristics of multiple amazing cultures I had the privilege to experience during my life. I speak several languages and play piano (used to be a piano teacher), love to cook for my family and adore my grandkids. Coming from Duke Raleigh Hospital Case Management Department, where I worked for the last 4 years, I have a special passion for Complex Case Management. I found it rewarding and enjoyed assisting patients with the safe discharges from the hospital. In particular, I enjoyed figuring out the reasons and barriers which prompted each patient to keep coming back to the ED or hospital, and then resolve them. I believe that I will be able to continue providing excellent services for the Population Health here at the Resource Center.

After graduating from Watts School of Nursing here in Durham, I started my nursing career at Duke University Hospital (DUH) on 8300: Adult Medicine in March of 2012. In November of 2013, I joined the DUH emergency department, where I was able to hone my critical thinking skills while caring for a diverse and complex patient population. I love problem solving, being a part of a team, and helping others.

Amit obtained his pharmacy degree from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy. He also completed a PGY-1 Managed Care and PGY-2 Ambulatory Care residency with Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. Prior to coming to Duke, Amit worked as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Harris Health System in Houston, TX, managing patients with diabetes, hypertension, CAD, hyperlipidemia, and on anticoagulation. His interests also include disease state management in the primary care setting. He has a strong passion for improving patient outcomes and educating the next generation of pharmacists.

In addition to the design and implementation of Healthy Planet—Epic’s population health module—Andrea Long oversees the development of IT infrastructure and analytical tools to optimize PHMO operations. Previously, she served as pharmacist analyst for ambulatory medication system configuration, holding certifications in both EpicCare Ambulatory and Willow Inpatient. Dr. Long received her BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As part of her continued clinical training, she completed a pharmacy practice residency at Duke University Hospital.

I have a strong background in both patient and customer service, working in a community clinic for 15 years. I enjoy diverse work settings, and I am comfortable quickly adapting to different work environments and people.

I graduated from Watts School of Nursing in 2011 and have been part of the Duke family ever since! I graduated in 2016 with my BSN from the University of Mount Olive. I have worked in both inpatient and ambulatory settings throughout my career, specifically in general medicine and infusion nursing. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, decorating, and spending time with my fur babies. I am passionate about quality, patient-centered care and what DukeWELL has to offer patients and their families.

Dr. Churchwell serves as director of DukeWELL Care Management for PHMO's care management programs. She is fully licensed as a mental health counselor and clinical addiction specialist with over 15 years of administrative and clinical experience working with children and adults of varying backgrounds who suffer from chronic health concerns. Ms. Churchwell’s work supporting and advocating for underserved communities locally and internationally are a driving force personally as well as professionally. Ms. Churchwell is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee State Universities. She completed her doctorate in the Counseling and Counselor Education program at North Carolina State University, where she researched patient perceptions of trust and trust development in patient-provider relationships within primary care clinics that serve marginalized populations. Dr. Churchwell was awarded a Counseling Fellowship from NBCC and Affiliates in 2017.

I have a been a registered nurse for eight years with a background in long-term care, sub-acute rehab, med-surg, specialty infusion, and multi-specialty clinic. What I most enjoy about nursing is the ability to oversee patient care and ensure the highest level of service for our patients and their families. It is especially fulfilling to see our patients' overall health improve.

Dr. Smith has oversight of the clinical pharmacy programs and initiatives for the Duke Population Health Management Office and the Duke Connected Care network. He is also responsible for the ambulatory clinical pharmacy strategy across Duke University Health System. Dr. Smith graduated from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC Chapel Hill and completed a pharmacy residency in ambulatory care at Mission Hospital and the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, NC. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and is board certified in both ambulatory care and geriatric pharmacy practice. Dr. Smith practices as a clinical pharmacist practitioner at the Duke Outpatient Clinic, an internal medicine resident teaching clinic. Prior to joining Duke Health in 2012, he practiced in an outpatient clinic at Mission Hospital. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, exercising, traveling, and gardening.

Bianca obtained a BS in General Biology and a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health and Health Behavior, both from East Carolina University. She is passionate about helping people within her community holistically through empathetic communication, active listening, and necessary advocation. She says, "I have learned so much about what it truly means to be a healthcare provider while working at DukeWELL thus far and hope to continue this education." She aspires to attend PA school in the coming years and will specialize in mental and behavioral health. When she's not juggling work and school, her free time consists of binge watching movies with her dog, nature walks, leisure reading, social media content creating, and working out.

My practice focuses on taking care of patients living with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure and high blood pressure. I enjoy getting to know my patients over time and helping them make important health decisions. As a researcher at Duke, I lead a chronic kidney disease “early warning” program designed to connect kidney patients to the right care at the right time. When I'm not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and woodworking.

Brittney graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy. She completed two years of pharmacy residency training with a focus in ambulatory care and population health at Novant Health in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Prior to joining Duke Health, Brittney practiced as a clinical pharmacy specialist, managing lipid, anticoagulation, and primary care clinics at various Novant Health locations.

I love my job. I feel honored in my profession to have the unique privilege of being ensured with the trust and confidence of patient's lives and emotions. I enjoy learning from my patients as much as I love teaching them about their illnesses and helping them lead healthier lives. The study of medicine has allowed me to pursue my fascination with the scientific intricacies of the human body and my passion for creating long-lasting, meaningful relationships with my patients. Outside of the office, I enjoy running, hiking, cooking, and sitting on the porch with family and friends.

I have been an RN for 22 years, earning my BSN from North Carolina A&T State University: "Go Aggies!" I've worked in a variety of settings and worn lots of hats from bedside nursing to management. I enjoy making a positive impact in the lives of my patients. I work hard to ensure I'm living my best life, and I strive to help my patients do the same.

I am a critical care and emergency department nurse with case management experience. I find case management very rewarding, and I enjoy assisting patients with plans that provide optimal benefit and add value to their lives.

I have worked for Duke for 25 years and enjoy helping patients and their loved ones become proactive in their healthcare needs.

I have 24 years of Nursing experience. I enjoy making a difference and helping any way I can!

Cindy Leslie A. Roberson, PharmD, BCACP, CPP is a DukeWELL Clinical Pharmacist wihtin the Duke Population Health Management Office (PHMO). She performs multiple roles at PHMO: she is the pharmacist on interdisciplinary teams for the Duke TeleHOPE (Health Optimization Program for Elders) program, which provides transitions of care through a weekly post-discharge telehealth video conference with participating skilled nursing facilities, and PHMO’s Geriatric, Endocrine, and Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Specialty Case Reviews. Additionally, she reviews medication-related optimization recommendation requests from providers and care managers who work with patients’ clinical care needs in the ambulatory setting. She is an active preceptor for the pharmacy students at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy and offers an American Society of Health System Pharmacist (ASHP)-accredited Longitudinal Transitions of Care Elective for 2nd-year internal medicine pharmacy residents. She is involved in multiple NIH-funded research projects at Duke, such as Falls Assessment of Medications in the Elderly (FAME) and Expanding Technology-Enabled, Nurse-Delivered Chronic Disease Care (EXTEND). She is also involved in the Duke Interprofessional Education Care Center grant award that provides experiential learning on transitions of care. She participates in multiple research committees for PHMO and Duke University Hospital.

Dr. Roberson received her bachelor of science degree at UNC Chapel Hill. She earned a doctor of pharmacy degree from UNC's Eshelman School of Pharmacy and completed a clinical pharmacy residency at Virginia Commonwealth University. After residency, she worked as an assistant professor at Chicago State University College of Pharmacy (CSU-COP) and was involved with development and teaching of required and elective courses, grant-related projects, local and national student organizations, community service programs, and precepted pharmacy students. She then became a clinical pharmacist at Advocate Medical Group, managing chronic disease states for the underserved population. She is board certified in ambulatory care.

She has several publications and has presented her work in various symposia. She has received a Duke Health Great Catch Award, Duke AHEAD Aspire Award, AACP Student Community Engaged Service Award, First Place in Basic Science Research 11th Annual Scripps Conference, Midwest Asian Health Association Community Service Award, Faculty of the Year Academic Award, CSU Seed and Faculty Development Grants, and the NC TraCs Institute Grant Research Award.

Dr. Roberson served as a member in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Research Achievement Award selection, AACP Distinguished Scholarly and Teaching Committee, and American Pharmacist Association (APhA) Therapeutics Advisory Board.

Daniel Costello serves as DCC’s Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Mr. Costello was a senior policy and program examiner at the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Washington, DC, where he was responsible for creating and implementing federal budgets and policies. Mr. Costello also served as a Presidential Management Fellow at OMB, and a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. He graduated from Boston University and received his MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

I am a med-peds hospitalist and researcher with interests in improving systems of care of patients with complex health needs. My research focus areas include implementation science, population health sciences, community-engaged research, and digital health. My vision is to design, implement, evaluate, and scale programs and interventions that will simplify the delivery of complex care. By doing so, we can equitably improve the health outcomes that matter most to children and adults with complex health needs and their families.

I am from the foothills of North Carolina, and I became a CNA in 1998. I moved to Durham in 2003 and have worked as a
CNA for 17 years. I went back to school and got my CNA II in 2017. I then became a CNA II at a Duke Health clinic; while there, I also received a pharmacy tech certificate. I have done all these things because I enjoy taking care of people, and these things are all different ways to do that.

I am a native of Greenville, NC. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Winston-Salem State University and my Master’s degree in Social Work from East Carolina University. I am Provisionally licensed in NC in Social Work and fully licensed as an Addiction Counselor in NC and VA. I am currently a Clinical Supervisor Intern for Substance Use and a part-time Adjunct Professor for UNCG and GTCC. I love traveling and being a mother and an advocate for those suffering from the disease of addiction.

Geri Kanne, ANP-BC, GS-C is an adult nurse practitioner who specializes in the care of older adults. She started her nursing career as an inpatient RN at Duke Hospital many years ago. She went on to become a nurse practitioner, where she worked for many years in oncology before transitioning to geriatrics. She assists with geriatrics program development for primary care sites within the Duke Connected Care network and sees patients in Duke’s geriatric specialty clinics. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
 

It is a great privilege to see older adult patients in consultation and to work with them, their families, and their primary care physicians to ensure the highest quality of health and wellness. I am especially interested in the care of those with cognitive difficulties, those who struggle with mood changes, and those who find themselves serving as caregivers to others.

Dr. Alvarado graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2007 and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). Prior to joining Duke, she worked at Dorothea Dix and then practiced as a clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) managing lipid and anticoagulation clinics in various Research Triangle locations. She also serves on the advisory board of Pharmacist Moms, a national group dedicated to advocacy for women in pharmacy. Dr. Alvarado’s specific areas of interest are cardiovascular risk reduction and mental health.

Holly has worked with Duke for 10 years. After graduating Watts School of nursing, she worked in orthopaedics at Duke Raleigh Hospital as a bedside nurse and a patient navigator. Most recently she served as the Manager of Service Excellence and Volunteer Services for Duke Raleigh. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Mount Olive and is currently completing her MSN in nursing administration. During her role as a patient navigator, she developed a passion for tangibly improving the patient experience, establishing measurable outcomes, and helping team members elevate the care we provide our patients.

I have a little over ten years of experience in healthcare and have worked in various settings within the healthcare system. I first started off as a nursing assistant and have worked my way through many different roles to gain knowledge and familiarity with all sides of healthcare. I have had the opportunity to work in inpatient hospitals, physician offices, and outpatient clinic settings. These experiences have allowed me to grow my skills as a nurse and caregiver but have also helped me understand the numerous challenges many patients face while trying to navigate the healthcare system. My favorite part of all of my experiences is the relationships I have built with patients over the years. I truly enjoy working together to help each patient overcome their obstacles. It is my hope to continue to build relationships and help guide each patient to the best of my ability here at Duke Health.

Dr J Nathan Copeland is an assistant professor in the Duke Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and an attending child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. He completed medical school at the University of Tennessee and both his general adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Dr. Copeland has interests in the management of mental illness and mental health among autistic and developmentally different children, integrated care with a focus on improving mental health access in the primary care setting, and mental health advocacy. Dr Copeland is a child psychiatrist with the North Carolina Psychiatry Access Line, medical director of the Duke Primary Care Behavioral Health Program, legislative affairs chair for the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, president-elect of the North Carolina Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and he is a representative to the Assembly of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Surrounding all of this work, he has the pleasure and privilege of working with supportive and passionate colleagues at Duke who are driven to improve the health and well-being of individuals and the communities that we serve.

My nursing experience includes medical-surgical and endoscopy nursing, informatics, staff development and education, as well as clinical instruction with Duke University School of Nursing. These roles have helped form and shape me as a nursing leader. What I enjoy most is mentoring and encouraging staff in their professional development. Sharing best practices, providing support, and helping staff to reach their professional goals is so rewarding.

I grew up in New Jersey but lived in New York City for 10 years and Los Angeles for 14 years before moving to the Raleigh area in 2018. I received my Bachelors in Social Work from West Virginia University and my Masters in Social Work from New York University. I have over 20 years of experience working as a clinical social worker, with the majority of those years working in behavioral health. Prior to coming to DukeWELL, I worked in the Duke Emergency Department. I enjoy working with patients to identify barriers to care and help problem solve so they can be more successful in achieving the goals they have set for themselves. When I am not at work, I enjoy time with my family, photography, baking, and getting outside (hiking and riding my bike)!

Ms. Smith has a diverse marketing communications background across a variety of industries, with nearly fifteen years of experience in the healthcare space. Before joining Duke Health, Ms. Smith worked in the provider marketing group for a large national payer. Prior to that, she worked for a health system in Ohio, where she led a team focused on provider communication for an independent physician organization and clinically-integrated network. She has a BS in Communication from the University of Miami.

Jesse Vick's background is primarily finance. He graduated in 2009 from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, earning a BSBA. He lives in Granville County with his wife and two kids (son & daughter). They enjoy camping, sports, outdoor activities, and hanging out with family and friends.

John P Yeatts MD, MPH serves as assistant vice president (AVP) and chief medical officer (CMO) of Population Health at Duke Health, as well as executive director of Duke Connected Care, Duke’s accountable care organization (ACO). A practicing internist, Dr. Yeatts also serves as assistant professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine and serves as acting program director for the Management and Leadership Pathway for Residents, a residency program unique to Duke that seeks to train the next generation of physician executives.

Prior to enrolling in medical school, Dr. Yeatts worked at Goldman Sachs in London. A North Carolina native, he completed his undergraduate education as a Morehead scholar at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he also eventually earned his medical degree and masters in public health. He completed residency training at Duke University Hospital in internal medicine and the Management and Leadership Pathway. He lives in Durham, NC with his wife Emily and three sons.

Katherine, or “Kat” as she prefers to be called, is a nurse who has been with Duke Health since she was a new graduate nurse in 2014 after an 11-year career in Public Radio. She began her nursing career in the Duke University Hospital Emergency Department, and has since worked for the health system as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), a Transfer Center Nurse, the Duke Health SANE Program Manager, and now as PHMO's Population Health Nurse for the Duke Foster Care Clinic. In 2020, she obtained her MSN in Nursing Informatics. Kat is passionate about community education and ensuring compassionate care coordination for all our patients. 

As a board certified clinical health psychologist, my clinical work and research primarily focuses on military psychology, chronic disease, mood disorders, and chronic pain. I am also invested in the area of understanding the dynamic factors that contribute to body image disturbance in African American and Caribbean populations. I frequently travel to Caribbean countries—particularly my birthplace of Jamaica—for scientific exploration and to maintain cultural connections. Currently, I am involved in scientific collaborations focused on chronic disease and body image disturbance with the University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

Kelly is originally from Raleigh, NC. After graduating from the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, she completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Indiana University Health and a PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Prior to joining Duke Health, Kelly worked with Prisma Health Primary Care in Columbia, SC as a clinical pharmacist managing patients with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, CAD, and on anticoagulation. She is passionate about helping patients take control over their own health journeys.

Kendell is an experienced clinician with a diverse background in patient care and advocacy. She started her journey with Duke Health in 2020 as a licensed registered nurse prior to her transition to the Population Health Management Office’s Data and Analytics team. She has a passion for problem solving, critical thinking, and improving processes to help guide decisions that facilitate positive outcomes for the populations that Duke Health serves.

Kevin is a Software Developer. After serving in the US Army, he decided to pursue his interest in technology, obtaining a master’s degree in computer science. Kevin hopes his work will contribute to the improvement of health outcomes for the populations served by Duke Health.

I have been a nurse for 25 years. Eighteen of those years have been at Duke Regional Hospital. I have mostly worked with cardiac patients and have recently in the past 3 years moved to case management. I love talking with my patients and helping them reach their health care goals.

I am a licensed counselor with extensive experience in community mental health. I love taking a collaborative approach with other providers to meet the needs of those we serve through education, support, and linkage to resources. I am excited about starting my journey here at Duke Health. 

I was born and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan. I came to North Carolina in 1994 to earn my Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Augustine’s College (Go Falcons!) and I received my Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University (Go Flames!).  I’ve been blessed with a great group of friends and family.  I enjoy making new memories with my loved ones through traveling, listening to music and dancing.

I have 14 years of nursing experience with a background in General Surgery, PACU, Pre-Op, and Telephonic Behavioral Health (focusing on depression and anxiety). Nursing is my passion and I truly enjoy making a difference in the lives of those in which I provide care.

I was born in California and raised in Shelby, North Carolina. I graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2009 (Go Tarheels!) and earned a Master's in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in 2017 (Go Eagles!). I enjoy trying new foods, great music, reading, traveling, softball, and trying to salsa dance. I have a daughter who keeps me on my toes. Spending time with her and my other family members and friends truly makes me happy.

Dr. Greenblatt serves as Medical Director for Northern Piedmont Community Care which provides practice support, care management, and population management primarily for Medicaid recipients. In addition to this role, he focuses his professional efforts in two additional domains. First, he provides care to a busy general internal medicine panel utilizing an approach that is both patient-centered and evidence-based.  Second, he is an active educator routinely providing clinical teaching to students and residents. He routinely regularly provides faculty development in teaching and other skills for medical educators across many professions both in Durham and in the Academic Medicine Education Institute in Singapore and is currently working on developing systems and policy to improve opioid safety both for Duke Health System and the State of North Carolina.

I was born in Jamaica and relocated to New Jersey. I received my Bachelors Degree from North Carolina Central University and Masters Degree from Howard University. I am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor, and my career experience includes behavioral health services working with children, adolescents, and adults. I enjoy traveling, reading, listening to music, and spending time with my children and family. I have a passion for helping others to be their own best advocates.

I have dedicated my life to the service of others. I started my career at Duke Hospital after completing my BSN at Syracuse University. I went on to do travel nursing in the Washington, DC area. I returned to NC and completed almost 19 years at WakeMed Cary Hospital, which included four years as a staff nurse, four years as a clinical care coordinator for the Hospital Medicine Service, and eleven years as an inpatient case manager. I am returning to my home at Duke Hospital as a care manager in the Resource Center.

This new position combines my love of my thirty years of nursing experience, five years of clinical mental health experience, and fourteen years of supervision experience. I love that I am doing more clinical work, and I am able to “breath the same air as my clients/patients” again. I am so excited to be employed at Duke Health! I am back in a familiar place!

I am a dedicated mother, wife, daughter, friend, and patient advocate who uses my skills and experience as a registered nurse to empower individuals to be the driver in their healthcare journeys and live their healthiest lives.

I worked as a case manager for 20 years in NY before re-locating to NC. I love educating patients to be able to self-manage their own health on a day-to-day basis. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to make a difference in their lives.

Madeline graduated from the University of New England in Portland, Maine. She completed two years of pharmacy residency training at Novant Health with an ambulatory care focus. Prior to Duke, she worked at Cone Health in Greensboro as an embedded primary care pharmacist, focusing on management of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma/COPD, osteoporosis, and other chronic diseases. She really enjoys building relationships with patients and working collaboratively with the healthcare team to develop the best possible care.

Marcie Fuson has served as the Operations Manager and Director of Educational Programs in the Population Health Management Office since its inception in November 2016. A Durham native, Ms. Fuson has been at Duke since March 1979 and has more than 40 years of experience in financial and human resources management, grant submissions/monitoring, coordination of educational programs, and program management. Prior to joining PHMO, she served for 16 years as Director of Operations for the Division of Community Health in the Department of Community and Family Medicine. In her early career, Ms. Fuson served as the Program Coordinator for Duke’s National Faculty Development Workshop and Duke’s Faculty Development Fellowship Program. 

I was born and raised until age ten in Liberia, so I experienced diversity at a young age. I have been a nurse for thirty years, working in hospitals and clinics, in management and education, and in direct patient care and via telephone. As someone with both social work and nursing degrees, I truly enjoy helping people be the best that they can be.

I graduated from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy with my Doctor of Pharmacy. I completed PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residencies in Ambulatory Care at Virginia Commonwealth University Health and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, respectively. I am a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP), and I serve as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Education with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Prior to Duke, I worked with WakeMed Primary Care as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP). I am passionate about improving health outcomes by optimizing medications used to treat diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

After working in a non-technical role—but being exposed to the data side of work—I found out I have a big interest in working with data, so healthcare and health system data is a natural fit. I am happy to be a part of PHMO’s efforts to more effectively deliver quality healthcare to underserved populations in the surrounding area.

I am originally from Nepal. Before moving to North Carolina, I was in West Virginia for ten years, so I have three places I call home. My nursing experience includes Stepdown/Cardiac/Telemetry/Med-Surg, Skilled Nursing, and Inpatient Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. What I love the most about nursing is that I get to touch the lives of people from so many different paths of life and vice versa. I find helping people in their healing journey very rewarding.

My nursing background includes ortho, med-surge, geriatrics, and mental health. I am passionate about helping patients and families improve their overall well-being. DukeWELL’s mission and vision aligns with my values of advancing health together. I am excited to be a part of the team.

Melissa has been a part of Duke Health since 2005. She worked clinically as both a pediatric ICU nurse and lung transplant coordinator. She also served as the Patient Safety Officer at Duke Raleigh Hospital, and most recently lead the Duke Connected Care Provider Relations team. Melissa holds a Master of Health Administration from Pfeiffer University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety and is passionate about partnering with healthcare providers to improve the safety and quality of care we provide to our patients across the continuum.

A self-confessed computer nerd since an early age, Michael veered off temporarily to study Electronic and Electrical Engineering only to find himself back into the software development world. Ever since, he has worked designing and implementing software for a number of industries and eventually settled down in the health sector, hoping to contribute to the effort of providing the best quality health care possible.

I have over 15 years of nursing experience in various healthcare settings. I love working with patients, and their families, providing holistic care. I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience in community based behavioral health and medical case management. I have always had a passion for working with children and families in various capacities. I enjoy collaborating with others for a common goal to enhance the wellbeing of individuals in need.

I am a board-certified registered nurse with over 20 years experience and an acute nurse case manager since March 2011. I have many years of experience providing comprehensive and quality patient care, improving patient outcomes while developing solid relationships with patients and their families. My direct nursing patient care background includes working at WakeMed Acute Rehab Hospital, WakeMed Raleigh Hospital Telemetry Unit, WakeMed Home Health, infusion therapy, private duty nursing, and various skilled nursing rehab facilities. 

Neiah Hunter is an Administrative Clerk for the Duke Population Health Management Office. She assists with patient mailings and helps the teleHOPE team. It brings joy to Ms. Hunter being a helping hand to staff and ensuring that patients get the information they need. In her free time, Neiah enjoys making art, spending time with family and friends, and shopping!

I received my BSN at University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. After working as a med surg and cardiac nurse for several years, I found my calling in public health nursing. Serving the community on a more personal level is definitely my niche.      

My background work includes providing social services, support, and resources to patients and clients in surrounding communities. I am transitioning into this current position from that of a certified case manager in the inpatient setting of Duke Health. The quote that I live by is "any day that I can help at least one individual will always be a great day."

I have always been interested in hearing people's stories and trying to understand their experiences. I was drawn to psychiatry as I sought to understand how the struggles that each of us faces can impact us across the lifespan. As a child psychiatrist, I have studied how to help a person heal and recover from these struggles. There is a lot that psychiatry can offer, but it all starts with forming a good relationship between the psychiatrist and each individual patient, learning what a patient needs, and what they are working towards. Each of us is doing the best we can at any given time, and I hope that every interaction I have with a patient provides some hope of how things can continue to improve. I have a specific interest in depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychotic disorders, and ADHD. My current focus is how to help reduce the stigma of seeking mental health care and improve access to care in our state.

I am a masters-level Public Health professional with more than ten years of experience working with healthcare data and analytics. I enjoy finding insights in data and communicating those insights to management and leadership to drive decision making. I find joy in mining data and communicating findings in an accessible way to technical and non-technical audiences. I look forward to working with the Duke Population Health Management Office and providing insights that will ultimately improve the health and quality of life of all Duke patients.

I specialize in adolescent and young adult medicine. This includes all primary care needs of adolescents, including those transitioning into adulthood as well as young adults up to age 30. I also care for patients with a variety of complex needs, including those with various chronic illnesses, eating disorders, behavioral challenges, reproductive health concerns, developmental difficulties and patients facing diagnostic dilemmas. My priority is to provide personalized care with a broad view of each young person's entire life with the goal of promoting positive development and future success.

I am from Greenville, NC. I received my Bachelors in Social Work from the iIllustrious North Carolina A&T State University and my Masters of Science in Gerontology from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Often times, I like to tell people that I did not choose social work but it chose me. I am passionate about educating and assisting those in my community to receive the assistance they need.

My interest in geriatrics is inspired by the stories and experiences of my grandparents and other grand-aunts and grand-uncles. WWII veterans, business owners, immigrants, and yacht builders: they each have had a fascinating story to tell. Being a geriatrician has helped me turn my appreciation for my family into a career where I help older adults live their lives to the fullest. I enjoy focusing on quality of life with my patients by discussing goals and priorities at every visit.

I was born and raised in Wilson, North Carolina. Things I enjoy doing include volunteering, arts and crafts, event planning, and reading. I graduated in 2012 with my BSN from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. I started my nursing career with Duke in 2012 as a new graduate RN. I love the work that I do and enjoy working with and for DukeWELL! I decided to make Durham my new home. The area has a lot to offer and has been a part of my growth. I met my husband here and recently started a family. Currently, I am most excited about being a boy mom!

I am a mom and a G'ma. I have a wonderful family. I worked for Regional Pediatrics for nine years. I am a Peer Support Specialist and a Certified Nursing Assistant. I love helping people. Now, I'm working as a Resource Center Care Coodinator; I am working my dream job!

Stephnie is a certified pharmacy technician who graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2013 with a Bachelors of Arts in Biology. She has retail pharmacy experience dating back to 2009 at Kerr Drug, and she continued working in the pharmacy through college before becaming nationally certified in February 2012. Stephanie leads the team of DukeWELL Pharmacy Technicians that provides general pharmacy and administrative support to DukeWELL care managers, as well as conducting home visits to Medicare patients in Wake and Durham Counties in order to obtain accurate medication histories and support safer medication use.

I have been working in healthcare as a CNA for 14 years. My experience is in long-term and ambulatory care. The work I do is rewarding; I get to help others and make a difference in my patients' lives.

Tara Kinard serves as the associate chief nursing officer for the Duke Population Health Management Office (PHMO). Prior to joining Duke PHMO, she served in a variety of roles with the Wake County Medical Society Community Health Foundation, including care management, practice/provider liaison quality and support, and leadership. She also served as a regional vice president for Community Care of North Carolina.

Tara is a driven and passionate leader with more than two decades of progressive experience in both acute and community settings, focused on improving care delivery across the care continuum for vulnerable populations. Tara has a commitment to patient-centered care and a passion for improving patient outcomes, care transitions, and addressing health disparities and unmet social needs that impact health. Tara is inspired by the team she serves and is dedicated to helping team members grow and achieve their professional goals. She is passionate about bringing together and empowering providers, multi-disciplinary teams, patients, and communities to deliver on common goals of improving health.

Tara obtained her nursing degree from Watts School of Nursing in Durham, her masters’ degrees from East Carolina University, and her doctorate of nursing practice degree with executive leadership specialty from Duke University School of Nursing. She enjoys spending time with family, can often be found on the Peloton leaderboard, and is active in extracurricular activities that involve her children.

Tory has a political science undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and a Masters in Accounting from Belmont University. She has worked in DUHS Corporate Finance since 2013, first in General Accounting, then in FP&A.

Tuwana Cash Garrett oversees human resources for the Population Health Management Office and is responsible for processing new hires, performance management, recruitment and retention, and payroll transactions. Ms. Garrett’s goal is to foster an environment that values diversity, employee development, and professionalism—while maintaining a dedicated focus on organizational effectiveness and customer service.

Dr. Jackson Carter serves Duke employees and their dependents as senior clinical account executive with Express Scripts. She manages the Duke pharmacy benefit and works with physician leadership on realizing cost savings, improving patient care, and increasing patient safety. Through her efforts at Duke, Dr. Jackson Carter was awarded a "Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute Excellence Award" in 2016 for innovative care management strategies. Dr. Jackson Carter graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in biology and doctorate in pharmacy. She completed a residency in ambulatory care with Mission Hospitals and holds her ACCP board certification in ambulatory care.

I have 19 years of experience as an RN, and I’ve worked in various clinical settings, such as med/surge, mother/baby, orthopedics, home health, and psychiatric/substance abuse nursing. For the last ten years, I have been in nurse care management, which I love because it’s challenging yet very rewarding to help the people in my community.

I have more than 6 years of nursing experience in various health care settings. I love working with patients to provide excellent patient-centered, holistic care while helping them reach their goals. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and listening to music.