Melissa Gustafson started her healthcare career 15 years ago as an EMT. Following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, Melissa went on to obtain her RN degree and began her nursing career working in emergency medicine. As her career progressed, Melissa saw a real need for primary care, especially in rural areas, and…
Dr. Veronica Minier: ‘I like the fact that we are willing to help everyone’ A family doctor in rural Tennessee had a life-changing impact on Dr. Veronica Minier, whose medical career has led her to the farthest U.S. territory in the Pacific to tiny towns in Alaska and Idaho. “It was nice to see how…
Family Nurse Practitioner Kerri Fjeld: ‘I like to connect with people’ Family Nurse Practitioner Kerri Fjeld is committed to her patients, the community – and her profession. “I’ve always worked at Federally Qualified Health Centers, that’s why I went into nursing,” says Fjeld, who joined Western Sierra in January 2023. “I love working with the…
Dr. Lynne Scannell brings more than three decades of pediatric experience Being close to Lake Tahoe and boasting some of the best mountain biking in the state were attractive draws for Dr. Lynne Scannell to Nevada County. But the ability to connect with patients in a rural community also scored high on her wish list.…
Physician Assistant Cara Peters: ‘I’ve always cared about community service and helping people’ Physician Assistant Cara Peters is committed to providing first-rate, quality health care to patients. It’s what she experienced firsthand from her mother – and her first internship. “I’ve always cared about community service and helping people who need it the most,” says…
Family Nurse Practitioner Nancy Allen: ‘Serving patients in so many ways and meeting them where they are most comfortable is of utmost importance’ With more than four decades of health care experience, Family Nurse Practitioner Nancy Allen seeks to enhance access for the patients of Western Sierra Medical Clinic. From answering questions about medications to…
Taylor Anderson: Being a Physician Assistant is ‘what I’ve been dreaming about’ Physician Assistant Taylor Anderson is aware of the challenges – and the critical need for quality health care in Placer and Nevada counties. “Getting to work in a community where I was raised is important to me,” says Anderson, who grew up in…
Former Army medic Daniel Barry feels at home as Physician Assistant in Downieville clinic Downieville is a great fit for Daniel Barry. The community, where the elevation is 10 times more than the number of residents, is just what the former Army medic-turned-Physician Assistant ordered on his career wish list. “In primary care, it’s as…
Nurse Practitioner Sara Rittenhouse brings experience in several areas, including substance use disorder services, pediatrics and women’s health. She earned her doctoral degree in Advanced Practice Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in spring 2020, graduated into the COVID-19 pandemic and began a journey in public service. She believes that education is often…