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…

Nancy Madrigal Villalpando works primarily out of WSMC’s Penn Valley clinic. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and later pursued a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic, West Campus. Born and raised around the Yuba City area, she isn’t new to the small-town living.…

With over 40 years of experience, Karen Lee joins Western Sierra Medical Clinic as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the Penn Valley clinic. At 15, Karen began her healthcare career as a nurse’s aide and got her LVN nursing license at 19. She later graduated Summa Cum Laude from California State University, Stanislaus with a…

Dr. Jason McCraw joined Western Sierra Medical Clinic in 2023. Dr. McCraw’s goal is “to provide patient-centered, evidence-based chiropractic care. I believe chiropractic care is a viable and essential option for pain management and reducing dependency on opioids.” He obtained his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota. He worked closely…

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Morgan Stewart: ‘This has been my lifelong dream of helping people at this level’ Morgan Stewart is embracing a dream come true – helping women with their health care needs. “I still have to pinch myself,” says Stewart, a recent Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner graduate who joined Western Sierra in October…

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.…

 Family Nurse Practitioner Jessica Lusignan: ‘I am developing relationships with all of my patients and get to collaborate in their health care decisions – that brings me great joy” Close friends and the study of alternative medicine attracted Family Nurse Practitioner Jessica Lusignan to Nevada County. But her connection with the tight-knit community, her family,…

 John Eby: ‘Mental Health touches everyone’  Licensed Marriage and Family Therapost, John Eby embraces the challenge of connecting with patients suffering from mental health issues and providing much-needed services. “I want to increase the knowledge of and compassion for mental health issues,” says Eby, who joined Western Sierra Medical Clinic in June 2022. “Mental health…