Honors a nurse practitioner or physician assistant whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.

TIFFANY BOWERS

TITLE: Family Nurse Practitioner   
    
ORGANIZATION: Dawson Med & Dawson Med Urgent Care

WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “Tiffany Bowers goes above and beyond, not only for her patients but also for staffing the clinic with UNCW health students.

She mentors students and encourages them to continue in the health care field. Two of her students are completing their DNP, while three of her students have applied to medical school, all because of her care for their growth and compassion for the community she serves.

They even have taken on an AmeriCorps volunteer from Louisiana who postponed medical school for a year to join Dawson Med. Ms. Bowers leads with courage and care. She is training the next cohort of medical professionals to do the same.”

– Dawson Med

KENDRA KELLERMANN           

TITLE: Child Medical Evaluation Provider    

ORGANIZATION: Carousel Child Advocacy Center

WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: Kellerman “is admired for the many things she has done and continues to do for children in our community. Kendra came to work at Carousel after independently going to find the training she needed to provide medical exams for children with concern for abuse.

While working at Carousel, Kendra sought out certification as both a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) and AFN (Advanced Forensic Nurse) to increase her ability to provide for the most vulnerable population.

Kendra took a brief break from work at Carousel to serve children in the school setting, keeping children safe during the COVID pandemic, as well as educating school personnel about CDC guidelines.

She returned to Carousel to integrate all of her skills to provide the best for the children we serve. Kendra is gentle and caring with all children and ensures each child is provided with the best that we offer. She speaks with parents and caregivers, providing education, offering support to families at one of the most difficult times. Kendra is admired by our community partners, who are grateful for her skills, knowledge and expertise. Kendra presents kindness and concern to every family every day.”

– Mary Beth Koehler, medical provider supervisor, Carousel Child Advocacy Center

CHRIS MCKINLEY       

TITLE: CEO and President      

ORGANIZATION: Coastline Wellness

WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “Chris is very accommodating ... and goes above and beyond to make sure his patients are well educated and properly taken care of when he works with them. He has a tremendous understanding of functional medicine and holistic wellness.

Due to his amazing background in (Division) 1 college athletics, his past work serving our country as a Navy SEAL and his dedication to fitness, he has a tremendous understanding of the human body and the connection between the body and the mind.

Chris is also one of the only practitioners in the area that specializes in ketamine infusion therapy for mental health, which makes him a true life saver in the area when it comes to patients struggling with treatment-resistant depression and other mental health issues.”

– Aaron Lee, patient

Read more about all of the 2024 Health Care Heroes finalists here.