Derek is a high country native, and has been working as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in Ashe County since 2003.

Derek holds undergraduate degrees from Appalachian State University (BS, Health Promotion) and Lenoir-Rhyne College (BS, Nursing). He obtained his first graduate degree from East Tennessee State University (MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner) and specializes in rural family care with interests in high complexity case management, diabetes, mental health, and hormone management. Derek completed his Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) through Concordia University Wisconsin in 2015. He utilizes the holistic (all-encompassing) approach as the foundation for care provided, believing preventive health is paramount to the nature of services rendered. As the healthcare industry as a whole is dynamic, staying current and seeking continual education endeavors is important and this has been represented by Derek’s desire to pursue a higher level of education.

“Our mission is to help others want to help themselves. Through education, advanced testing, comprehensive care, and focusing on the human resilience factor, we can facilitate change and improve outcomes in the lives of our patients as well as in our community. Our practice offers advanced assessment and treatment methods thought previously unavailable in primary care,” says Derek. “We take a genuine interest in our patients, our community, and the quality of care we provide.”

Derek is board certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Family Nurse Practitioner.