Meet Our Physician Support Team
Our physician assistants and nurse practitioners work closely with our physicians to provide the highest level of patient care. Along with undergraduate and post-graduate education, these professionals have extensive neurosurgical experience and help ensure a continuity of care throughout the treatment process.




Michael Nido, PA-C
Director of Clinical Services
Undergraduate Degree: Michigan State University
Physician Assistant Degree: University of Detroit Mercy



Alex Hopkins, ANP
Manager of Midlevel Providers
Undergraduate Degree: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nurse Practitioner Degree: St. Louis University



Joshua Beardsley, PA-C
Manager of Midlevel Providers
Undergraduate Degree: East Carolina University
Physician Assistant Degree: D’Youville College,
Buffalo, NY



Lauren Waldron, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Texas A&M University
Physician Assistant Degree: UT Southwestern-Dallas



Larry Braccia, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ
Physician Assistant Degree: Hahnemann
University, Philadelphia, PA



Amy Kelly, C-PNP
Undergraduate Degree: West Virginia University
Nurse Practitioner Degree: University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill



Elton Clawson, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Western Carolina
University
Physician Assistant Degree: Wake Forest
University School of Medicine



Jason Stamper, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Bowling Green State
University
Physician Assistant Degree: Marywood
University, Scranton, PA



Julie Smith, FNP
Undergraduate Degree: University of Pittsburgh
Nurse Practitioner Degree: University of North
Carolina at Charlotte



Emily Tucker, FNP
Undergraduate Degree: Queens College,
Charlotte, NC
Nurse Practitioner Degree: University of North
Carolina



Leah M. Warren, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: St. Louis University
Physician Assistant Degree: Wake Forest
University School of Medicine



Amanda Cancilla, ACNP
Undergraduate Degree: University of North
Carolina at Charlotte
Nurse Practitioner Degree: University of South
Carolina



Joy L. Hopkins, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Duquesne University, Cum Laude
Physician Assistant Degree: Duquesne University








Jonathan Lake, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Erskine College
Physician Assistant Degree: Medical University Of South Carolina



Jennifer A Farres, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: North Carolina State University
Physician Assistant Degree: Wake Forest University School of Medicine



Brian Buddendeck, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Kettering College of Medical Arts, Kettering, OH
Physician Assistant Degree: Kettering College of Medical Arts



Michelle Giordano, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Rochester Institute of Technology
Physicians Assistant Degree: Duke University Medical College



Christine I. Schupansky, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Clemson University
Physicians Assistant Degree: University
of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey



Richard E. Patterson, PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Cuyahoga  Community College
Physicians Assistant Degree:
A.T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona
Paul E. Damm, M.S., PA-C
Undergraduate Degree: Eastern Michigan University
Physicians Assistant Degree:
Wayne State University