Meet our Board of Directors

Ashley is a certified Physician Assistant who joins the Branches community with over a decade of clinical experience. She is a Middle Tennessee native and a True Blue graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where she completed her undergraduate education. She earned her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.

Ashley is passionate about health promotion and patient education and hopes to be an advocate for her patients through her role as Director of Branches Weight Management and Wellness Program. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor for MTSU’s Physician Assistant Program and is honored to help guide our community’s future healthcare providers.

Ashley resides in Lascassas with her husband, two children, and Goldendoodle, Tucker. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, and attending her children’s sporting events and activities. She is so excited to be a part of the Branches community!

Angela graduated from MTSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She received a Master of Science in Medicine from Trevecca
Nazarene University. She has worked as a Physician Assistant for the past 21 years in Murfreesboro. Over the years, while practicing in a different specialty, she noticed a growing need for mental health services for her patients. In order to better serve those patients she attended New Life University here at Branches. With the knowledge gained at NLU, along with her experience in medicine, she now desires to further help individuals at Branches with their behavioral health concerns through Mental Health Medication Management. As a Psychiatric PA, she is able to both diagnose and prescribe medication for those in need.

Angela is an avid reader and loves spending time with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys attending the multiple extracurricular activities her four children are involved in.

Allison Courtney, FNP-BC, is a Murfreesboro transplant originally from Houston, TX. Allison began her nursing career in 2011 after graduating with her BSN from the University of Arkansas. Upon graduation Allison was accepted into the Vanderbilt Critical Care nurse residency program and was matched to the Medical Intensive Care Unit. She spent the next eight years working as a bedside ICU nurse. During that time she saw first hand the impact of chronic disease on an individual’s body, mind, and spirit. As a result, she became passionate about health promotion and disease prevention and decided to attend Belmont’s MSN program to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Allison has been working at Branches since 2018. She serves as both a clinical Nurse Practitioner and the Director of Branches Weight Loss and Wellness. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine and is a founding member of the TN Obesity Society. By targeting the root causes of excess body weight Allison hopes to prevent and reverse chronic disease while equipping patients to live a healthier lifestyle. 

In her free time Allison enjoys yoga, cycling, cooking and spending time with her husband and two sons. 

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Alex Barnes, LPC-MHSP, MS - Alex earned a Masters of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lipscomb University. She is  a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Mental Health Service Provider designation. She enjoys helping and walking alongside those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, relational issues, grief and adjustment. Alex has been working in the mental health field since 2013. In her spare time she enjoys working out, being active outdoors, and spending time with family, friends and her dog.