Family Health

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Medical School: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Residency Program: MAHEC Family Medicine
Fellowship: Primary Care Sports Medicine, Cone Health Sports Medicine Fellowship
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine, Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine, Diplomate in Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Brian Atkinson brings specialized expertise in family medicine, lifestyle medicine, and sports medicine to his practice. With a focus on musculoskeletal injuries and preventive care for active individuals, he works closely with his patients to develop personalized treatment and recovery plans. Dr. Atkinson is particularly passionate about helping patients of all ages maintain wellness, mobility, and function throughout their lives. He is also team physician for UNC Asheville Athletics, Warren Wilson College Athletics, and medical director for multiple road and trail running races. He takes pride in educating his patients on the importance of physical activity, nutrition, and overall well-being as part of a comprehensive approach to health.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Education: University of South Alabama
Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Jeanine is a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner with over 15 years of experience in the medical field. She practices outpatient family medicine and enjoys establishing bonds with patients in the community. She is passionate about engaging people in their own care management and helping to facilitate the best health outcomes possible. She particularly enjoys chronic disease management and mental health optimization.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Residency Program: MAHEC Family Medicine in Asheville
Board Certification: American Board of Family Physicians

Dr. Julia Draper is a family physician who loves caring for entire families from birth to end of life, both in the clinic and at the hospital. She enjoys delivering babies and providing prenatal and reproductive health care, including vasectomies. She has a particular interest in gender-affirming care, the treatment of substance use disorders, and lifestyle/preventive medicine.

Her research background emphasizes social and structural drivers of health, as well as adverse childhood experiences, and their physiological impacts. She believes in compassionate, whole person-centered care for individuals and families in their context.

She speaks conversational Spanish.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Bill Hitch is the Vice Chair of Pharmacy at MAHEC in Asheville, NC, and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Education at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He received his PharmD degree from the University of North Carolina Eshelmen School of Pharmacy and completed a specialty residency in Ambulatory Care through Mission Hospital and MAHEC. Bill serves as the Assistant Director of the Pharmacy Practice Residency Program at Mission Hospital practicing in the Ambulatory Care setting and serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students as well as PGY1 and PGY2 residents. His practice is in inpatient family medicine where he rounds with physicians on the Family Practice Service at Mission Hospital. He is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at MAHEC Family Health Center, which has been recognized as a Level III Patient-Centered Medical Home. Areas of interest include interdisciplinary education, transitions of care, infectious disease, and global health.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Medical School: University of Virginia
Residency Program: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program
Board Certification: Family Medicine

Dr. Sylvia Kauffman enjoys caring for patients of all ages and providing them with the information they need to make decisions about their own health. She particularly enjoys prenatal and obstetrical care, women’s health, chronic disease management, and caring for Spanish-speaking patients. She believes strongly in physical activity, nutrition, and other lifestyle strategies to prevent and manage illness.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Residency Program:MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. Marina MacNamara is a dedicated family physician who enjoys providing care to folks at all stages of life, including newborn, pediatric, and prenatal care. With experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, she emphasizes a patient-centered approach to care, aiming to empower her patients to take charge of their health. Her interests include maternal and child health, complex medical needs, and mental health integration in primary care.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Matthew Ransom, PharmD, MPH, CPP, 340B ACE, is Chair of the Department of Pharmacy at MAHEC and also serves as the Director of MAHEC’s 340B Pharmacy Services. Matt joined MAHEC in July 2021 and established the 340B program in coordination with the organization becoming a Community Health Center. He coordinated a network of contract pharmacy relationships that provide medication for MAHEC patients and contribute to the development and sustainability of medication assistance programs delivered through MAHEC’s two community pharmacies, at Biltmore and Enka/Candler. He opened the community pharmacies for retail operations in 2023. The success of these pharmacies contributes to MAHEC’s mission of improving the health of all patients in our region.

Prior to MAHEC, Matt worked at Mission Health for 14 years in the Mission Medication Assistance Program, Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Services, and helped patients manage chronic disease as part of the Asheville Project. At Mission, Matt was recognized nationally for innovative leadership in establishing a pharmacy technician-led transitions of care program for low-income, uninsured patients discharging from the hospital. He enjoys teaching and learning with students, residents, and colleagues and started the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency program at Mission in collaboration with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Matt is trained as a 340B Apexus Certified Expert (ACE). He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (2007) and a Master of Public Health from UNC Gillings School of Public Health (2020). He is a Certified Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) in North Carolina and completed a PGY1 Residency in Ambulatory Care at Mission/MAHEC (2008). Matt’s other interests include landscaping, traveling with his family, and exploring trails and forests in Western North Carolina.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Medical School: ETSU Quillen College of Medicine
Residency Program: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. Eric Smith is family physician dedicated to whole person care at all stages of life. As a native to the southeastern US, he is familiar with the health conditions endemic to the region and excels in the care of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic and endocrine conditions. Dr. Smith also has a passion for newborn and pediatric care. He also has an expertise in management and treatment of hepatitis C and substance use disorders. Dr Smith is committed to the region and to each of his patients, encouraging self-care and lifestyle change so each person can be their healthiest, feel their best and reach their greatest potential.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Pharmacy School: UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Residency Program: UNC Medical Center (PGY1 Pharmacy and PGY2 Ambulatory Care)
Board Certification: Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)

Dr. Steedman is a Clinical Pharmacist with the MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler. When not spending time in the clinic, she rotates on the inpatient MAHEC Family Practice Service teaching service at Mission Hospital and also sees Family Medicine patients engaged in office-based opioid use disorder treatment at the Biltmore campus. Dr. Steedman's current practice in both inpatient and outpatient settings emphasizes her focus on transitions of care and longitudinal disease management with enhanced continuity of care. She is also dedicated to the advancement of academic learning for new generations of medical professionals, as her work involves training pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and Family Medicine residents. Her main areas of professional interest include the management of diabetes, hypertension, asthma/COPD, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation, and substance use disorders.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Dr. Wilcox is the Pharmacy Manager for MAHEC Community Pharmacy at Enka/Candler. She earned her undergraduate degree at UNC Charlotte and her PharmD from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Asheville, NC, in 2021. Dr. Wilcox completed her PGY1 residency with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Walgreens. Prior to starting her current position with MAHEC, she served as a community pharmacist for Walgreens in Buncombe and surrounding counties.

Dr. Wilcox is involved in the precepting of pharmacy learners, including MAHEC residents and students from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Her store also serves as a practice site for the Rural Health Scholars Program through UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Her areas of interest include creating clinical services for our community pharmacies, patient access, diabetes education, immunizations, public health, and substance use disorder.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Residency Program: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program, MAHEC Maternal Child Health Fellowship
Board Certification: DABFM

Dr. Wilson practices full-scope family medicine including primary care throughout the lifespan and for all genders, as well as prenatal care and deliveries at Mission Hospital. She has special interest in reproductive and obstetric healthcare as well as LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming healthcare. She performs a variety of in-office procedures such as IUDs and contraceptive implants, and offers office-based treatment for substance use disorders including medication-assisted treatment for opioid use.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler
25 Westridge Market Place
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 418-0040

Education: Lenoir-Rhyne University/Wake Forest School of Medicine PA Program
Certification: National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants

Anja has 40 years of experience as a PA, ranging from correctional medicine and occupational medicine to adult primary care. Anja is passionate about educating patients about their medical conditions and helping them understand medical management. She focuses on meeting patient needs and building long-term, trusting relationships. She has a special interest in assisting patients with substance use recovery and mental health issues.