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MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Susan Alexander, MD, is a family physician at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville. She is board-certified in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. She is a clinical assistant professor with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Dr. Alexander practices full-scope family medicine at the MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler. She provides primary care for newborns, children, and adults, and she provides pregnancy care. Dr. Alexander also provides inpatient care at Mission Hospital, including some obstetrics and deliveries. She also offers a wide array of in-office procedures. Additionally, Dr. Alexander provides office-based opioid medication-assisted treatment services. She speaks Spanish, and interpreter services are available as needed.

Dr. Alexander completed her undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and her family medicine residency at MAHEC in Asheville.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Saint Louis University
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Julia Ceglenski is a third-year family medicine resident with a strong passion for providing comprehensive patient-centered care to diverse patient populations. Her clinical interests include preventative medicine, outpatient procedures, women’s health, and addiction medicine. Dr. Ceglenski encourages a team-based approach to healthcare, focused on engaging patient’s support systems, specialists, allied health professionals, and greater surrounding community. She is dedicated to improving patient health literacy and navigating the complex healthcare system to best help patients meet their needs and promote their overall wellness.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Cane Creek
1542 Cane Creek Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 628-8250

I provide full-spectrum family medicine to the local community, strive to teach our resident physicians small practice practicalities and survival skills, and inspire the community to be healthful. My interests inside of medicine include international work, integrative medicine, chronic disease management, low risk obstetrics, office procedures including vasectomy, resident and medical student education, nutrition and exercise as medicine, inpatient medicine, work/life balance, Latino outreach, and advanced care planning for end-of-life discussions.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Katherine Crider is a resident physician in Family Medicine who is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to all ages and identities. Passionate about building meaningful relationships, Dr. Crider values the continuity of care and strives to foster trust with each patient. With a patient-centered approach, she is dedicated to addressing both the immediate health needs and long-term well-being of those she serves.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Residency Program: Mountain Area Health Education Center (Chief Resident)
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. Graham Custar is a primary care physician who sees patients of all ages. His interests include comprehensive primary care, substance use disorders, weight management, integrative medicine, value-based care, and health technology. He promotes team-based, patient-centered care to build fulfilling, long-term relationships to optimize patient experience and health outcomes. He is passionate about advocating for his patients, and he sees his role as promoting and supporting their health needs in ways that best fit their values and preferences.

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 particular interest in gender-affirming care, 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 Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences of the Pacific
Residency Program: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. Nicole Evans is a devoted family physician with over 10 years of experience of providing full spectrum primary care within the MAHEC organization. Dr. Evans enjoys the opportunity at MAHEC to care for patients of all ages and backgrounds, often caring for multiple generations within the same family, including newborn, prenatal and geriatric care. Some of her clinical interests consist of women’s health, dermatology procedures and osteopathic manipulative medicine.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Cane Creek
1542 Cane Creek Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 628-8250

Medical School: La Sorbonne, Brody School of Medicine (ECU)
Residency Program: MAHEC Family Medicine
Fellowship Program: International Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Global Health Fellowship
Board Certification:American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. Gilmer is a compassionate physician who enjoys practicing full-spectrum family medicine including pediatrics, prenatal care, ultrasound, and hospital medicine. He has been at MAHEC’s Cane Creek practice since 2009 and is passionate about advocating for rural and global health disparities. He has worked extensively in France, Central and South America, and West Africa bringing a wholistic approach to his patients. Dr. Gilmer loves to teach and is committed to advancing medical education, interprofessional collaboration, and inspiring students to pursue rural health. His advocacy work currently focuses on bringing media attention to the social injustice of mass incarceration and the intersection of mental illness. He enjoys writing (The Other Dr. Gilmer) and speaking about the importance of advocacy in medicine.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Areas of special interest include the full scope of family medical care, including caring for women during pregnancy and childbirth, along with the family.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Residency Program: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, Philadelphia, PA
Board Certification: Family Medicine

Dr. Stephen Hulkower is a board-certified Family Physician with decades of experience providing full-spectrum primary care to the WNC community, including acute and chronic care in hospital and office settings, office procedures, and Sports Medicine. His work in rural and underserved settings—such as Native American reservations in Arizona and North Carolina, and in Honduras and Haiti—highlights his commitment to improving access to healthcare for all. The majority of his career has featured his role as a teacher and mentor in the MAHEC Family Medicine Residency Program, training the next generations of physicians for WNC.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Jenkins Soares is a dedicated family medicine resident physician with a strong passion for lifestyle and preventative medicine. She is committed to helping her patients actively engage in their healthcare journeys, providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health. Her approach is rooted in collaboration; she values the importance of working together with patients to develop personalized care plans that reflect their unique needs and goals. Dr. Jenkins Soares is excited to contribute to the health and well-being of her community through comprehensive, compassionate, and collaborative healthcare.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

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 Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Cicely Krebill is a family medicine resident physician with a strong passion for full-spectrum care. She enjoys taking care of all members in the family. Her specific passions include obstetric, reproductive healthcare, and in-office procedures. She is committed to collaborating with her patients to create patient-centered treatments informed by evidence-based medicine. She believes in building a strong relationship and fostering open communication with her patients.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency Program: Oregon Health Sciences University
Board Certification: Board Certified Family Physician

At the completion of her residency, Dr. LaVallee joined a private practice in Portland Oregon where she practiced full spectrum family medicine including inpatient pediatric, internal medicine and obstetrics for five years. She subsequently began her career in academic medicine at MAHEC Family Medicine Residency program in Asheville, North Carolina. She developed an expertise in osteoporosis. In 2004 she began serving as Assistant Program Director. In 2015 she became Residency Program Director. She has successfully trained residents for rural practice and retained graduates in Western North Carolina. To meet the needs of the region she expanded residency training to include training in addiction medicine, treatment of hepatitis C, gender affirming care and care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She believes that healthcare is a human right and should be equally available to all. She believes that fostering a nurturing educational environment is the cornerstone in producing the most successful residents.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (formerly Medical College of Virginia)
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Levingston is a resident physician dedicated to providing patients with comprehensive and quality care, empowering patients through communication and shared decision-making, and building a strong physician-patient relationship. Her primary interests include women's health, prenatal and obstetrical care, the mother-baby dyad, and caring for infants/newborns. She is also particularly passionate about contraception and reproductive justice, including providing equitable access to full-spectrum reproductive healthcare for all patients.

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 Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Newbridge
218 Elkwood Avenue
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 257-4747

Medical School: Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency Program:MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. McDowell is an energetic, knowledgeable, dedicated family physician with over ten years of experience practicing in Western North Carolina. She enjoys taking care of people across their lifespans, specifically focusing on chronic disease management and preventative care. She enjoys teaching medical students and residents, and has a special passion for taking care of people with substance use disorders and helping people meet their tobacco cessation goals.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Deerfield
1617 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 274-1531, ext. 3286

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Sarah Neal is a resident physician devoted to providing comprehensive care centered on active, empathetic listening; patient-centered decision-making; and evidence-based medicine. She has a special interest in addiction medicine and seeks to provide medication-assisted treatment to those in our community struggling with substance use disorder. She aims to provide a safe space for all of her patients where they can work together to achieve their health goals.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
Residency Program: UNC-Chapel Hill Family Medicine Residency
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Dr. Nimalendran is a dedicated family medicine physician who provides care to all ages, including prenatal care and children. Dr. Nimalendran enjoys the breadth of family medicine, including acute illness, preventative healthcare, and chronic disease management. Additionally, she has a strong interest in reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, substance use disorder treatment, breastfeeding medicine, and health of the underserved. Dr. Nimalendran strives to develop relationships with her patients and utilize her expertise to collaborate with them on their health and wellness goals.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Newbridge
218 Elkwood Avenue
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 257-4747

Medical School: University of Michigan
Residency Program: MAHEC Family Medicine in Asheville
Board Certification: Family Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Poulton joined the MAHEC faculty in 2013. Prior to medical school she was a high school teacher with Teach for America and earned a master’s in teaching. She enjoys the long-term relationships she forms with patients as well as filling in for her colleagues and acting as a consultant when the need arises. She is efficient, responsive and loves evidenced based care. She enjoys helping each patient find the best way to optimize their health. She provides full-spectrum care including newborn care, prenatal care, adolescent, adult and geriatric care. Se habla español.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

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

Dr. Putnam is a dedicated family medicine physician who loves providing evidence-informed care to people in all stages of life. She believes healthcare is a human right and loves working at MAHEC because it is a place where we strive to provide all patients with the healthcare they deserve. Her clinical interests include whole person care for adults with intellectual disabilities, women’s health, and preventive care including vaccination.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Newbridge
218 Elkwood Avenue
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 257-4747

Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Residency Program: MAHEC Family Medicine Residency in Asheville
Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine, American Board of Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Reed is a dedicated family physician with a passion for building long-term relationships with her patients. With 15 years of experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, she emphasizes comprehensive, thoughtful care and empowering patients though shared decision-making. She enjoys working with children and adolescents and Spanish-speaking patients. Her special interests include gender-affirming care, women’s health, and Lifestyle Medicine. She enjoys teaching medical students and family medicine residents, modelling the importance of relationship and patient-centered care. She provides prenatal care.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Stephanie Rosener, MD, IBCLC, FAAFP, joined MAHEC in April 2024 as Chair of Family Medicine. Prior to that appointment, Dr. Rosener served as Program Director for The United Family Medicine Residency Program, a community-based residency program of Allina Health in St. Paul, MN, which emphasized reducing barriers to care and eliminating disparities for under-resourced populations.

Dr. Rosener began her career as a registered nurse, after receiving a dual degree of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Penn State University. She shared her nursing skills at the University of Pittsburgh’s HIV Treatment Clinical Trials Unit, Presbyterian University, and Magee-Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania native continued her education, obtaining her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, followed by residency at United Family Medicine Residency in St. Paul. She completed the National Institute for Program Director Development fellowship while serving as Associate Program Director for the Middlesex Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Middletown, CT.

In addition to her current role, Dr. Rosener has held academic appointments at the University of Minnesota Medical School, the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, Yale School of Medicine, and Boston University School of Medicine.

She is a published author and researcher with a focus on maternal child health, reduction in birth disparities, quality improvement, and innovation in graduate medical education. Dr. Rosener is also a classically trained vocalist and musician (piano, flute, sax, guitar), watercolor artist, outdoors enthusiast, and global traveler.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: The University of California, Davis
Residency: MAHEC Asheville Family Medicine Residency Program (current)

Dr. Ashley Smith is dedicated to whole-person care. She believes that each patient knows their body better than any physician could and likes to bring out "the doctor within." She likes to work collaboratively with her patients to build a healthier future one day at a time. Prior to becoming a physician, Dr. Smith worked in adolescent women's research studying menstruation. She also was a yoga teacher for over seven years.

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

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Residency Program: MAHEC Family Medicine in Asheville, MAHEC Addiction Medicine Fellowship
Board Certification: Fellow of American Board of Family Practice Board, Certified in Addiction Medicine by American Board of Preventative Medicine

Dr. Verrastro is passionate about care of the underserved. She is a certified Addiction Medicine specialist with interests in Opiate Use Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder. She is a founding provider in the MAHEC Gender Affirming Care clinic serving the gender diverse patients of the region and provides primary care for people living with HIV and PreP for HIV prevention.

MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 257-4730

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

Dr. Wilson is a board-certified Family Medicine physician at the MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka/Candler. She attended the University of Connecticut for her undergraduate education, public health degree, and medical school. She finished her family medicine residency here at MAHEC and is currently working to complete a fellowship in maternal and child health through MAHEC.

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 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. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys gardening and spending time outdoors with her partner Mike, her plott hound Balsam, and her chihuahua Mo.