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Our Staff
Lisa Verges, MD joined MemoryCare in July 2012 as staff physician and is a board-certified Geriatric Psychiatrist. Dr. Verges attended Louisiana State University for her undergraduate degree and earned her medical degree from Tulane Medical School in New Orleans. Her psychiatric training was in Dallas at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital with her subspecialty training in Geriatric Psychiatry at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Verges has been in private practice in Western North Carolina for the past 20 years and has helped establish a MemoryCare satellite clinic in Haywood County. She has a love of working with older adults and a longstanding interest in the spiritual aspects of aging.
Meg Word-Sims, MD joined MemoryCare in September 2012 as staff physician providing home care services. Dr. Word-Sims received her BS degree from Duke University and her MD degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1984. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she served as chief resident. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Prior to joining MemoryCare, Dr. Word-Sims practiced internal medicine in Madison County, NC with a focus on geriatric patients. She served as Assistant Professor and Director of Ambulatory Education at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine where she was chosen “Best Teacher” by the medical students and internal medicine residents in the program. She has also provided care as a Clinical Instructor for the University of North Carolina at Wake Medical Center. She has professional interest in neurology and geriatrics and appreciates the opportunity to support patients and families.
Nikki Mckinney, RN joined MemoryCare in August 2011 as a clinical nurse care manager. She has been a registered nurse for over 25 years and received her RN diploma from Cabarrus School of Nursing in Concord, NC. She has worked with patients of all ages during her career, spanning from the newborn to the geriatric patient. Nikki spent the past 18 years at an allergy and asthma specialty practice here in Asheville. She is enjoying the challenges of a new career in the field of dementia care and the opportunity to care for older adults and their families. Nikki is a western North Carolina native and is pleased to be part of the MemoryCare team.
Suzann Coker is the Program Assistant/ Scheduler, joining the MemoryCare staff in September 2007. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Marketing and Management at the University of South Carolina. She has worked in both the public and private sector of accounting, retail sales, customer service and computer training.
Anne Gardner joined MemoryCare in July of 2012 as an Administrative Assistant primarily providing support for the MemoryCare care managers. She graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in 1998 with a BA in English and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance. Anne’s work experience covers a wide range of settings from hospitals to computer software to retirement communities and more. She enjoys helping others. A native of Asheville, Anne is an animal lover, and enjoys living in the natural beauty of the mountains.
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Contact Us: MemoryCare™ Home ~ Appointments ~ Our Staff ~ Map & Directions ~ Educational Topics |
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Director, Virginia H. Templeton, MD, joined MemoryCare in 2002 after completing her residency at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville, NC. Dr. Templeton is Board Certified in Family Medicine with Added Qualifications in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She received her BA in Medical Anthropology from Brown University and graduated from the State University of the New York School of Medicine in 1998 with a Doctor of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Templeton holds an adjunct faculty appointment from UNC School of Medicine and is committed to education of professionals and others in the community about healthy aging. 
Founder, Director Emeritus, Margaret A. Noel, MD, FACP, established MemoryCare in June 2000. She graduated from Davidson College and UNC School of Medicine She completed her residency and a two year fellowship in geriatrics at Wake Forest University. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine with Added Qualifications in Geriatrics. She has been involved in the education of medical residents, medical, nursing, social work, and pharmacy students interested in geriatrics. She is actively involved in providing community education as well. She is a certified medical director with extensive prior experience in long term care settings. She holds an adjunct faculty appointment from UNC School of Medicine. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Geriatrics Society. She has served on the Board and as Secretary of the American Medical Directors Association and is a past president of the North Carolina Medical Directors Association.
Staff Physician, Thomas S. Kaluzynski, MD, FACP, joined MemoryCare in 2006. Dr. Kaluzynski received a BS degree from Fairfield University and his MD degree from UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency with the Michigan State University Associated Hospitals in Lansing, MI and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine with Added Qualifications in Geriatrics. Prior to joining MemoryCare, he practiced internal medicine and geriatrics in Burnsville and Spruce Pine, North Carolina since 1985.Dr. Kaluzynski served as chapter president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Physicians in 2003 and is a trained facilitator with the ACP’s Practicing Physician Education Program. He holds appointment as clinical assistant professor at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. 
Lauren Edwards, BSW joined the MemoryCare staff in December 2009 as a Social Work Care Manager. She graduated from Mars Hill College’s Adult ACCESS program in May 2008 with a BS in Social Work. During her time at Mars Hill College, she completed an internship at the WNC Alzheimer’s Association and Mountain Area Residential Facilities, Inc. She has worked in various settings including animal hospitals, group homes for adults with developmental disabilities, and long term care. 
Misty Lynn Roland, BSW. Misty Lynn joined the MemoryCare staff in summer 2010 as a Social Work Care Manager. She received her Bachelors of Social Work from Mars Hill College. She is currently enrolled in the Advanced Standing Masters of Social Work, Policy/Administration program with Certification in Gerontology at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Misty has held positions as Director of Social Services in a long term care facility, Medical Social Worker with HRMC Hospice, Case Manager with Homeward Bound of Asheville, and has worked with adults with disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. Her other accomplishments include three beautiful children and numerous hours of volunteer work within her community in such agencies and civic groups as Lions Club International, MHC Student Advisory Board, Western North Carolina Rescue Mission, Reading Tutor for at risk children, and a High School Peer Counselor for an AIDS Advocacy Group. Misty Lynn is a native of Asheville, NC.
Ann joined the MemoryCare staff in June 2005 as the office administrator. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Averett College in Danville, Virginia. A former teacher, she later pursued a career in customer service/bookkeeping and office management. Ann enjoys multitasking at MemoryCare including accounts payable/receivable, payroll, insurance billing, and general office management. She works closely with the Director to ensure an exceptional working environment. 
Director of Development, Chad Conaty, MBA, joined MemoryCare in April 2011. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from West Virginia University and earned his M.B.A. with Honors at the University of Birmingham in England. Chad takes great pride in having worked and volunteered in the non-profit sector for more than 15 years. He also served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia where he returned after earning his M.B.A. to lead a non-profit social enterprise, Alive and Kicking. Chad and his wife are happy to have found a permanent place to call home. He enjoys representing MemoryCare in the philanthropic and non-profit community of Western North Carolina. 
Fran Alexander joined the MemoryCare staff in the spring of 2007 as a Program Assistant after volunteering with the program for over five years. She attended The University of Houston with a focus in Economics. Her past work experiences include banking and insurance processing. She is a native of Houston and is a welcome addition to our MemoryCare team. 