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MEET OUR

Care Team.

Our team is comprised of physicians, advanced practice providers, medical assistants, and care coordinators – all dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for patients, their caregivers, and loved ones. Learn more about our care team below.

Administrative Team

Advanced Practice Providers

ACG Quotation Marks

Testimonials.

We have an awesome nurse practitioner in Jennifer Weaver. My husband is going through chemo and she has been out every week to check on him. She's very professional but also very personable. She has been very helpful in making sure he is comfortable and has what he needs. I would recommend ACG to anyone.

-LISA R.

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Robert Forti, MD
Medical Director

A 1984 graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Robert L. Forti, MD, PhD, earned his PhD in Experimental Pathology, and later completed his Medical Degree in 1985. Forti completed his Internship within the Vanderbilt Affiliated Hospitals in 1986. Forti later completed his Internal Medicine Residency, including Chief Resident within the University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals in 1988; and subsequently his board certification in Internal Medicine from the American College of Physicians, Internal Medicine in 1989.

Following his Internal Medicine training, Forti served the Emergency Medicine patients of Saint Thomas Hospital (1989-1992) while continuing to pursue his advanced medical education with an accomplished Fellowship in Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Washington (1994).

In 1994, Forti entered private practice, serving Internal Medicine patients in Seattle, Washington until 2000. In 2001, Forti returned to Nashville, dedicating his time to serving Internal Medicine patients for fourteen years. During his private practice tenure, Forti recognized his increased interest in providing care for individuals with severe to late-stage illness. As such, in 2004-2016, he became actively involved with hospice organizations, serving as an Associate Medical Director then later transitioning to the Medical Director/Regional Physician Director. In 2012, Forti earned his board-certification in Hospice and Palliative Care. Forti was selected as the Director of Palliative Care Services for the Ascension Midtown campus in 2016.

In 2016, The Advanced Care Group was established, where we proudly recognize Forti for his dedication and commitment, serving as our Medical Director.

Christine Peterson, MSN, NP-C
VP Operations

Christine Peterson holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from The University of Memphis in 1998 and a Master of Science in Nursing Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1999. Peterson began her career in the emergency department and the intensive care unit but after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002, her focus shifted to the outpatient setting. Peterson accepted a position in 2003 as a Chief Clinical Officer where she gained knowledge in skilled nursing, assisted living, and outpatient setting. In 2005, Peterson transitioned completely into a nurse practitioner role in the skilled nursing and assisted living setting and has worked in this setting since. She became certified in wound care and started a practice to service these areas in 2006. In 2010, Peterson returned to Tennessee and continued her work in wound care and outpatient medicine. Peterson joined The Advanced Care Group in 2017 and became clinical director in 2019, eventually taking the role of Vice President of Operations in 2022.

Chris Sherry
Executive Director
Amed Abdullah, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN

Haley Andrews, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Miramar, FL

Jessica Blagys, DNP, FNP-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctor of Nursing Practice
Family Nurse Practitioner
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT

Gabrielle Coleman, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Amy J. Evans MSN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Catherine Evans, DNP, FNP-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctor of Nursing Practice
Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

Alishe Gibson, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Union University
Jackson, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
South University
Savannah, GA

Sophie Jernigan, MSN, NP-C
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Anderson University
Anderson, SC

Jessica S. Jones, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Elissa Kruse, MSN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Western Governors University

Teri LeMay, MSN, NP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Alabama at Huntsville
Huntsville, AL

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Martin Methodist College
Pulaski, TN

Natalie Leonard, MSN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Union University
Jackson, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Miami Dade College
Miami, FL

Kate McGregor, MSN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

Jenny Mullen, DNP, FNP-BC, ACHPN
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctor of Nursing Practice
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN

Advanced Certified Hospice Palliative Nurse
The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN

Kaitlyn Oakley FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN

Maureen Okolocha, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN

Amy O’Steen, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Morgan Paul, MSN, AGNP-C
Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
SUNY Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, NY

Deidra Perry, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski, TN

Christine Peterson, MSN, NP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Tennessee
Memphis, TN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The University of Memphis
Memphis, TN

Heather Walker, MSN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The University of Mississippi Medical Center

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