Melissa Joy Haynes, MSN, CRNP, FNP C

Melissa Leppert earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois State University and her Master of Science in nursing with a family nurse practitioner specialty from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Haynes has experience working with those living with chronic and serious illnesses. Her goal is to reduce disease burden through education, symptom management and psychosocial support.

"I have experience working with people who are living with chronic illness. With each encounter, my goal is to meet each individual in their unique situation with empathy and compassion," She says. "Through symptom management and psychosocial support, my goal is to reduce the burden of chronic and serious illness and improve the overall quality of life."

Leppert came to palliative care after working in cardiac specialty care at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, she worked in the medical-surgical intensive care unit at Centennial and the transplant and surgical unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

She is affiliated with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and has participated in several mission trips throughout Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.