MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION

Medical Director | DO, MPH, FAAFP

Dr. Shepherd is the medical director for the MNPS Health Care Centers. She is an associate professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the division of general internal medicine and public health. She is triple board-certified in family medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine. She joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2008, after serving as a medical officer in the United States Navy.

Dr. Shepherd obtained a Master of Public Health from Dartmouth and her medical degree from Kansas City University. Following medical school, she completed an internship at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, residency in family medicine at the University of Tennessee, and a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, a certified yoga instructor, and is certified to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through the Brown School of Public Health.

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Dr. Shepherd’s interests include population health, employer health and leveraging technology to enhance the patient and provider experience. Her work stresses the importance of effective health communication and including patients in their care plan using shared decision-making tools and evidence-based clinical care paths. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading and traveling. 

Physical Therapist  | DPT

Bobby Russell is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedics and is extensively trained in a broad array of conditions that can present in a physical therapy clinic. Bobby earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science, physical education and wellness from Tennessee Tech University. He attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he earned a doctor of physical therapy. He completed a two-year residency with Benchmark Rehab Institute and began fellowship training in manual physical therapy through Bellin College. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Academy of Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) and Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA).

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Physical fitness and health are paramount for Bobby. He’s always been fascinated by the resiliency of the human body and its ability to heal under the right circumstances. He believes a holistic approach to health care truly is the most effective and efficient way to lead a healthy and meaningful life. Outside of work, Bobby enjoys barbequing/grilling and following sports, most notably UT, the NFL and the NBA.

Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner | PMHNP-BCR, RN, BSBA

Thomas E. Young is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with a passion for holistic, patient-centered care. After beginning his academic journey at Ohio State University where he studied marketing and behavioral economics, Thomas worked at a nursing home and volunteered at the suicide crisis line. He later completed his master's degree in nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing with a concentration in psychiatric care across the lifespan.

He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Vanderbilt University after graduating in 2021. His research project focused on the integration of behavioral health resources into primary care clinics, promoting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to patient care.

In his current role, Thomas specializes in medication management and supportive therapy. He is dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized care, believing that the key to successful health outcomes lies in understanding and addressing the unique needs of each individual. Thomas enjoys working at a patient-centered medical home, where he supports his coworkers and contributes to a collaborative, caring environment. Thomas is particularly interested in mindfulness and meditation practices and recently began the journey for Brown University's MBSR teaching training.

Outside of his professional life, he enjoys reading, playing board games, hiking, and watching films with friends and loved ones. His commitment to holistic and lifestyle care extends into his personal life, where he practices finding balance and joy in a variety of activities and commitments.