Neurosurgical Nurses
Ami Lombardi, MSN, FNP-C
Ami graduated in 1999 from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. In 2002 she received her Master's Degree in Nursing from SMC and obtained her national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner Ami has worked primarily in the fields of orthopedic and neurosurgical nursing, and has also spent time working in the community with children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. She joined the Stanford Neurosurgical team in December of 2006, and works specifically with the Cyberknife Radiosurgery team.
Ami graduated in 1999 from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. In 2002 she received her Master's Degree in Nursing from SMC and obtained her national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner Ami has worked primarily in the fields of orthopedic and neurosurgical nursing, and has also spent time working in the community with children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. She joined the Stanford Neurosurgical team in December of 2006, and works specifically with the Cyberknife Radiosurgery team.
Bonnie Taft, RN, MSN, CPNP
Bonnie Taft, RN, MSN, CPNP, is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) with a rich background in pediatric primary care setting. Bonnie is also an experienced educator and served as a member of the pediatric clinical faculty at the University of California at San Francisco for several years. Bonnie completed her undergraduate degree at State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1994 and she later went on to attain her Masters in Science degree at Boston College in 2003.
Candice Osuga Lin, MSN, APRN, BC, ACNP
Candice earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Davis and her Master of Science Degree as an acute care nurse practitioner from Vanderbilt University. Candice came to Stanford Hospital and Clinics as a staff nurse in the medical, surgical intensive care unit (E2ICU). She joined the department of Neurosurgery as a nurse practitioner and has been active with neuro-oncology and spine neurosurgery. Candice has been the study coordinator on several research studies and has a passion for patient care.
Carol A. Barch, MN, CRNP
Carol is a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in strokes. She received her Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit, and a master and post-master's nursing degree from Emory University in Atlanta. She has received national certification in critical care nursing, neuroscience nursing and as a family nurse practitioner. Carol's work in stroke began as a clinical coordinator for the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke t-PA stroke study. Since then she has worked as an advanced practice nurse and traveled throughout the United States as a consultant for the National Stroke Association. Her work also included various publications on topics related to acute stroke and is an expert on stroke prevention.
Cortney Moore, NP
Cortney Moore, NP graduated in 2002 from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinic Nutrition. In 2006 she received her Master's Degree in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University and obtained her national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner in early 2007. She initially started her nursing career in the Emergency Department at Highland Hospital in Oakland and as a Nurse practitioner in Occupational Medicine. She joined the Stanford Neurosurgery Department in October of 2007, and works specifically with the Neurosurgery Spine patients.
Cortney Moore, NP graduated in 2002 from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinic Nutrition. In 2006 she received her Master's Degree in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University and obtained her national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner in early 2007. She initially started her nursing career in the Emergency Department at Highland Hospital in Oakland and as a Nurse practitioner in Occupational Medicine. She joined the Stanford Neurosurgery Department in October of 2007, and works specifically with the Neurosurgery Spine patients.
Elizabeth A. Colglazier, RN, CPNP
Elizabeth A. Colglazier, RN, CPNP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner with much experience working with pediatric intensive care patients. Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science in the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program from University of California, San Francisco. Elizabeth is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International.
Elizabeth Lee, RN, NP, MSN
Elizabeth Lee joined the Neurosurgery department in 1996. She obtained her bachelors degree in nursing in 1992, and a Family and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner masters degree in 1996 from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, her practice focuses on neurosurgical treatments of brain and spine tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and aneurysms using conventional surgery and/or Cyberknife Radiosurgery. Her 17 year nursing career has always been devoted to neurosurgery both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, facilitates local brain tumor support groups, and has published many articles regarding the use of Cyberknife in the treatment of brain and spine diseases. She has received several grants to support educational projects for Brain Tumor and Parkinson's Disease support groups.
Elizabeth Lee joined the Neurosurgery department in 1996. She obtained her bachelors degree in nursing in 1992, and a Family and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner masters degree in 1996 from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, her practice focuses on neurosurgical treatments of brain and spine tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and aneurysms using conventional surgery and/or Cyberknife Radiosurgery. Her 17 year nursing career has always been devoted to neurosurgery both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, facilitates local brain tumor support groups, and has published many articles regarding the use of Cyberknife in the treatment of brain and spine diseases. She has received several grants to support educational projects for Brain Tumor and Parkinson's Disease support groups.
Jodette Cabatic Carrillo, RN, MS, CNS, PNP
Jodette is a pediatric nurse practitioner and provides inpatient and outpatient care for children and their families. She has been with Stanford/Lucile Packard Children's Hospital since 1997 and has extensive experience in pediatric critical care. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Francisco. Jodette is dual titled as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Pediatric Nurse Practioner. Additionally, Jodette is a member of NAPNAP and Sigma Theta Tau International.
Joli Vavao, MSN, ACNP, CNRN
Joli joined the Neurosurgical team in 2004. She obtained her masters degree as an acute care nurse practitioner from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has worked as a nurse for over 13 years specializing in neurosurgery and stroke neurology. She has received national certification in neuroscience nursing. She plays an active role coordinating the care of cerebrovascular patients in both an inpatient and outpatient setting. She participates in lectures to hospital staff and local health care professionals regarding the care of neuroscience patients.
Mary L. Marcellus, RN
Originally from Connecticut, Mary came to Stanford in 1980. She began as a staff nurse in the ICU and then went on to become an Assistant Nurse Manager for several years before taking on the role of Interventional Neuroradiology Nurse Coordinator in 1993. She has lectured on various cerebrovascular topics as well as published several articles in her area of expertise. Patient advocacy remains the most important part of her daily patient care responsibilities.
Michelle Klesczewski, NP-C
Michelle has been a Nurse Practitioner with the Department of Neurosurgery for the past five years. Prior to that time, Michelle worked as an RN and has a wealth of experience in adult intensive care, medical surgical, medical oncological and hospice modalities. She received her Master's Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner at San Jose State University. Since coming to Stanford, Michelle has been part of the Cyberknife radiosurgery program, treating brain and spine tumors as well as vascular malformations. Other areas of focus include surgical treatment and management of cerebrovascular lesions and malignant and benign brain tumors.
Michelle has been a Nurse Practitioner with the Department of Neurosurgery for the past five years. Prior to that time, Michelle worked as an RN and has a wealth of experience in adult intensive care, medical surgical, medical oncological and hospice modalities. She received her Master's Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner at San Jose State University. Since coming to Stanford, Michelle has been part of the Cyberknife radiosurgery program, treating brain and spine tumors as well as vascular malformations. Other areas of focus include surgical treatment and management of cerebrovascular lesions and malignant and benign brain tumors.
Melissa Ballard, RN, CPNP
Melissa is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specializing in the care of hospitalized children with an emphasis in the transition from intensive to acute care, end-of-life care and all acute care settings. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from San Francisco State University in 1985 and a Master of Science as a Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from University of California, San Francisco in 2007.
Olivia Chu, FNP
Olivia is a family nurse practitioner providing care for patients in the Pituitary Center of Stanford's neurosurgery department since 2006. She obtained her undergraduate degree at University of California, Berkeley, and completed a bachelors and masters degree at Johns Hopkins University. Currently she specializes in neuro-endocrine cases, predominately pituitary tumors.
Olivia is a family nurse practitioner providing care for patients in the Pituitary Center of Stanford's neurosurgery department since 2006. She obtained her undergraduate degree at University of California, Berkeley, and completed a bachelors and masters degree at Johns Hopkins University. Currently she specializes in neuro-endocrine cases, predominately pituitary tumors.
Traci Hornbeck, M.S., P.A.-C
Traci Hornbeck, M.S., P.A.-C. is a physician assistant who has been involved with neurosurgical clinical research since 2001 and with the surgical treatment for movement disorders since 2004. In 2005, she received a grant to study patients with deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and gives lectures to allied health care professionals. She works with Jaimie Henderson, M.D., whose specialty is the surgical treatment of pain and movement disorders.
Teresa Bell-Stephens, CNRNTeresa has worked with the Department since 1990. She has an extensive background in critical care, and her current focus is on coordinating the cerebrovascular surgery program, with a focus on moyamoya disease, vascular malformations and intracranial aneurysms. Teresa is a regular lecturer for Bay Area nurses on various neuroscience nursing topics and has presented many papers at the annual meetings of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) and the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses (WFNN). She has published peer reviewed neuroscience nursing articles in various journals.
