Neurosurgery Advanced Practice Providers

Our neurosurgery nurse practitioners and physician assistants have advanced educational and clinical experiences that contribute to our academic programs. They treat all patients with kindness and respect, and offer information services that promote healing and lead to healthier life styles.

Joli Vavao, RN, MSN, ACNP, CNRN
Lead APP Outpatient Neurosurgery

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.

Marlene Aguilar, MSN, RN

Marlene joined the interventional neuroradiology team in March of 2017.  She joins us from Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY.  She worked 5 years in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery and 3 years as a Specialty Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Neurosurgery.  She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a bachelors and masters degree in nursing  at Columbia University, New York.  

Amanda Almond, NP

Amanda joined the Stanford Neurosurgery team in Santa Cruz in 2023. She completed a Bachelors and Masters' degree in Nursing at San Francisco State University, and post masters Nurse Practitioner Certification also at SFSU. Amanda is certified through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and her background is in Urgent Care where she has practiced that last 6 years. Currently, she practices in outpatient neurosurgery and is working toward her First Assist Certification.

Teresa Bell-Stephens, BSN, RN, CNRN

Teresa came to Stanford from the East Coast in 1988. She worked in critical care for many years before joining the Department of Neurosurgery in 1990. She  worked as a nurse coordinator cerebrovascular surgery for many years before becoming a Neuroscience Program Manager. Teresa is an excellent resource for information on vascular malformations, aneurysms and moyamoya disease, and is available to guide care for patients and families before, during and after their treatment at Stanford Healthcare. Teresa  works with  program development including the Stanford Moyamoya Center where is actively coordinates care for patients and works to develop  nursing and patient education. She is a frequent lecturer on a variety of topics for nursing colleagues in the Bay Area, and nationally and internationally.

Vania Bernatsky, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, AANN

Vania received her Master of Science in Nursing with a minor in Education from the University of California, San Francisco in 2001. She is certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, as well as certified in nursing through the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. She is a member of American Association of Nurse Practitioners, California Assocaition of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau. She has spent her career caring for patients both in acute care inpatient, as well as outpatient settings. Her interests include complex spine reconstruction and neuro-oncology diseases.

Jennifer Choi, MSN, ACNP

Jennifer joined the Stanford Neurosurgery and Neuro IR team in 2015. She received her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of San Francisco and completed the acute care nurse practitioner program at UCSF. She has worked as a nurse for over 10 years with trauma and neurosurgery patients.

 

Olivia Chu, MSN, FNP

Olivia is a family nurse practitioner providing care for patients in the Pituitary Center of the Department of Neurosurgery 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, predominantly pituitary tumors.

Andrheena  T. Chua, BSN, RN, CNRN

Sara C. Emrich, MSN, AGACNP-BC, RNFA

Sara is a Nurse Practitioner who joined the Stanford Neurosurgery and CyberKnife radiosurgery team in 2020 with over 10 years of vascular and endovascular experience previously as a Nurse Practitioner and as a Registered Nurse in the out-patient setting. She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing at San Francisco State University and her master's degree in nursing at The University of Alabama at Birmingham with a focus in Adult Gerontological Acute Care and First Assist in Surgery. Her clinical practice includes neurosurgery and radiosurgery to brain and spine tumors, vascular malformations, trigeminal neuralgia, and neurogenetic disorders.

Victoria Gates-Bazarbay BSN, RN

Victoria joined the Neurosurgical team in 2020. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Gerontology from University of San Francisco. She has a background in Critical Care and Intensive Care management of post surgical and neurologically complex patients. She is currently specializing in providing care for patients in the Skull Base and Pituitary Center.

Traci Hornbeck, M.S., P.A.-C.

Traci is a board-certified physician assistant. She obtained her Master of Science degree from Midwestern University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. She has worked in the specialty of neurosurgery for many years as well as in the specialties of neurology and emergency medicine. She lectures at the Stanford Physician Assistant program regarding neurological diseases. She has been involved with conducting research studies throughout her career.  She specializes in neurosurgical-oncology and functional neurosurgery.

Kelli Jew, NP

Kelli joined Stanford Health Care as a new grad with Orthopedic Spine in 2017 and transitioned to Neurosurgery in 2020. She completed a Bachelors and Masters degree in Nursing at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions. Kelli is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and belongs to the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. She has prior experience in public/community health and HIV/AIDS. Currently, her clinical practice focuses on brain tumors and trigeminal neuralgia.

Michelle Klesczewski, NP

Michelle joined the Neurosurgery team in 2002 after obtaining her Masters of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner at San Jose State University. She is Nationally certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is a member of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and Oncology Nursing Society, and past member of the Radiosurgery Society. She has also worked in Radiation Oncology as an FNP, as well as being involved with giving talks for radiation therapy Continuing Education courses. Currently her practice focuses on neurosurgical treatments of brain and spine tumors using either conventional surgery, or Cyberknife radiosurgery.

Elizabeth Lee, MSN, RN, NP

Elizabeth has been with the Stanford Neurosurgery Department since 1996.  She received both her bachelors and masters degree in nursing at the University of California, Los Angles in 1993 and 1996.  She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  She also belongs to the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and Sigma Theta Tau.  She has spent her career in neurosurgery focusing in brain tumors, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders, Cyberknife radiosurgery, and spinal surgery.  Her current interests include spine and neuro-oncology neurosurgery. 

Melissa Lewis, MSN, ANP-BC

Melissa has been at Stanford Hospital since 2006, working with the neurosurgery and general patient populations. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Brigham Young University in 2006, and her Master of Science in Nursing from University of California San Francisco in 2011. Now as a Nurse Practitioner she works with patients and their families in the Neuroscience Department working in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  

Erika A. Lim, BSN, RN, CMSRN

 

Candice Osuga Lin, MSN, APRN, BC, ACNP

Candice earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Davis and her Master of Science in Nursing with clinical specialization as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University. Candice came to Stanford Hospital & Clinics as 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..

Sheri Loo, MSN, FNP-C

Sheri joined Stanford Neurosurgery as a nurse practitioner in 2018 after completing the MSN-FNP program at Western University of Health Sciences. Her clinical focus is in cranial and spinal tumors and complex spinal deformities in the inpatient and outpatient setting. Prior to becoming an NP, she worked as a Registered Nurse specializing in neuro-stroke. In her free time, Sheri enjoys volunteering at a local primary care free clinic, going on medical missions trips, and mentoring and precepting students.

Brigid T Matts, MSN, FNP-C

Brigid joined the Stanford Neurosurgery team in March 2017 after completing her MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner degree at UCSF.  Prior to this, Brigid worked as an Army Nurse working in Korea, Hawaii, and Afghanistan.  Following active duty she moved to California where she first was a travel nurse at the Stanford Neuroscience Clinic and then worked as a staff nurse at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Pediatric Brain Center for four years.  Brigid is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and is a certified neuroscience registered nurse (CNRN).

Holly Moore, MSN, FNP-C

Holly is a family nurse practitioner that specializes in complex spine patients. She completed her MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner at South University in Tampa, FL and shortly after joined Stanford Neurosurgery Team. Prior to this, she served 4 years in the United States Air Force working in Alabama, Kuwait, and Iraq. Following active duty, she worked in Florida as a Neuroscience RN working closely with stroke and epilepsy patients. Holly is a member of of Sigma Theta Tau, the California Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 

Lan Chi Nguyen, NP

 

Nicole Pittson, MSN, FNP-C

Nicole joined Stanford Neurosurgery team in June 2020. She completed her MSN- Family Nurse Practitioner degree at George Washington University in 2019. She first came to California as a travel nurse working in the Neurosciences Clinic. Nicole previously worked at Duke Hospital in North Carolina on an orthopedic and neurosurgical floor caring for patients undergoing spine or joint surgery. Following this she also worked in a private practice neurosurgical clinic in Utah. She has 10 years of experience working with neurosurgical patients in the hospital and outpatient setting.

Louisa Ustrzynski, DNP, MBA

Louisa Ustrzynski is a highly skilled Nurse Practitioner specializing in neurosurgery with extensive critical care nursing experience in renowned medical institutions for over 13 years. She actively plays a collaborative role in providing care for patients with various diagnoses, including metastatic brain tumors, cavernous malformations, brain aneurysms, glioblastomas, spinal tumors, etc. Her strong background in critical care nursing further enhances her skills in providing high-quality care to patients.

Alison Prins, MPA, PA-C

Alison started at Stanford in the Department of Neurosurgery in January 2019. She graduated with a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies. She has worked in several areas of medicine during her career as a Physician Assistant, including Pain Management, Urgent Care, Internal Medicine, and Gastroenterology. Alison has been a mentor and preceptor to students in both NP and PA school throughout the Bay Area. Alison now dedicates her time to working with patients who have pathology related to the spine.

Ko Ri, MSN, RN, FNP-C

Ko joined Stanford Neurosurgery and Neuro IR team as a nurse practitioner in 2016. She received her bachelor degree, master of science, and post-master program in Nursing at California State University, Long Beach; and obtained Adult Acute CNS and Family Nurse Practitioner licenses. She worked with inpatients for more than 8 years including 4 years in ICU and currently coordinate the care in cerebrovascular patients.

Joy Sabig, RN, CCRN, MSN, Adult NP- BC

Joy Sabig earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of St. La Salle in the Philippines and her Masters of Science Degree as an Adult Nurse Practitioner from Florida International University.  Joy came to Stanford Hospital in 2003 and worked in the Cardiovascular ICU as an RN and relief Charge Nurse before working as a Nurse Practitioner in the Pre-Op Anesthesia Department in 2007.   In 2010, she transferred to Vascular Surgery and worked there for 2 years before joining the Neurosurgery Team in November of 2012.  Her experiences as an NP include working in the Anticoagulation Clinic at UCSF and Cardiology at SFGH.

Jennifer Sharrard, MS, RN, AGACNP-BC

Jennifer is an advanced practice provider specializing in Functional Neurosurgery at Stanford Health Care. She completed her Adult Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2016. Her background is in surgical critical care and neurosurgery. Jennifer's focus lies in utilizing advanced techniques such as deep brain stimulation to treat movement disorders like Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Additionally, she is passionate about epilepsy surgery for the treatment of medically refractory epilepsy.

Armine Tayag, MSN, NP

Armine Tayag is a Nurse Practitioner who joined Stanford Neurosurgery/ Cyberknife Radiosurgery Program in 2014. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing , Family Nurse Practitioner Degree at Holy Names University in Oakland, Ca. Armine previously worked at Stanford Main Operating Room, specializing in neurosurgery, and cardiovascular surgery for 14 years. Currently, her practice focuses in the neurosurgical care of patients with brain and spine tumors, arteriovenous malformation, aneurysms, and neurogenetic disorders needing either conventional surgery and/ or Cyberknife radiosurgery procedure. She has co-published several articles regarding Cyberknife treatment for patients with brain and spine tumors. She is a member of California Association for Nurse Practitioner, American Association of Nurse Practitioner. Armine volunteers for a national non-profit organization to provide medical supplies to underserved countries.

Ami Townsend, MSN, FNP-C

Ami is a Nurse Practitioner who joined the Stanford Neurosurgery Department in 2006.  She earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in nursing at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California.  She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.  Ami began her career at Stanford focusing on vascular malformations, benign and malignant brain and spine tumors treated by conventional surgery and/or Cyberknife radiosurgery.   She has since worked as a NP with the spine team and is currently working in peripheral neurosurgery.

 

Katelynn Velez, MPA, PA-C

Katelynn Velez, MPA, PA-C graduated with her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Samuel Merritt University. She came to Stanford Neurosurgery in 2020. She has prior experience in emergency medicine and has a passion for education with previous work as an adjunct instructor for Samuel Merritt University PA program. Her clinical focus is neurosurgical spine and complex spine disorders.

Erin Wipff MSN, ANP-BC

Erin Wipff earned her Bachelors of Arts in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz and Bachelors of Nursing from Johns Hopkins University. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing in Adult Primary Care with a minor in HIV from the University of California, San Francisco. She is board certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, a member of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau. She has cared for patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings with focuses in research, oncology, endocrinology, and surgery.