Ashley lives in Niwot, Colorado with her husband, Joe, and two sons.  She enjoys staying active with her family, traveling, and cheering on favorite teams and local athletes.  

What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?

PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and may serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality.

Jenni Reed, NP 

Jenni Reed is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. She works in the operating room assisting Dr. Eric McCarty in addition to diagnosing and treating patients in the clinic. Jenni also works closely with the student athletes at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where she assists the team doctors in the athletic training room and travels with the football team. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing graduate degree from Georgetown University. Before becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Jenni worked as a Trauma ICU nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Her clinical interests include diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries with an emphasis on giving her patients the best care in order for them to safely and successfully return to their sport. Jenni played college basketball at the Loyola University in New Orleans prior to focusing on her studies and becoming a nurse. When Jenni isn’t working, she loves spending time with her two daughters, Harper and Maddie, and is an avid sports fan with a love for the Colorado Buffaloes and LSU Tigers.

What is a nurse practioner?

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice provider who is able to diagnose, evaluate and treat patients in a primary care, acute care, and/or specialty setting. A Nurse Practitioner is able to prescribe medications and order and interpret diagnostic tests.  Prior to obtaining a Masters or Doctorate degree as a Nurse Practitioner, the NP must be a board certified Registered Nurse (RN).  A unique skillset of a NP is the compassion and patient advocacy that is developed working as a RN. NP’s bring a comprehensive perspective to the interdisciplinary team and are able to add a personal touch to a patient’s healthcare with a focus on health education and counseling. 

Mekenna Peterson, ATC

Mekenna is the certified athletic trainer that assists the team in clinic, both in Boulder and Denver. She helps coordinate care for all of our patients, but is most involved with our surgical patients. She joined Dr. McCarty’s team in 2019 and has enjoyed being a part of a team that provides excellent care for each and every patient. Mekenna graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul Minnesota with a bachelor degree in athletic training. As a person who cares about athletics herself, she enjoys working with athletes of all different backgrounds. In her free time, you can find Mekenna doing any sort of activity outside. She particularly loves to hike, backpack, waterski, and snowboard. On the days that she is not outside, she enjoys watching her favorite sporting teams. What is an athletic trainer? Athletic trainers (ATs) are typically seen as an asset to sporting teams along the sidelines of sporting events. However, they are multi-skilled health care professionals who can provide services, under the direction of a physician. An athletic trainer’s services include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

What is an athletic trainer? 

Athletic trainers (ATs) are typically seen as an asset to sporting teams along the sidelines of sporting events. However, they are multi-skilled health care professionals who can provide services, under the direction of a physician. An athletic trainer’s services include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.  

Surgery Scheduler