Ashe Women & Children's Health Staff, smiling. There is nine females.
Ashe Women & Children's Health
Located on the campus of Ashe Memorial Hospital, Ashe Women & Children's Health offers both primary and obstetric care for women as well as pediatric primary care for children, ranging from newborn to adolescents. Led by a team of experienced providers, Ashe Women & Children's Health is committed to transforming women's healthcare in Ashe County.
Ashe Women & Children's Health is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 336-846-0805
Our Providers
James Mortimer, DO, MBA
Dr. James Mortimer is an accomplished board-certified physician with extensive experience caring for patients in a variety of capacities. Dr. Mortimer has more than 20 years of experience in pediatric primary care for children, ranging from newborn to adolescents. A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Mortimer earned his Bachelor’s degree in biology from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., in 1993. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Ill., in 1997. Dr. Mortimer completed a Rotating Internship at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1998 followed by a Residency in General Pediatrics at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2001. In 2022, Dr. Mortimer completed his MBA in executive healthcare/pharmaceuticals at Saint Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Michael Kepley, MD
Dr. Michael Kepley is a board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician with more than 35 years of experience. He earned his Bachelor's degree and his Doctor or Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Kepley then went on to complete an Obstetrics-Gynecology Residency at the University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital & Research Center in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1984. Prior to joining the team at Ashe Women & Children's Health, Dr. Kepley had his own practice in Statesville for 28 years before spending the past four years working with Statesville OB-GYN.
Tara Burgher, DO, AuD
Dr. Tara Burgher is a board-certified family physician. Dr. Burgher completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Disorders at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Dr. Burgher then went on to complete her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D) at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Ky. She then earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University, in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Burgher then completed a Rural Obstetric Rural Expanded Surgical Skills Track (RESST) Fellow to further enhance her surgical and procedural skills, including cesarean sections, tubal ligations, LEEPs, endometrial ablations and upper and lower endoscopy.
Alicia Crane, FNP-C, WHNP-C
Alicia Crane completed her associate nursing program in 2006. She then went on to complete a nurse practitioner program with certification in women's health in 2012. In 2020, Alicia completed her family practice certification. Alicia moved here from Florida in the Fall of 2021 for the beautiful scenery and change in weather and has fallen in love with Ashe County. When she's not busy working, Alicia enjoys spending time with her family, including her seven children, ranging in age from 4 to 24, and one grandbaby, hiking, camping and being outdoors.
Jessica Rupard, CNM
Jessica Rupard earned her Bachelor's degree in nursing from East Tennessee State University. She worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Ashe Memorial Hospital before enrolling at Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky in 2018 to pursue her Master's degree in nursing midwifery. Jessica joined the Mount Jefferson Family Medicine team as a certified nurse midwife in June 2021 before transitioning over to Ashe Women & Children's Health in December 2022.
Our Services
Women's Health Services
Pap Smear and Annual Gynecologic Exams
Colposcopy
Breast Exam
LEEP
Endometrial Ablations
IUD Insertion/Removal
Nexplanon Insertion/Removal
Endometrial Biopsy
STI Evaluation
Infertility Evaluation and Fertility Treatment
Menopause
Family Planning/Contraceptive Care
Obstetric Services
Initial Exam
Prenatal Care
OB Ultrasounds
Vaginal Delivery, Operative or Non-Operative
Post Partum Tubal Ligations
Primary and Repeat Cesarean Sections with Tubal ligation if *Desired
Circumcision
Postpartum Care
Lactation Consultants with IBCLC
Pediatric and Family Medicine Services
Full Spectrum Pediatric Primary Care from Newborn to Adolescents
Adult Primary Care
Asthma and Allergy Management
ADHD Management
Obesity Management
Mental Health
Sexual Health
Lifestyle Evaluation
Patient Portal and Secure Messaging To Your Provider and Staff
Ashe Women & Children's Health utilizes AthenaHealth, INC. as our EMR (Electronic Medical Records) software, on which all aspects of the clinic's operation are documented. The EMR offers you access to a secure, HIPAA-compliant,
Patient Portal. You may sign up for the patient portal for free by creating a username and a password of your choosing. It is accessible from any device such as a home computer, laptop, tablet, iPad, or smartphone. A smartphone app can easily be installed on your phone. Once registered, you may log in to your own chart, look up patient care summaries, medication lists, lab results, conditions, billing and so on. The portal allows you to send Ashe Women & Children's Health providers and staff secure text messages regarding your health, scheduling or account billing. The portal will direct your message to the appropriate person within the clinic. We make it our goal to answer all messages as soon as possible, but if sent after hours or on weekend days; we will answer messages within no more than 24 to 48 hours.
