Meet our Geriatric staff

Katherine Horn  is a Geriatric High-Risk Evaluation and Liaison Program -Nurse Practitioner (GHELP NP) at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.
Medical School: Emory University
Residency: Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center Decatur, GA
I work with older adult veterans with health issues that are more common with aging such as memory problems, falls and mobility trouble, and many medications.  I focus on the specific health matters that are most important to patients and their caregivers. My visit is conducted through a visit to the patient's home. Critical transition times including going to the hospital, rehab, or emergency/urgent care, or major changes such as moving or having a new caregiver, can sometimes lead to new difficult problems to navigate at home. Health care support such as GHELP during these times can help early identify and treat problems to prevent and reduce unnecessary visits back to the hospital or emergency/urgent care. 

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Jill Cleary is a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.
Medical School: Nursing Program: Medical University of South Carolina 
Board Certification: Yes

Nurse Practitioner: Specialty trained in Memory and Dementia Care with a focus on the care of the Veteran and their family as a dyad. Over twenty years of Geriatric and Adult Health promotion. 

Assist with screening Veterans for new research and treatment for Alzheimer's Disease and other types of cognitive decline. 

In my free time I like reading, gardening, walking my dog, collecting Depression Era glass.

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Amy Colby is a Adult and Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.
Medical School: Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions
Board Certification: Yes

My clinical service to our Veterans is home based primary care. 

I like to spend my free time with family and friends and work out.

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Cheryl Williams is a Adult and Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.
Nursing School: Robeson Community College
Board Certification: Yes - ADULT/GERONTOLOGY

My clinical service to our Veterans is to perform comprehensive geriatric assessment in the home setting to identify limitations and develop care plan to improve quality of life, prevent admissions, and delay progression of disease process. 

I like to spend my free time walking on the beach/park and attend musical/theatrical shows.

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Ellika Bengtson is a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner at the Rlaph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System
Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Residency: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency - Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center

Since completing residency, I have held a variety of roles within the Geriatrics department including providing care for nursing home, hospice and palliative care, GeriPACT and home-based primary care (HBPC) veterans. I also ran a clinic for complex patients for several years focused on medication education and de-prescribing in effort to reduce risk of hospitalization. I currently focus primarily on HBPC veterans. My areas of interest include geriatrics in general, hospice/end of life care, and reducing polypharmacy through deprescribing. 

My research at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System include various quality improvement and assurance projects to optimize medication safety in elderly veterans.

Outside of work, I enjoy boating with her family, yoga, watching UNC basketball and traveling.