Melissa Hergert, FNP

I've always been intrigued by the brain's complexity and its role in controlling the function of our body. That fascination led me to medical school, where I studied neurology. \n Neurology is detective work; I gather clues from each patient's history and combine those with what I learn during an examination. My goal is to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. I'm committed to getting every one of my patients the most complete answers possible. That means relying on my years of experience and staying up to date on the latest neurological research and clinical trials. \n I'm especially passionate about demyelinating diseases. These diseases cause damage to the protective covering around nerves. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common type of this disease. Each year, we learn more about MS and related diseases, allowing us to more accurately diagnose and manage them. It is extremely gratifying to help my patients benefit from these advancements. \n Outside of work, my son keeps me running! I'm also an art enthusiast and enjoy painting with watercolors, as well as watching movies with family and friends.

When Jaleema Speaks, MD, was six years old, she asked her pediatrician to let her look at her blood under the microscope because of her fascination with science. Dr. Speaks turned that love of science into a career when she decided to attend medical school. Her desire to focus on women's care was encouraged by a family of strong women, like her grandmother who taught Lamaze and yoga from her screened in porch, exposing Dr. Speaks to pregnant women very early on. Dr. Speaks never gets bored of delivering babies and believes it's the best reason to be awake in the middle of the night. When she's not working or on call, Dr. Speaks enjoys spending time with her family. She married her high school sweetheart and they have a son and a daughter.