Born in Reno, Heather returned with her parents in 1984 where she ultimately attended and earned her Bachelor degree in Nursing at the University of Reno, Nevada (UNR). Heather went on to earn her Master’s degree at University of Cincinnati graduating in 2008 where she became a Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and NCC certified.
Heather’s love for Northern Nevada is unmistakable as she spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors in the magnificent Sierra mountains. Hiking, skiing, horseback riding and hunting are just a few activities Heather loves to do on her own, with family and friends.
Once you enter Heather’s caring and empathetic arena, you will feel an immediate ease come over you. Heather has a unique ability to make each patient, all ages and stages, feel as if they’ve found a health advocate that truly relates to their individuality.
“I listen! In order to find the root of a patient’s health concern, I ask the right questions, listen intently and analyze their answers or comments.” “Time is valuable to my patient and so I want to give them ample time, as much time as they need. Their health, their lives matters to me,” Heather expresses pointedly. “I want to make sure my patients feel valued”
Dr. Tessa Black's warm and inviting personality captivates everyone she meets. Her down-to-earth approach interacting with her patients is deeply rooted in her upbringing here in Northern Nevada. She is happy she is at CMG because it so closely aligns with her passion for women’s health.
Originally from Fallon, Nevada, Dr. Black attended the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine. Upon completing her residency at the University of Colorado, she began practicing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ultimately, her love for Northern Nevada, its beautiful surroundings and family quickly brought her back to Carson City. With its central location, Carson Medical Group was the perfect choice for Dr. Black to pursue her passion and allow her to serve all members of the Northern Nevada community.
Surrounded by the family she loves and in the state that has always felt like home, she spends time with her family and two children indulging in their favorite activities: skiing, cooking, baking, hosting family get-togethers, and enjoying the faint smell of sagebrush after it rains.
Dr. Brooks loves serving the community for which she has been part of her entire life. Raised in Carson City, and not only returning to her friends and family, Dr. Brooks is returning to a way of life that she appreciates. An avid runner, she is one to take full advantage of the great space that Northern Nevada offers.
When it comes to her patient’s health, Dr. Brooks wants to be there as a teammate helping them accomplish their goals and making decisions that best suits their lifestyles. She is there to provide education and encouragement to keep the communication open so together they will find solutions that best fits each patient.
What her patients can expect to learn from Dr. Brooks is that she puts a lot of value on preventative care. She explains, “If my patients desire to care for others, they must first care for themselves. This is something I have to tell myself all the time.”
When she is not tending to her patients, Dr. Brooks can be found enjoying the outdoors backpacking, hiking, snowboarding and traveling as much as possible.
Accolades
Administrative Chief resident at Baylor
CREOG accredited W.K. Strothers Jr. Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (3 years in a row)
Dr. Shannon Hess has modeled the very best in quality healthcare for the women in Carson City and surrounding rural communities since she joined Carson Medical Group.
Dr. Hess is one to learn from and by her example when it comes to a balanced lifestyle which consists of hiking, skiing or climbing and taking full advantage of the natural beauty and activities found within Northern Nevada. “Living here in Carson City allows me to have a good work/life balance.” she explains. In her spare time, you will find Dr. Hess reading a good book or taking a run.
When it comes to her patients, she regularly reminds them to take in each moment and to live each day to its fullest. Her underlining message to all women is to empower yourself and to take care of your own daily health needs; to work on staying healthy and happy with good balance between work and life. “Don’t wait for the world to change. Change it yourself.” With her many years of OB/Gyn experience, there are many areas of women’s health for which Shannon would like to impact. For the younger women; an increased knowledge and access for contraceptives. For the older women; helping them cope with the life changes that come with menopause, both physically and emotionally. With all women; to educate them on the many options to minimally invasive surgical techniques for which they have access to.
Bio coming soon...
Audrey McDouglas is a kind, bubbly provider who enjoys caring for women of all ages. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno , in 2020 with her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies. She prides herself on being a great listener, and someone who can communicate in a way that is easy for her patients to understand. She focuses on preventative care and education while building rapport with her patients.
Audrey has always considered Northern Nevada to be her home. She grew up in Reno, and eventually, she and her husband decided to settle in Minden. Being a lover of the outdoors, it was important for them to have plenty of land for their children to explore, and to have hiking and biking trails nearby. She also takes full advantage of the Sierras and Lake Tahoe, carving out time for camping, skiing, and lake days with her family. On top of all her other athletic hobbies, she is also a runner! She completed three half marathons before having her children and is currently working toward completing a full marathon.
Audrey's joyful and organized personality maker her a great provider. She loves bonding with full families, welcoming grandmothers, mothers. and daughters alike into her care. She hopes to be a trustworthy ally who can provide her patients the support they need to feel their very best.
Dr. Myers’ deep love for the area and her down-to-earth attitude stem from being raised in beautiful Winnemucca, Nevada. The wide-open spaces, recreation, people, and way of life that this region offers made her determined to come back to care for the Northern Nevada communities where she grew up.
Dr. Myers attended the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she was also the Administrative Chief Resident.
She is passionate about creating strong relationships with her patients and always keeping their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions in mind to work together in their care. Although her specialty is Obstetrics and Gynecology, she believes it is important to relate each aspect of care to the entire body.
In her spare time, Dr. Myers enjoys snowboarding, boating, yoga, and hiking with her husband and fur baby.
Bio coming soon...
Dr. Victoria Starr is a strong, confident, passionate provider. She is originally from the Midwest; growing up in Minnesota where she began her schooling before medical school brought her to Lynchburg, Virginia. She then completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency in Michigan. Dr. Starr first came to Nevada to visit a friend and ended up falling in love with Lake Tahoe, the mountains, and everything else the area has to offer.
Dr. Starr is empathetic and family-oriented. She states that her biggest accomplishment is building her family while she completed her residency. She is the proud mother of two children and two dogs, and worked hard to create a work-life balance that gives her the ability to be present in both. When she is not working, she and her family can be found outdoors all year long. Whether skiing in the winter, golfing, or enjoying the lake in the summer, she is always looking for an excuse to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine!
Being a mother herself makes her particularly empathetic and caring with her patients. She strives to empower her patients to have control over their own health and well-being, giving them the confidence they need to achieve their health goals. Dr. Starr has a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Hispanic Studies, speaking conversational Spanish. She is currently pursuing medical Spanish certification to open up more communication with her patients, offering education and support to all who need it.
Bio coming soon...
Dr. Torres began practicing Obstetrics Medicine at Carson Medical Group shortly after graduating from University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine in 2014. His residency was at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas.
Prior to joining Carson Medical Group’s practice, Dr. Torres dedicated his time mentoring college kids advising them on their medical direction. “My passion is education”, he says. “I want to see kids succeed by helping them acquire a great education”.
Besides his strong belief in college education, Dr. Torres wants his patients to be educated as well when it comes to their individual health. “We are in this together, a partnership for good health. I want to empower my patients with knowledge of proper nutrition and exercise to prevent them from spiraling down an unhealthy path”.
Dr. Torres, being a father himself, recalls the excitement of his children being born. "The toll pregnancy takes on a woman's body is nothing short of incredible," he says. "Post-partum can be a difficult time of transition for everyone, especially for the mother and her health." Dr. Torres listens empathetically to each of his patients while they transition throughout their pregnancy and beyond. "If this were my mom, my sister, or my wife... I would want them to have someone they could trust to help them through anything regarding their health."
