Nurse Practitioners

Heather joined the division of pediatric rheumatology/immunology in 1998 as an ARNP. Prior to becoming an ARNP she worked as a BSN/RN in the NICU III at UF Health. She was born in Gainesville and graduated from the University of Florida with highest honors with her BSN in 1994. She continued her graduate education at the University of Florida and graduated with her Masters degree in the pediatric nurse practitioner program in 1997. She is a member of CARRA (Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance) and a member of ACR/AHRP. She is currently the study coordinator for several studies in the division. She is also involved in the SCID newborn screening program. She was awarded the Superior Accomplishment Award in 2009 and 2012 by the University of Florida. Her clinical interests include systemic JIA, MAS, Uveitis, Vasculitis, and Auto-Immune Encephalitis. In her free time she enjoys going to the beach, paddle boarding, baseball,spending time with her two boys, husband and playing with her two French bulldogs.

Morgan graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Florida in 2015. During her undergraduate education, she was selected as one of fifty nurses to complete a summer nurse externship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Once she graduated, she began her nursing career in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she thoroughly enjoyed caring for medically complex patients and their loved ones. During her time in the MICU, she was nominated for Rookie of the Year and a Daisy Award. After working as a BSN-prepared RN for 2 years, she left the bedside to pursue her goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner and attended the University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program full-time. During her DNP program, she completed clinical rotations in primary care, integrated behavioral health, endocrinology, pulmonology, emergency medicine, adolescent medicine, child development, child advocacy and otolaryngology. She became a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 2020. After graduation, she moved back to Gainesville, FL and began practicing as an APRN with our Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology team. Morgan has special clinical interests in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Uveitis, Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Transplant Immunology. She is most passionate about building relationships with her patients and their family and striving to provide exceptional patient care, education, and care coordination. When she is not working, Morgan loves to cheer on the Florida Gators, be active (workout, play beach volleyball, swim) and spend time with her husband, two kids, and Bernese Mountain Dog. 

Kristin earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Florida in 2010. She began her career in pediatrics here at UF Health in the Pediatric IMC unit where she held position as charge nurse and cared for children with an array of acute and chronic health disparities. After earning her Master of Science in Nursing in Pediatric Primary Care with honors in 2015, she started practicing as an ARNP with our Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology team. Her clinical interests include management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Outside of clinical practice, Kristin is also a professional cellist who performs regularly with The Gainesville Orchestra, The Gainesville String Quartet, and other music groups in the North Florida region. In her free time she enjoys fitness, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with family.

Melissa graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida in 2017. She then gained over seven years of experience as a Registered Nurse on a pediatric medical-surgical unit here at UF Health, where she cared for children with both acute and chronic conditions, involving burns, trauma, neurosurgery, congenital heart disease, cardiology, urology, neurology, orthopedics, and heart and lung transplants. In 2024, Melissa earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from University of Florida, achieving a 4.0 GPA. She joined our Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology team in 2025. Melissa is passionate about delivering comprehensive, compassionate care with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice. Her clinical interests include Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Uveitis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and staying active.

Tammy Phu started her career as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) when she graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida. She returned to the Gator Nation to earn her Doctorate of Nurse Practice (DNP) in Pediatrics and a Certification in Public Health. Tammy has a diverse pediatric clinical background including: rheumatology, allergy, immunology, hematology, oncology, and primary care. She is experienced in academic, private, and hospital practice. She has cared for acutely ill children with blood and immunologic disorders and assisted with bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell transplants as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
Tammy has special clinical interest in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE), and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). She strives to provide exceptional and compassionate patient care through communication, education, and teamwork. She loves getting to know patients and their families. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, exploring new food, and traveling around the world.

Ann has extensive clinical experience in pediatrics, including pediatric rheumatology, immunology, allergy, emergency, trauma, and primary care. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner (APRN), she attended the University of Florida, obtaining her first Bachelor’s degree and then immediately after graduation transitioned to Jacksonville University’s Accelerated Nursing program, where she received her second Bachelor’s degree with the highest honors and awards. She began working in Miami upon graduation as a BSN-prepared RN in a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center/Pediatric Emergency Department, and after being nominated for Rookie of the Year, quickly held the role of charge nurse, gaining vast experience in pediatric trauma and rare emergent pediatric cases. Ann graduated with honors from Florida International University and once she became a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, she immediately started working dually in a large Pediatric Primary Care office, as well as in their specialty area of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology. After moving back to Gainesville, she began working with our team in Pediatric Rheumatology & Immunology, and also previously held a weekly clinic in Pediatric Allergy due to the experience that she brought to us in Allergy. Ann is our Pediatric Immunology & Cardiology Transplant NP coordinator on the Immunology side as well. 
 
She has special clinical interests in Psoriatic Arthritis, the skin, gut, & joint connection, Transplant Immunology, SLE, as well as severe eczema/atopic dermatitis, asthma, and adolescents with chronic illnesses. She is also an advocate for improving mental health, movement, and exercise to promote further wellness amongst these complex diseases; advocating for movement through movement.
 
When she is not at work, you can find Ann spending time with her husband, daughters, two Golden Retriever dogs, parents, in laws, siblings, and extended family. She loves to long distance run, play tennis, garden and learn about nature, weight lift, volunteer and create for her children’s PTA, go boating & waterskiing, hiking in the mountains, and really anything active and outdoors with the people she loves! Although she is from Tampa and has lived in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale/Miami, she bleeds orange and blue and is happy to be back in Gainesville since 2014!
 
 “I love our team, and helping jointly serve our patients and their families to improve their physical and mental health, and in turn their daily lives and outlook. Our work is so interesting and gratifying. I’m so grateful to learn something new every day and share that knowledge.”