When it comes to Nashville’s economy, music and medicine take centerstage. Tamera Thoener knows what it likes to play a starring role in both.
She came to town from Lubbock, Texas in 1991 on a scholastic scholarship to Vanderbilt with the intention of becoming a medical doctor. But shortly thereafter she traded her stethoscope for a violin, playing in the orchestra at Vanderbilt and later at Belmont, where she transferred to study music business.
“I changed schools and majors because I thought music would be more fun,” she says. “And the music industry is where I met my husband. He was a client of the studio where I was a manager. Next thing you know, we’re friends, we’re dating…and we’ve been together a long time!”
That man, producer David Thoener, has a resume that includes several Grammys and over 500 hit records for the likes of Santana, Aerosmith, Matchbox Twenty, KISS, Billy Joel, Faith Hill and Michael W. Smith.
By 2013 the music industry had evolved to the point that Tamera Thoener opted to return to school to pursue her original healthcare dreams. She became a nurse practitioner in 2015 and, with her science and business skills, revitalized a local urgent care/primary care practice.
When 2018 rolled around, she was ready to venture out on her own, so she opened Nashville Health Pro at 915 Harpeth Valley Place. She’s been playing a starring role in Bellevue’s healthcare scene ever since.
“The motivating factor for me is I want to help people, and especially women, address health concerns on many different levels,” says Thoener. “We look at the complete, holistic picture. What is the patient eating, the medications they’re taking, lifestyle and family history? We try to find the root cause and not just treat symptoms. It’s not just, ‘Oh, you have a cough? Take this.’
“I like the functional aspect of medicine, and I’m very interested in an East-meets-West approach. You have patients who are very well educated and sometimes don’t want to take pharmaceuticals. They’re more interested in change through diet and exercise, not just a pill. So, we’re able to offer a combined approach that is science and evidence based.”
In addition to Thoener, a family practitioner and Nashville Health Pro’s sole owner, the team includes adult nurse practitioner, Kim Huang, and Doctorate of Nursing practice and family nurse practitioner, Nikki Stephens. As personal care providers, they’re able to treat a wide range of everyday acute and chronic healthcare needs.
“We have a full breadth of everything you can think of for a primary care need,” says Thoener. “You can come to us for your annual exam, hormones or a deep dive into your cholesterol. We even do thyroid management and provide treatment for migraine headaches.”
All three specialize in cosmetic and medical dermatology which means they provide everything from aesthetic services to treatment of pre-cancerous lesions and biopsies.
“I’ve always loved skin,” says Thoener. “One of my best friends in my early 20s was an aesthetician and she was always taking care of my skin. Just think about the psychological aspects of teenagers when it comes to their skin. So, even before I was in school, I knew dermatology was going to be an area of focus.”
Because beautiful skin and good health are important whether you’re on stage or not.
“The motivating factor for me is I want to help people...address health concerns on many different levels,”