Rachel Nichols, MSN, NP-C

Rachel is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 2007 in Phoenix Arizona and then went on to get a Master’s Degree in Public Health Nursing in 2016.  She later received her Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner in 2021 from Catholic University. She has over 15 years of acute care nursing experience in academic level 1 trauma hospitals in Phoenix, Washington DC, New York City, Honolulu, and Chicago. She has specialized in cardiac progressive care, cardio-thoracic-vascular surgery, acute and chronic heart failure, neurosurgery spine, and hospice. She is a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve within a expeditionary medical facility with whom she has mobilized twice. She received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for her service in Cuba and the Armed Forces Service Medal while on a COVID relief mission.  She is passionate about improving the overall wellness of her patients by providing holistic care, education, and support and she acknowledges that everyone is unique with varying needs, preferences and lifestyles. Rachel lives in Bethesda with her partner, their two children, and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring local hiking trails, exercising, walking her dogs, and volunteering with a local animal rescue.

Yuliya Matsova, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC

Yuliya immigrated from Gomel, Belarus to Cleveland, Ohio at the young age of six, overcoming an immense culture shock. In 2012, She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class, and went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University. As part of her final senior practicum at Case Western Reserve University, she completed a 300-hour clinical rotation in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at the Main Campus Cleveland Clinic. She was later offered a full-time registered nurse position on the very same unit after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Two years later, Yuliya moved to Arlington, Virginia to complete her master’s degree from George Washington University, to become an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. While working on her master’s degree, she worked in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at Georgetown University Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital. After three years, and countless clinical hours in primary care offices, orthopedics clinics, and long-term care facilities, Yuliya Graduated from George Washington University in May of 2020 with her master’s degree. Soon after graduating she passed her national board exam, to become a Certified Primary Care Nurse Practitioner accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association.

In October of 2020, Yuliya eagerly accepted a position at Menon Medical Center. Today she prides herself in always using the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines to influence her clinical decision making, to ensure that patients receive the best medical care. She also seeks to provide patients with the necessary education to allow them to take a more active role in attaining and maintaining their optimal level of health. She resides in Fairfax, Virginia with her two dogs and her cat.

In her spare-time she enjoys an active lifestyle, primarily as an avid crossfitter. Outside of work, Yuliya also enjoys hiking, binging on Netflix/Hulu movies, rehearsing classical piano and cello pieces, and spending time with friends.

Cristina Mullenix, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC

Cristina is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She started her nursing career in 2008 at Duke University Medical Center after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2019. As a Registered Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner, Cristina has been fortunate to
work with multidisciplinary teams, providing exceptional care to patients with
cancer for over fourteen years at Walter Reed National Medical Center and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a Nurse Practitioner at NIH, she was
privileged to co-author several publications regarding advanced cancer, including
thymic epithelial cancers.

Prior to her nursing career, Cristina received a Bachelor of Science in Art from
Florida State University followed by a Master of Science in Education from
Columbus State University. She had the pleasure to teach Art in Phenix City,
Alabama before moving to Maryland, where she taught Art in Montgomery
County, Maryland.

As a military spouse, she and her family have called several states home:
Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, and Maryland. In her spare time, Cristina’s
best days include time with family, being active outside and reading.
Professionally, Cristina is interested in healthcare for the underserved as well as
providing evidence-based, proactive, and preventative care management to
patients. She is excited to join the Menon Medical Center as a Primary Care
Provider.

John Howard, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.

John received his master’s level degree in Acupuncture from the Maryland Institute of Traditional Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland in 2004. Upon graduation, he entered into a five-year fellowship with the US military under the direction of Dr. Richard Niemtzow, MD, PHD. John specializes in treating pain and multi-system organ dysfunctions.

John’s military fellowship gave him the opportunity to review and extrapolate best clinical outcomes for his patients. His fellowship included working with soldiers only days removed from the battlefield theater.

In 2007, John’s clinical observations led him to invent Auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture) protocols for those suffering from stress/anxiety and PTSD. Today his protocols are being used in clinics and hospitals settings worldwide. John enjoys fishing and running. He was a competitive runner that qualified for the Boston Marathon twice.