Celeste Halcomb, PA -C
Celeste Halcomb was born in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and spent most of her early years in Arvada, Colorado and Herndon, Virginia. She completed her undergraduate work at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Biology and Psychology, and also completed a Masters of Health Science at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. Celeste began her career working in Hyden, KY, practicing Internal Medicine and providing school-based health care in four local elementary schools. After working nearly four years in Kentucky, she relocated to Boone in 2013 with her amazing husband, Tony and children Madelyn and Liam. Celeste and Tony love the outdoors, including mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and traveling, although some activities are now limited with a new baby in tote. They look forward to becoming actively involved in the local church and community. Celeste is thankful for the opportunity to work at Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine!
Kinsey Nance, FNP
Kinsey was born and raised in Ashe County, North Carolina. She attended Caldwell Community College to obtain her Associate Degree in Nursing. Since her graduation in 2014, she has had many different work opportunities in a variety of fields. While traveling with her husband Jacob who was in the military, she worked in the NICU, pediatric emergency department, and newborn nursery. When Kinsey and her family returned to the High Country, she had the opportunity of working as a nurse at Blue Ridge Pediatrics, also while completing her bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing at East Tennessee State University. Upon her graduation in 2020 as a family nurse practitioner, she worked as a local family medicine provider and later decided to pursue her passion for pediatric medicine again with Blue Ridge Pediatrics. For fun, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jacob and two sons, Colter and Brooks. They love to travel together and spend time outdoors. She also enjoys teaching the youth group at her local church, raising miniature horses, and baking with her mother.
Michelle H. Lubkemann, PA -C
Michelle Lubkemann was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She graduated from Mars Hill College with a BS in biology and entered the Physician’s Assistant Program at Bowman Gray , Wake Forest Medical School in 1993. Upon graduation, Michelle worked in a family practice in Fairmont, North Carolina for two years. She joined Blue Ridge Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine full time in 1995. She has since had three children, Austin, Amanda and Aaron and now works part time with us. Michelle is married to Jonathan Lubkemann and is active volunteer at Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Allie B. Taylor, MHS, PA -C
Allie Taylor was born in Louisiana and grew up in Ashe County, North Carolina. She attended Western Carolina University and graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Pre Professional Biology. She earned a BS in Physician Assistant Studies from East Carolina University and a Master of Health Sciences degree from Duke University. She has worked as a PA in Rocky Mount, NC and in Warrensville, NC prior to joining Blue Ridge Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine in 2008. She has a passion for working with children and is thankful to be a part of the Blue Ridge Peds team. Allie is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants. She enjoys scuba diving, hiking, camping, kayaking, and many other outdoor activities. She is blessed with a wonderful husband Duane and they currently reside in Ashe County.
Jill Czaja, PA -C
Jill Czaja grew up in a small town in southeastern Ohio. After graduating from High school, she entered the Physician Assistant program at Kettering College of Medical Arts, graduating with honors with her BS in PA studies. She and her husband decided to make North Carolina home, as they had enjoyed traveling there. They moved to Wilmington in 2002, where she worked in Internal and Family Medicine. After the birth of her daughter, she decided to follow her passion and begin a full-time Pediatric position in 2007. Their family grew to include a son and they decided to move to the mountains to enjoy more of the outdoor activities that they love. Jill began working in a rural health clinic in Spruce Pine in 2013. She was thrilled to have the opportunity to get back to full-time pediatrics and join Blue Ridge in 2017. Their family has found a country home that they love, where she enjoys gardening, cooking, and sewing. If she is not at work, they are probably camping.
Holly Watson Cullop, FNP-C
Holly was born and raised in Watauga County, NC. She attended East Tennessee State University to obtain her bachelors of science in nursing in 2013. She worked in a level II trauma center in Greensboro NC and then moved back home and worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Watauga Medical Center. She completed her master of science in nursing at East Tennessee State University in 2020. She worked for a pulmonology practice and then joined Blue Ridge Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine in 2024. She is married to her amazing husband, Eric, and they have 3 boys; Cade, Nash and Lane. Together they enjoy spending time at the lake, hiking, and watching the boys play baseball, basketball, wrestle and ride dirt bikes. They also love being actively involved in their church.
Having walked through the loss of her incredible first husband, Caleb, she has experienced firsthand the realities of deep loss, grief, healing, and restoration. Those seasons strengthened her trust in Gods sovereignty and deepened her compassion for others. She strives to reflect Christ’s love in every patient interaction.
Heather Potaro (FNP-C)
Heather Portaro, MSN, NP-C, grew up in Blowing Rock and graduated from Watauga High School. She earned her teaching degree from Appalachian State University before pursuing a career in nursing. Heather attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing as a North Carolina Nursing Scholar, graduated Magna Cum Laude and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. During nursing school, Heather worked in the emergency department at Levine Children’s Hospital and the adult level I trauma unit. As a registered nurse, she gained experience at Carolina’s Medical Center in the neurosurgical intensive care unit and the cardiothoracic operating room. During her time in Charlotte, Heather also worked as an outreach nurse for Union County Public Schools and Levine Cancer Institute. Working in community health and completing her first medical mission trip to Honduras in 2016 inspired her to pursue her Master of Science in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University where she graduated with honors as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Heather’s professional interests include pediatric and adolescent health, preventive care, and partnering with school nurses in Watauga County to address the needs of students and better identify health disparities in Watauga County. Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two children. Her favorite activities include visiting national parks, hiking, kayaking, and singing on the praise and worship team at church