Who We Are

Applied Medical Systems

Our Team

Dan Johnson Profile Picture

Dan Johnson

Operations Manager

With 26 years of experience under his belt, Dan Johnson is our resident jack-of-all-trades, expertly navigating all departments at AMS. Since joining us in 1999, Dan’s diverse expertise in IT and management has been an invaluable asset. Off the clock, you can find Dan cruising on his bike, diving into a good book like “Crime and Punishment,” or spending quality time with his family, including two daughters, and his lively crew of pets: dogs Daisy and Tigger, cats Stormy and Weasly, and lizard Blaze.

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Michelle Durner Profile Picture

Michelle Durner, CPA, CHBME, CRCR

President

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Rachel Mitchell Profile Picture

Rachel Mitchell, CPC-I, COC

Director of Client Development and Relations

With over 33 years spent as a “jack of all trades” in the medical field, Rachel is a Certified Coding Instructor (Since 2005), Certified Professional Coder (Since 1991) as well as billing and coding consultant for a multitude of specialties. She has spent 24 years with AMS managing client base, training providers to document and overseeing coding and billing functions.

Balance between work and home life has never been easy as Rachel’s passion for work is second to none. Her downtime consists of traveling abroad with her husband as well as snuggling with her 3 French bulldogs, Cash, Otis and Ripley.

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Anna Bloch Profile Picture

Anna Bloch, MBA, CPC

Revenue Cycle Strategist

With an impressive 27 years of experience in optometry office support, Anna joined AMS in 2011 and is a vital asset to our Billing and Coding teams. Her extensive expertise includes 19 years in medical billing, 14 years in medical coding, and 5 years in revenue strategy. Before bringing her talents to medical administration, Anna even worked as a veterinary technician! Outside of optimizing revenue cycles, you might find Anna tearing up the dance floor with salsa moves, exploring local breweries, tending to her yard, or relaxing with a good book and her two black kittens, Winston Salem and Charlotte Sabrina.

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Arcely Almanza Profile Picture

Arcely Almanza

Medical Billing Team

Arcely has been in the optometry/ophthalmology field since 2013 and loves working in such a complex and fascinating specialty where her knack for retaining complicated billing rules makes her a fast learner. Her clients appreciate her accuracy and consistency.

Arcely is a native Dallas Texan who loves spending time with her family and chasing her two toddlers around, while still somehow finding the time and energy to work out!

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Mary Buckner, CPC

Coding Team

Mary has been with Applied Medical Systems since 2019. She is a Certified Professional Coder and has been coding since 2014. When she’s not coding, she enjoys traveling, listening to live music, and discovering new places to wine and dine with her husband, two children, and her dog.

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Carol Buonadonna, CPC

Coding Team

Carol was employed as a medical biller with Applied Medical Systems from 2002-2014. She then decided to go back to school to pursue her longtime dream of becoming a Certified Medical Coder. In 2014, her goal was achieved! After a 7-year stint working for a small community hospital coding multispecialty outpatient surgeries, Carol returned to AMS and now codes GI endoscopic procedures.

When Carol is enjoying downtime from her busy coding schedule, she spends her time on the lake kayaking and relaxing with her dog, Evie, and cats, Cali and Roy.

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Morgan Gleason Profile Picture

Morgan Carson, CPC

Coding Team

With over a decade of experience and a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification received in 2019, Morgan is an invaluable asset to the AMS Billing and Coding departments. Since joining AMS in 2016, Morgan has honed her expertise in Billing Denials/AR for four years and Coding Denials for five years, specializing in a wide range of fields including psychology, OBGYN, ophthalmology, orthopedics, general surgery, endocrinology, and rheumatology. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys bowling, cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes, and spending quality time with her husband, two-year-old daughter and her dog, Cane.

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Debbie Carter, CCA

Coding Team

Debbie has been an AHIMA certified coder since 2012. She joined the AMS team in 2021 with quite the history of coding experience. Her coding career started with UNC Healthcare where she retired from being a senior ophthalmology coder. Debbie then continued her career with Duke University Healthcare where she coded multiple medicine specialties. She then decided to leave her family farm in North Carolina and moved to her happy place in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

Debbie’s free time consists of world traveling, photography, and spending time with her son and two grandchildren as well as her cat, Buddy.

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Kendall Church, CPC

Coding Team

Kendall has been with the AMS family since 2021. She has been a surgical coder since 2016, previously working for a major teaching hospital in North Carolina since 2010. She is passionate about all surgery, but has a major invested focus in Ophthalmology and Orthopedic surgery. Kendall lives on a Farmstead in North Carolina with her husband and three children.

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Natalee Cosme, MOA

Medical Billing Team

Natalee has been a valuable member of our Billing team since 2025. With a Certification in Medical Office Administration received in 2019, Natalee brings a unique perspective to her role, leveraging her experience as a payment poster to expertly navigate denial codes. Outside of work, Natalee loves spending quality time with her two boys, and her furry family, including her dog Whitepaw and cats Ash and Kona.

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Revonda Crayton

Coding Team

Revonda came on board with AMS in January 2022. Before joining AMS, she worked with UNC Healthcare, and Cone Health as a claim representative, resolving claim rejections and denials.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends. She brings a wealth of knowledge resolving claim rejections and claim denials

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Cyndi Cuthbertson

Coding Team

Cyndi has worked in the medical field since 1994 and has been coding since 2013. She is certified by both AHIMA and the AAPC. In her spare time, she likes to play with Skipper Bear, her Jack Russell, and spend time with her family, especially her wild little grandsons.

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Vicki Davis, CPC

Coding Team

Vicki joined AMS in 2023 and brings over 30 years of expertise to our Coding team. A Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Vicki is a master of medical coding with extensive experience in GI (6 years), Neurology (10 years), ED (3 years), and General Surgery (6 years). Outside of the office, Vicki is a passionate genealogist, spending her weekends researching family history, and also enjoys crocheting and music. Her dedication to precision and vast experience make her an invaluable asset to AMS and a trusted partner for our clients.

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Gabby Dickerson, CPC

Coding Team

Meet Gabby Dickerson, a dynamic member of our Coding team since 2023! With four years of experience and a CPC certification received in 2021, Gabby brings specialized expertise in the Emergency Department. Outside of work, Gabby is dedicated to her family, church, and fitness, and she actively supports veterans and first responders through a non-profit. You might find her cheering on her boys at the ball field on weekends, or enjoying her favorite shows, Chicago PD and Med.

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Jessica Edwards, CPC

Coding Team

Meet Jessica Edwards, the newest wizard in our Coding department, bringing nearly a year of specialized expertise in Telehealth, Orthopedics, and Hematology & Infusions, along with her shiny new CPC certification! When she’s not deciphering codes, you can find Jessica exploring National Parks (she’s visited 10!), enjoying coffee shops with her husband, daughter, and labradoodle Jasper or volunteering with her church’s “555” community service initiative.

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Toni Egan

Coding Team

A seasoned medical billing professional with 33+ years of experience, Toni offers a deep understanding of the intricacies of revenue cycle management. Her background encompasses comprehensive management of AR, insurance billing, and coding. Toni joined the AMS Coding team in April 2024, and quickly adapted to Emergency Department coding (3M) and now specializes in the evolving field of Telehealth coding within the Epic system. Her commitment to professional excellence is underscored by her AAPC Coding Certificate (2015) and Epic Resolute Billing Certification (2020). 

Beyond her professional dedication, She values time spent reading and connecting with loved ones through games, and visits to the beach being a cherished escape.

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Natalie Glancy Profile Picture

Natalie Glancy, CPPM

Practice Management Coach

Natalie has spent almost 20 years in the optometric field. She is one of the co-founders of the AMS Practice Management Coaching program, where her clear and confident communication allows her to share her extensive knowledge with her clients. Being equal parts creative and energetic, in her spare time Natalie can usually be found hiking, spending time with her family at the beach, or knitting sweaters for herself and her Boston Terriers.

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Rachel Graham Profile Picture

Rachel Graham, CPC, CPOT, CPOC

Coding Team

Rachel is a Certified Paraoptometric Coder and Certified Paraoptometric Technician and has specialized in all things optometry since 2004. Her dedication to her clients is legendary- there is nothing she does not have the confidence and determination to tackle and improve. Rachel lives in beautiful western North Carolina with her husband and her pair of Belgian Malinoises, Mallie and Eli.

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Hailey Hamons, CPC

Coding Team

Meet Hailey Hamons, a Certified Professional Coder who joined AMS in 2024, bringing 8 years of coding expertise and 11 years in the medical field to our Coding department. Hailey specializes in Denial Coding and OB Coding, ensuring meticulous and accurate processing. Outside of work, this avid reader and country music fan enjoys cheering on her family at drag races and her son’s sports teams, alongside her Doberman, Radar. Hailey’s dedication extends to her community, where she volunteers with her son’s school athletic boosters.

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Kendra Heath

Coding Team

Meet Kendra Heath, a vital member of our Coding team since 2021! With four years of experience in her field, Kendra brings a wealth of expertise to AMS. When she’s not meticulously crafting code, Kendra is a dedicated homeschooler to her two children.  Her perfect weekend involves quality outdoor time with her husband and kids, often joined by their two Toy Fox Terriers, Spuds and Scrambles.

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Stacy Janssen, CPC

Coding Team

Meet Stacy Janssen, who joined AMS in 2024, bringing an impressive 17 years of coding and billing experience to AMS, backed by her CPC certification in 2010. Stacy is a true veteran in the field, having spent 2008-2013 specializing in Urgent Care billing and then dedicating 2013-2024 to Orthopedic coding. Outside of work, this “kid at heart” loves building Lego sets with her son and cherishing weekends with her husband and their energetic trio of German Shepherds: Marley, Sally, and Lilly (plus a cat named Muchkin!).

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Amy Jeter CPC, CHONC

Coding Team

With 20 years of experience in the field, Amy is a highly skilled member of the AMS Coding team, having joined us in 2020. She holds both CPC and CHONC certifications, demonstrating her commitment to professional excellence. Outside of work, Amy loves spending quality time with her husband, two children, and her beloved pets: dogs Odie and Rocky, and cat Whiskers. Her dedication to both her profession and her family makes her a valuable asset to AMS and a joy to work with!

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Chrissi Johnson Profile Picture

Christine Johnson, CPC, CPCS 

Medical Billing Team

With 19 years of expertise in medical billing and over 5 years in credentialing, Chrissi is a cornerstone of the AMS Billing and Credentialing team. Chrissi earned her CPC in 2020 and her CPCS in 2022, showcasing her dedication to excellence. Outside of optimizing billing cycles, Chrissi loves to get outdoors for a hike, enjoy art and music, and spend time with her family, including her daughter and three cats—Pumpkinhead, Chilli, and Louie!

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Laura Juris, CPC

Coding Team

A dynamic addition to our Coding team since 2024. With 7 years of experience in medical coding, including 6 years specializing in Orthopedic, Physical, and Occupational Therapy coding, Laura brings a wealth of expertise. She holds a CPC certification and currently excels in our Coding Edits workqueue. Outside of work, this mom of two loves photography, cooking, and spending weekends with friends and her children. You might catch her listening to country music or 80’s classics with her American Terrier, Mercury, by her side!

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Courtney Keener, CPC

Coding Team

Meet Courtney Keener, a dynamic addition to our Coding team since 2025! With over 15 years of experience managing dental practices and handling dental insurance billing, Courtney brings a wealth of expertise to AMS, bolstered by her recent CPC certification in December 2024. When she’s not meticulously optimizing your coding processes, you can find Courtney enjoying the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, relaxing at the beach, helping out at her mom’s farm, or spending quality time with her husband, son, and her beloved pug, Buster, and cat, Jay Jay. 

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Addie Kimball, CPC, CPB, CEDC

Coding Team

With eight years of experience in medical billing and coding, Addie Kimball brings a wealth of knowledge and a fun-loving spirit to the AMS team! Hired in 2019, Addie is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Emergency Department Coder (CEDC), and Certified Professional Biller (CPB). She’s particularly adept as an Emergency Department coder and trainer, having dedicated a year to training her colleagues. Outside of work, this mom of two enjoys reading and spending quality time with her children, and her 14-year-old husky, Kya.

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Fermeka Lyons, CPC

Coding Team

Joining AMS in 2024, Fermeka brings five years of expertise in medical coding, specializing in Cardiology, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Telehealth, and both Inpatient and Outpatient services. A Certified Professional Coder since 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration, she ensures our coding operations run seamlessly. Outside of work, Fermeka is a creative spirit who enjoys arts and crafts, diamond painting, and gaming, though her favorite way to spend a weekend is enjoying scary movies and quality time with her two college-bound children and her wonderful husband.

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Shari Matthews, CPC

Coding Team

Shari joined the AMS team in 2024, bringing with her four years of experience in coding, and holds a CPC certification since 2022. Her expertise spans critical care, edits, denials, and both inpatient and outpatient E/M. Outside of work, Shari enjoys gardening, spending time with her family (including her two children), and working on creative projects like painting and crocheting. Shari is also a proud pet parent to three cats (Tula, Nugget, and Penelope) and a box turtle named Michelangelo.

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Amber McKenna Profile Picture

Amber McKenna, CPC, CRC, CEMC, CHONC

Coding Team

Meet Amber McKenna, a coding powerhouse who joined AMS in 2021! With an impressive 12 years of experience in the field, Amber is a vital part of our Coding department. She holds a suite of professional certifications, including CPC, CRC, CEMC, and CHONC, demonstrating her expertise in areas like E/M and Oncology coding. When she’s not meticulously managing codes, Amber enjoys camping, family outings with her daughter, reading, and crafting. Her home is a lively one, shared with two German Shepherds (Ulysses and Penelope), three cats (Charlie, Chester, Oscar), and a betta fish named Sweetie Pie!

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Paula Melendez, CPC, CDEO, CEDC, CEMC

Coding Team

Paula joined AMS in September 2020, bringing over 18 years of coding experience in various specialties and settings. She currently codes critical care and telehealth for multiple medicine as well as surgery specialties.

In addition to her part-time work here at AMS, Paula holds a longstanding full-time position with an out-of-state level 1 trauma center. She thrives in both jobs with attention to detail, self motivation and coding research.

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Brenda Michaels, RHIT

Coding Team

Brenda joined AMS with over 16 years of coding experience in multiple specialties to include emergency medicine, observation, GI, and oncology. When she is not busy coding emergency medicine charts, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Traveling and game nights are two of her favorite pastimes. Additionally, Brenda is the undisputed ping-pong champion in her family.

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Lisa Moody, CPC

Coding Team

Lisa is a Certified Professional Coder(CPC) who joined AMS in 2025. With an impressive 15 years of prior medical experience, primarily in lab services, Lisa brings a wealth of healthcare knowledge to our Coding department. Outside of work, you might find her enjoying a motorcycle ride, capturing beautiful moments through photography, or grilling by the pool with neighbors and family. 

 

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Beth Mosley, CPC

Coding Team

Beth has worked in the medical field since 1991. She became a Certified Professional Coder in 2004 and has coded several specialties to include emergency medicine, GI, critical care/trauma, and telehealth.

Beth is a Raleigh native and is a passionate North Carolina State football fan. Some of her personal interests include traveling to the beach, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.

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McKenna Motsinger, CPC

Coding Team

McKenna came onboard with AMS in December of 2021 fresh from taking her coding certification. She has been coding telehealth cases for multiple medicine and surgical specialties.

In her free time, McKenna enjoys spending her time with her husband and two children. She also loves crafting with her daughter.

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Gabi Nelson, CPC, CPhT

Coding Team

Gabi is a 2020 addition to the AMS team, bringing 6 years of expertise in Coding, with a focus on Emergency Department and Psych. A Certified Professional Coder since 2019 and a Certified Pharmacy Technician since 2010, Gabriella’s diverse background enriches her comprehensive approach. When she’s not meticulously managing codes, you can find Gabriella enjoying the outdoors, traveling, weightlifting, attending concerts, or bowling.

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Julie Okamura, CPC

Coding Team

With 16 years of expertise in medical billing and coding, Julie Okamura, CPC, brings a wealth of knowledge to AMS, specializing in GI and General Surgery coding and billing. Hired in 2024, Julie has been a Certified Professional Coder since 2009. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, three children, five stepchildren, and nine grandchildren, along with her beloved pets: dogs Diesel and Sophie, donkey Jiggy, and mini goats Mable and Dapper. 

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Terri Pellicano Profile Picture

Terri Pellicano, CPC

Medical Billing Team

Since joining AMS in 2014, Terri Pellicano has become an invaluable asset to our Billing and Coding teams, bringing over a decade of expertise in client and patient relations. As a CPC-certified professional coder (2020), Terri excels at helping clients and patients navigate their billing questions and concerns with ease. Outside of work, you can find Terri embarking on adventures with her daughter, and their dog, Roxie, exploring new towns, trying new restaurants, and enjoying live music.

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Brittany Phillips Profile Picture

Brittany Phillips

Medical Billing Team

A vital member of our Billing department since 2019! With an impressive 12 years of experience in optometry billing, Brittany is a true expert in her field. Outside of work, you can find her enjoying weekends with her 12-year-old dog, Gus (our unofficial in-office mascot!), and hitting the gym. Brittany’s dedication and expertise ensure our clients receive top-notch service and support.

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Kaylene Reinhart, CEMC CPC

Coding Team

Kaylene Reinhart brings over 22 years of invaluable experience to our Coding department. With specialized expertise in areas like Telehealth, Ophthalmology/Optometry, and Family Practice, along with her CPC (2005) and CEMC (2008) certifications, Kaylene is a true asset to our team. Outside of work, she loves traveling, diving into a good book, and cherishing time with her husband and three grandchildren, along with her one-year-old Chihuahua, Sunny.

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Maggie Sambraus Profile Picture

Maggie Sambraus

Medical Billing Team

Maggie has worked in the medical field for 22 years- from psychiatry to pediatric urgent care, there’s hardly a specialty she hasn’t tackled. This experience has made her a truly gifted and compassionate communicator. Maggie loves traveling to the Caribbean but when home in North Carolina, she and her husband love a good road trip, complete with country roads, country music, and their dog, Dolly Parton.

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Allison Sawyer Profile Picture

Allison Sawyer

Medical Billing Team

With over 25 years of experience in medical billing, Allison joined AMS in 2021, bringing a wealth of expertise in designing training and process improvement programs. Her background even includes managing customer service for a specialty contact lens manufacturer, showcasing her versatile problem-solving skills. Outside of work, Allison loves spending time at the lake or beach, gardening, and relaxing with her Rottweiler, Cheyenne, and two kittens, Cosmic Crisp (Ceecee) and Fenway.

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Angela Simpson

Medical Billing Team

Angela joined AMS in 2025, bringing nearly a decade of medical billing and denials experience.  With a background in both behavioral and general medical billing (including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics), she possesses a comprehensive understanding of the billing landscape. Her recent CPC certification (2024) further solidifies her expertise. Clients benefit from Angela’s meticulous approach and dedication to ensuring accurate and efficient claim processing.

In her spare time, she loves to watch shows/movies or play video games with her husband, Jon, and her son, Isaiah. She also enjoys computer gaming, crocheting and coloring in her adult coloring books.

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Julie Stachurski Profile Picture

Julie Stachurski

Medical Billing Team

Julie has been in the medical billing field for almost a decade. Her superpower is pattern recognition within complex data sets. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics and is currently studying Applied Statistics at Penn State University. Julie recently moved back to her hometown in western Pennsylvania where she is renovating her 70-year-old home with the help of her canine sidekick, Raven.

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Suzanne Tingen, CPC, CPMA, CRC, CEDC

Coding Team

Suzanne is a Certified Professional Coder and Certified Medical Record Auditor with over 25 years of experience in the medical field. She is the AMS imperium of all things coding and documentation for emergency medicine.

No grass grows under Suzanne’s feet, as she works full time for AMS as well as owns her own business all while having a young daughter at home. Her work ethic is second to none!

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Stacey Wennerberg Profile Picture

Stacey Wennerberg CPC, CCS-P

Coding Team

Joining AMS in 2021, Stacey brings an impressive 15 years of coding experience to our team, specializing in outpatient coding across multiple specialties, including 5 years in orthopedics. She holds both AAPC CPC (2009) and AHIMA CCS-P (2014) certifications, showcasing her deep expertise in the field. Beyond her professional prowess, Stacey is a dedicated mom who loves spending her weekends with her two children, enjoying board games, puzzles, park visits, and hikes—often with their Boxer/Lab mix, Brinley, by their side!

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Angie Whitlock, RN, BSN, CPC

Coding Team

Angie Whitlock is a Registered Nurse who graduated with a BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA in 1996. After 17 years as a RN and the birth of two children, she decided she needed a change and pursued a career as a Medical Coder. She received her certification in 2013 through AAPC and joined Applied Medical Systems shortly thereafter. Her specialties include coding in Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Telehealth, Pediatrics, General Medicine, and Plastic Surgery.

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Alexis Winstead COC, CPC, CEDC

Coding Team

With a remarkable 17 years in the field, Alexis W. Winstead, who joined AMS in 2008, is a Coding powerhouse. She holds CPC, COC, and CEDC certifications and brings extensive expertise in ED, SDC, OBS, and Clinic coding. When she’s not meticulously managing accounts, you can find Alexis cruising, solving puzzles, and cherishing time with her family, including her grandson, her two sons, and her delightful pets, Wheatley the multipoo and Luna the cat.

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Nicole Wray

Joining AMS in 2025, Nicole brings an impressive 25 years of executive leadership in healthcare services, specializing in Clinical Documentation. She’s passionate about ensuring seamless operations, leveraging her extensive expertise in building strong client relationships, implementing strategic initiatives, and fostering high-performance teams. When Nicole isn’t busy enhancing business processes and driving company growth, you can find her tackling DIY projects, cheering on her daughter at tennis tournaments, or dedicating her time to 15 years of volunteer work supporting their local school system. She shares her home with her husband, daughter, and two adorable chihuahuas, Sofie and Stella, and loves spending weekends with family and friends.

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