Provider List

Thomas Gary, MD (Blairsville and Blue Ridge)
Crystal Gary, MD (Blairsville and Blue Ridge)
Joe Livingston, MD (Blairsville)
Jonathan Lawrence, MD (Hiawassee)
Margie Johnson, DO (Blairsville)
Sarah Cleckler, DO (Blue Ridge)
Melissa Youngblood, NP-C (Blairsville)
Amanda Hollandsworth, NP-C (Hiawassee)
Ron Soelimento, NP-C (Blairsville)
Kelsie Lance, NP-C (Blue Ridge )
Charles Holloway, PA-C  (Blairsville)
Carrie Bowden, FNP-C  (Blairsville)
Grace McGinn, FNP-C (Blue Ridge)
Chelsea Lineberry, AGNP-C (Blue Ridge)
Athena Shay Garcia, MSN, FNP-C (Hiawassee)
Carrie Bowden, FNP-C

About Our Providers

Joe Livingston, MD

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Joe Livingston joined the practice of NGFM in 2016 in order to help fill north Georgia’s dire need for primary care physicians. Dr. Livingston is a Cum Laude graduate from Valdosta State University where he majored in both biology and chemistry for his Bachelor of Science. He achieved his Doctorate of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Livingston is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians as well as the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and Wilderness Medicine. Dr. Livingston was the 2013 recipient of the Medical College of Georgia’s David S. Sowell MD Scholarship as well as the 2013 recipient of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians T.A. Sappington Award.

During his active academic career, Dr. Livingston also found time to volunteer for Medical Student Missions in Haiti, Free Clinic of Rome, and Salvation Army Homeless Clinic. Dr. Livingston is the proud father of both a young son and daughter. He enjoys spending his spare time with his family. His other hobbies include biking, running, snowboarding, and other outdoor adventure sports.

Crystal Gary, MD

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Dr. Crystal Gary is a native of Young Harris, Georgia and grew up in Union County. She attended Young Harris College, earning her Associate of Science Degree. She then transferred to North Georgia College and State University where she graduated Suma Cum Laude in 2001, majoring in chemistry and minoring in both physics and biology. Following undergraduate training, she attended Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia where she graduated with her medical degree in 2005. Following medical school, Dr. Crystal completed residency in 2008 at Spartanburg Center for Family Medicine at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Dr. Crystal and Dr. Tommy were awarded with “Best Research” for a study of hypertension control that she and her husband performed. She was also awarded “Excellence in Pediatrics” while at Spartanburg Regional. Dr. Crystal’s professional interests include pediatric medicine as well as hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disease. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
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Dr. Crystal Gary is the proud mother of three sons. When not at the office, Dr. Crystal is busy raising three little boys. This includes helping with the local Cub Scouts as well as chauffeuring her boys to soccer, piano lessons, and baseball. She also enjoys cooking, camping, gardening, and playing in the woods with her husband and boys.

Thomas Gary, MD

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Dr. Thomas Dillard Gary is a graduate from West Georgia College with a degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry. Prior to attending medical school, he worked as a formulary chemist. He then attended Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia where he achieved his medical degree in 2005. Following medical school, he completed residency at the Spartanburg Center for Family Medicine at Spartanburg Regional Hospital in South Carolina. Dr. Tommy has been awarded the Obstetrics Award at SRHS, as well as “Best Research” for a study that he and his wife partnered about hypertension control. Dr. Tommy’s professional interests include geriatrics, heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Dr. Tommy Gary is the proud father of three sons. During his free time, he can be found fishing, wrestling with his sons, or exploring the north Georgia mountains with his wife and little boys.

Jonathan Lawrence, MD 

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Dr. Jonathan Lawrence joined the practice of NGFM in 2016 in order to help fill north Georgia’s dire need for primary care physicians, especially in Hiawassee. Dr. Lawrence received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University. After spending five years working in sports medicine in Newnan, Georgia, Dr. Lawrence made the decision to attend medical school. He graduated with his medical degree from Mercer University in 2011. He performed two years of general surgery training prior to his family medicine training.

Dr. Lawrence, native of metro Atlanta, is thrilled to raise his family in the friendly town of Hiawassee. He is the proud father of three little girls. He enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his wife and young children.

Melissa Youngblood, NP-C 

Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Melissa Youngblood is a certified nurse practitioner. She has always had an interest for the medical field and a love for helping others. Her career in the medical field started out when she was in high school where she obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant certification and began working at Union General Hospital. She graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2009 with an Associate of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Leadership and in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After several years of nursing, Melissa went on to further her education and graduated in 2017 with her Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of North Georgia where she was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. Throughout her career she has worked in an array of settings, including the medical-surgical unit, emergency department and surgery department. She is a member of the United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia as well as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has resided in Blairsville since 2000 and is excited to be part of a medical practice in Blairsville where she can take care of the people that live in her community.

Melissa enjoys occupying her free time with family and friends. Some of her favorite hobbies include anything outdoors, such as hiking, camping at the lake, running or riding ATV’s. She is also mother to a beautiful baby girl that was welcomed into the world late spring 2019.

Amanda Hollandsworth, NP-C

Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Amanda is a certified family nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She graduated with a bachelors in nursing in 2006 from the University of Central Florida and has worked in a variety of nursing units. While in central Florida she worked in the trauma intensive care unit at the regional level 1 trauma center. She cared for surgical, medical, and burn patients. She then spent six years in a level 3/4 neonatal intensive care unit where she cared for the tiniest and most vulnerable of patients.

She attended high risk deliveries and also served on the neonatal critical care transport team. After moving to north Georgia in 2017 she worked in Labor and Delivery and Postpartum at Union general hospital, as well as the ER at Mountain Lakes medical center, and in outpatient cardiology for Emory Healthcare. Amanda completed her nurse practitioner training in 2019 from the University of South Alabama where she obtained a Masters of science in Nursing. She is excited to use the knowledge from her varied background to provide care to the families of Towns county.

Amanda and her husband have a 2 year old girl and 4 year old boy, as a family they love camping, hiking, and spending time together.

Ronald Soelimto, NP-C

Grace McGinn, FNP-C

Grace McGinn, FNP-C, is a certified family nurse practitioner serving patients of all ages. Grace graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors of science in nursing at University of Texas at Arlington. She developed expertise across multiple specialties as a Registered Nurse including palliative, hospice and home health services, case management, as well as chronic illness and post surgical care as a med-surg nurse. Grace attended Kennesaw State University to attain her masters degree in nursing.

Chelsea Lineberry, AGNP-C

Chelsea Lineberry, AGNP-C, is a certified adult gerontology nurse practitioner serving patients age 13 and above. Chelsea graduated with her bachelors of science in nursing at the University of North Georgia. Following graduation, she worked as a critical care nurse where she served as a bedside, relief charge and a rapid response nurse for eight years. After her time in critical care, she attended Middle Georgia State to attain her masters degree in nursing where she graduated with honors.

Athena Shay Garcia, MSN, FNP-C

ATHENA SHAY GARCIA, MSN, FNP-C is a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner bringing over 16 years of comprehensive patient care experience to her practice. Her clinical background includes 11 years as a Registered Nurse, where she developed expertise across multiple specialties including cardiovascular care, palliative & hospice services, case management, home health, and pre-/post-surgical care.

Athena earned her Master’s degree with honors from the University of North Georgia’s nurse practitioner program, building upon her strong foundation from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree.

A native of Arizona, Athena relocated to North Carolina after spending 12 years in Kansas City, where she met and married her partner Kyle. Together with their two young daughters and adopted pets, she embraces an active lifestyle that includes hiking, camping, lake activities, and outdoor adventures when away from her clinical responsibilities.

Carrie Bowden, FNP-C

Carrie Bowden is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience in emergency medicine and patient care. She began her career as a nurse in a Level I trauma center before earning her Master of Science in Nursing in Family Medicine from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. In 2014, she was honored with The Community Health and Service Award for her commitment to compassionate, high-quality care. She went on to complete a post-master’s program in Emergency Medicine. She has been working in emergency medicine for the past 10 years providing comprehensive care to patients of all ages. She is excited to join the North Georgia Family Medicine team and looks forward to working with patients support their health and wellness..

She moved to this community 10 years ago after living in Houston, Texas for many years and is grateful to call this community home. Outside of work, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening and spending time with her husband, Kevin and their dog.