Lauren Ashley Gaters, FNP-C, joined CenterWell as a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Ms. Gaters earned her Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner from Mississippi University for Women (The W) and completed 672 student nurse practitioner clinical hours, including urgent care, womens health, OB/GYN, and family nurse practitioner management. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The W and an Associate of Arts in Nursing from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Her accolades include a 2018 Research Poster Award from Mississippi University for Women and a 2018 Mississippi Board of Nursing Scholarship. Before joining CenterWell in 2023, Ms. Gaters was a nurse practitioner at Memorial Physicians Clinics, Southern Regenerative Health Clinic, and Fast Pace Urgent Care. She previously worked as an RN in hospitals such as Panola Medical Center, Batesville, Mississippi, and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, MS. Ms. Gaters believes in treating her older adult patients with warmth and dignity and a care philosophy centered on embracing a culture of caring for people, regardless of their age or circumstances. Ms. Gaters chose healthcare out of a passion for helping others and serving her community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, cooking, reading, the outdoors, and volunteering as a La Leche League International Leader, supporting breastfeeding mothers and their families.