Ty Thomas, MD
Physician | Co-Founder
Dr. Thomas grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy and Philosophy. Dr. Thomas received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. After an internship year in internal medicine, he completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Thomas tries to make the complexity of pain simple by establishing a diagnosis and identifying the pain generator and amplifier. If those cannot be repaired, he then attempts to find the nerve transmitting the pain signal and stop it using chemo and radiofrequency denervation techniques. This concept can be applied to most painful conditions. For example, chronic knee, hip, or shoulder pain secondary to arthritis can be successfully managed by denervating the sensory nerve supply from the joint.
Dr. Thomas believes pain should be treated and managed using many modalities. Medications, procedures, physical therapy, and psychiatric therapy are modalities he often employs together to return function and quality of life to those in pain. He also recognizes the resources and time required to diagnose, treat, and monitor patients in pain. Dr. Thomas believes painful conditions should be treated in a timely manner, and he sees all new patients as soon as possible for a new patient evaluation.
Chad E. Austin, MD
Physician | Co-Founder
Dr. Austin graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science prior to attending medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center. Upon completing an internship at Baptist Health Systems, he began residency training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Following residency, Dr. Austin pursued additional training in an Interventional Pain Management Fellowship under the direction of Richard M. Rosenthal, who is a pioneer in the use of Pulsed Radiofrequency in pain management.
Dr. Austin's ultimate goal is to improve function and quality of life while reducing pain. He strives to establish an accurate diagnosis and incorporates cutting edge, minimally invasive procedures for targeted pain relief treatment. Dr. Austin performs pain relief management procedures primarily in the spine but also in peripheral nerves, joints, and soft tissues. By incorporating radiofrequency technology, he is able to provide a longer duration of pain relief than many of the other treatments currently available. He also understands the complex multifactorial components that are involved in chronic pain and uses a comprehensive approach to treat the whole patient. Outside of work, Dr. Austin enjoys spending time with his wife, Alicia and their children. He is an avid adventurer and outdoorsman. He spends much of his free time traveling, whitewater kayaking, fishing and snowboarding.
Alicia Austin, MD
Physician | Partner
Dr. Alicia Austin graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelors of Science prior to attending medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center. Upon graduation in 2005, she began residency training in psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving as chief resident in 2008. Her many interests include psychotherapy, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Dr. Austin is board-certified.
Erin Morella, MD
Physician
Dr. Morella grew up in north-central Alabama. After receiving her B.S. from the University of Alabama, she continued her education at the University of Alabama School of Medicine where she earned her Medical Degree. She completed her residency in anesthesiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center followed by a chronic pain management fellowship at the same institution.
Dr. Morella believes in treating the whole patient and not just a specific pain generator. Pain is multifaceted and Dr. Morella strives to create a comprehensive plan for each patient. She implements targeted interventional techniques that allow the patient to improve overall health through physical therapy and improved nutrition. Therapies she may utilize include epidurals, major joint injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablations, and many others. Dr. Morella’s goal for every patient is to discover the best path to improve quality of life and function.
In her spare time, Dr. Morella enjoys spending time with family. She loves cooking, college football, and being outdoors, particularly on the water.
Harrison Irons, MD, MBA
Physician | Partner
Dr. Irons is a native of North Alabama. He graduated from Samford University with a Bachelor of Science and then earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Dr. Irons then completed a residency in Anesthesiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham before pursuing a Pain Management fellowship at the University of North Carolina. He recently received his Master of Business Administration from The Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla.
Dr. Irons is board certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine. He believes in utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to promote wellness and treat chronic pain. Chronic pain is a condition with a significant physical, emotional, and social impact. Dr. Irons understands that chronic pain is best managed through a combination of medication, interventions, and goal-directed therapy. He is able to offer his patients a variety of interventional pain procedures including the latest therapies and technologies.
In his spare time, Dr. Irons enjoys spending time with his family and friends and enjoying the outdoors.
Heather Lee, CRNP
Heather grew up in Charlotte, NC. After high school, she attended East Carolina University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Health Education & Promotion, concentrating in Community Health. Following graduation she then moved to Birmingham where she completed the accelerated 2nd degree nursing program at Samford University, obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While working as a registered nurse she earned her Master of Science in Nursing through Samford's Family Nurse Practitioner program. Heather hopes to use her education to assist patients in conquering their pain. She believes in combining various treatment approaches to personalize care to the individual patient. Outside of work Heather enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dogs. She also likes traveling and being outdoors.
Mickey Brown, CRNP
Mickey Brown graduated from The University of Alabama with Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2012. Mickey has worked in Emergency Medicine and has been in Pain Management for several years. Mickey believes in using a comprehensive approach to pain management with treatment plans individualized to meet the expectations of each patient to optimize outcomes.
Jessi Barthelemy, CRNP
Jessi Barthelemy grew up near the Birmingham area. Jessi originally graduated from Auburn University with an undergraduate and graduate degree in Exercise Science/Health Promotion. After deciding to pursue nursing, she graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011. Jessi worked at Brookwood Medical Center followed by UAB Hospital as a cardiology nurse. While working as a registered nurse, she enrolled in UAB’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program and graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing in August 2016. Jessi desires to provide each patient with compassionate care and she strives to utilize a comprehensive approach in helping patients manage their chronic pain. Outside of work, Jessi enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and spending time outdoors.
Anna Turner, DNP, CRNP
Anna grew up in the Birmingham area before attending Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013 and moved back to Birmingham to begin working as a registered nurse at UAB hospital. While working as a nurse in the Acute Trauma Care Unit, Anna obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and become a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner in 2018. After 5 years as a trauma nurse, Anna chose to practice pain management to improve patients' quality of life through an individualized, multi-modal approach. She strives to provide safe, compassionate, and holistic care. Anna later earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2020. Her free time is spent adventuring with her two daughters and her dog.
Serina Bourassa, CRNP
Serina Bourassa is from Canada but calls Birmingham, Alabama home. After completing high school, she graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has more than five years of nursing experience in neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, and ICU. While working as a registered nurse, Serina graduated once again from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. In her spare time, Serina enjoys all sports and in particular golf, tennis and football. She also enjoys being active and outdoors.