Our Staff : Nurse Practitioners

Eloise Kay, ARNP, MS, BC

Seeking a framework for utilizing personal connection as a therapeutic tool, Eloise attended Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York where she received her basic nursing education, followed by a B.A. degree in psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz, a M.S. degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, and training as a massage therapist at the Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, Florida. She is Board certified in Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing.

Eloise has worked in a variety of hospital settings, including ICU, renal dialysis, quality assurance, staff education and training, and psychiatry. In psychiatric settings, her roles included Quality Assurance Coordinator, Program Director/Clinical Nurse Specialist for adolescent in-patient and partial hospital programs, and Clinical Supervisor for adult in-patient psychiatry.

In 1995, Eloise joined Sarkis Family Psychiatry, treating adolescents and adults with mood and anxiety disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, eating disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her approach is holistic, integrating a variety of modalities, including medication, life-style coaching, psychotherapy, and mindful awareness. Her particular interest is in helping patients utilize life transitions as a catalyst for discovering their life’s purpose.

Kathy A Noffsinger, MSN, ARNP

Kathy Noffsinger earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Florida. She then undertook advanced study, also at the University of Florida, earning a Master of Science degree in nursing and a Pediatric Primary Care-Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner degree.

Ms. Noffsinger specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents suffering from neurological and developmental disorders. She is widely recognized for her expertise in the diagnosis of neurological disorders, including genetically-linked neurological illnesses.

Before joining Sarkis Family Psychiatry, Ms. Noffsinger served as a pediatric nurse practitioner for Alliance Millhopper Pediatrics. Prior to that she held positions as pediatric nurse practitioner for the University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, and as nurse clinician at Morris Child Development Center in Gainesville, Florida. She was also a staff nurse at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida.

Ms. Noffsinger has made numerous presentations, addressing such topics as child temperament and behavior modification techniques for parents. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and of the American Nurses Association and the Florida Nurses Association. Ms. Noffsinger also served as program director for Parent to Parent of Alachua County, a volunteer support group for parents of special needs children.

Ruth Tiederman, MSN, ARNP

Ruth Tiederman is a nurse practitioner at Sarkis Family Psychiatry. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in adults and adolescents. In her practice, Ruth combines medication and psychotherapy to craft treatment strategies tailored to the needs of each individual patient.

Ms. Tiederman earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, with highest honors, and her Master of Science in Nursing degree, psychiatric/mental health track, from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Before coming to Sarkis Family Psychiatry, Ms. Tiederman was a psychiatric nurse at Shands at Vista Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, and a mother/baby and nursery nurse at Shands Jacksonville Children’s Services in Jacksonville, Florida. She has studied as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in both the Mental Health Clinic and Post Traumatic Stress Clinic of the Gainesville Veterans’ Affairs Hospital.

Ms. Tiederman has published two patient education pamphlets with information for women suffering from postpartum depression. She is certified as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner by Florida Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health nurse practitioner programs and has both her Florida RN license and current basic life support certification.

Heather Sarkis, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Heather Sarkis earned her Bachelors degree in Nursing, with a Minor in Education, from the University of Florida. After graduation she soon became the charge nurse of the Child & Adolescent inpatient unit at Shands Vista. In this role she worked closely with children, adolescents and their families as well as physicians and therapists to develop and implement holistic plans for each patient’s care. After transitioning to a Nurse Manager role at the UF Physicians Ear, Nose, Throat Clinic at Shands, Ms. Sarkis earned special recognition for nursing excellence among all the UF Physicians clinics. She then returned to the University of Florida to earn her Masters degree in Nursing, becoming a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner.

Ms. Sarkis employs a comprehensive approach to treating children, adolescents, and adults with mood and anxiety disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She integrates many components in her approach to mental health care including individual and family psychotherapy, medication, stress and anxiety management, nutrition, communication, mindfulness, behavioral management, and education. She also has an interest in nutritional and functional medicine as it relates to mental health. Ms. Sarkis enjoys working with individuals as well as families to achieve positive treatment outcomes.

Ms. Sarkis is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNP) and currently serves as a member of the Child & Adolescent Council Expert Panel. She is also a member of the International Society for Psychiatric Nurses, American Nurses Association, and the Florida Nurses Association. She and her family are Lifetime Members of the University of Florida Alumni Association and supporters of the University of Florida’s Performing Arts program.

Kerry Rae Creasy, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Kerry Rae Creasy is a board certified adolescent and adult nurse practitioner working within a holistic nursing framework. Kerry earned her first bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Classical studies, graduating with honors. Immediately following graduation, she entered the University’s post-baccalaureate accelerated nursing program, graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2008. Kerry worked as a floor nurse on a neurosurgical intensive care unit for two years while completing her Master’s degree in psychiatric and mental health nursing at the University of Florida , graduating with academic and clinical excellence. She joined Sarkis Family Psychiatry in July 2010.

In addition to working as a nurse practitioner as Sarkis Family Psychiatry, Kerry is working toward her PhD in nursing at the University of Florida . As an alumni fellow, Kerry works on research studies focusing primarily on the mental health of community-dwelling family caregivers of stroke survivors. She has also completed several courses within the counselor education program for her minor, and has some experience in Gestalt, multicultural, community, and marital counseling.

Kerry is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, the American College of Nurse Practitioners, the Southern Nursing Research Society, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network.

Megan Cutter, MSN, PMHNP-BC