Our Team
Our team of primary care nurse practitioners and staff work together to care for you and your family. Our goal is to work with you to help you achieve your personal health goals, and have the highest level of health possible. We want to see you when you are sick, but we also provide wellness care to ensure that you stay healthy. We care. We listen. Our patients are active participants in their healthcare. We know our patients, not by their “medical diagnosis”, but by who they are- what their dreams are, what they fear, and what they value. We feel it’s our privilege to work with you to help you achieve good health.
Our Providers Are Nurse Practitioners
Our providers are Nurse Practitioners (NPs). NPs are advanced practice nurses, educated at the graduate level, who provide high quality healthcare services in a caring way. Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of common health concerns. For example, NPs treat minor problems such as sore throats, sinus infections, and urinary tract infections. They also manage chronic conditions, such as hypertension, and diabetes. In addition, NPs focus on health promotion, patient education, and counseling. NPs work with you to promote your emotional and mental health well-being by addressing concerns such as stress, anxiety, and depression. NPs perform histories, physical exams, order diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and make referrals. They work WITH you to address lifestyle concerns, work-related issues, evaluate your nutritional needs, and help you develop good health habits. NPs administer immunizations, perform minor office procedures, and coordinate your care to avoid unnecessary duplication of tests or procedures. Our NPs put YOU in charge of the decisions about your health.
Nicole M. Tsoukalas, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nicole joined the Nursing profession in 1999, when she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with honors from Salem State University. She immediately joined Newton Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. For the next fourteen years, Nicole worked in all areas of obstetrics, including Maternal-Fetal Medicine, obtaining a Registered Nurse Certification in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB), and instructing her peers in Neonatal Resuscitation. In 2013, Nicole received her Master of Science degree from Regis College, and obtained national certification as Family Nurse Practitioner. She spent the next year and a half as a Chronic Pain Management Specialist. When Nicole joined the Veterans Health Administration (VA) in 2014, she changed her focus to primary care. Her practice as a Primary Provider for the Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care centered on the unique needs of the geriatric population with a focus on chronic disease care, medication management, and physical rehabilitation. Nicole was appointed Acting Service Line Manager of her department, and led her entire team through the height of COVID-19, creating policies and procedures to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our nation’s veterans and the VA staff. She was then appointed Program Director for Home Based Primary Care, and led the reopening efforts to reinstate full operations for our Veterans receiving services in their homes. In addition to Nicole’s clinical practice, she has over a decade of experience in providing formal nursing education in clinical and classroom settings as an Adjunct Faculty member for local Massachusetts’ colleges, including Simmons University and Regis College. Nicole and her husband have three children, and they spend their leisure time camping with their family and friends at Sebago Lake in Maine where they enjoy fishing, boating, and roasting marshmallows by the fire. Nicole says she is honored to join Altrix Primary Care, and is committed to providing exceptional healthcare and “treating every patient and family as if they were my own.”
Alainna B. Drieze MSN, APRN, FNP-C
In 2015, Alainna joined the nursing profession when she received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Rivier University. She started working at a local nursing home caring for long-term residents. While working full time, she received her bachelor’s degree a year later, and began working at Elliot Hospital on a medical/surgical unit where she developed an interest in palliative care and addiction medicine. After the devastating Hurricane Irma, Alainna traveled with the American Red Cross to Miami, Florida where she worked as a disaster nurse. Following her volunteer work with the Red Cross, Alainna has practiced as a nurse for the last six years at St. Joseph Hospital specializing in cardiac care. In 2020, Alainna graduated with honors from the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program at Simmons University. She is certified as an FNP by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has worked at The Farnum Center managing patients through medical detox from opiate and alcohol use disorders. Most recently, she has been working as a Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner at St. Joseph Hospital, managing patients with acute medical conditions from admission through discharge from the hospital. She values and respects patients from all walks of life. Born and raised in Nashua, Alainna enjoys giving back to her community. Through the Miss New Hampshsire Scholarship Organization, she initiated and serves as president of a local scholarship program (the Miss Nutfield Scholarship Program), which provides scholarships to young women seeking higher education, and teaches life skills through interview and volunteer service projects. Also, Alainna is an adjunct clinical faculty member at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Rivier University. She and her husband have two beautiful daughters – and two goofy dogs! – who keep them very busy. However, you’ll often find Alainna planning another house project as she loves to remodel and update her home with her husband. Alainna says “Living and working in my hometown is extremely rewarding. I enjoy ‘giving back’ and am committed to helping each and every one of my patients become healthier. I love making sure my patients know they are not alone. I am truly honored to join the Altrix Primary Care team!”
Staff
Our staff is committed to helping you receive the care you need. They work to ensure that your appointment goes smoothly, and will answer any questions or concerns you may have about your care. Our staff is professional, knowledgeable, and friendly, and will do everything possible to help you feel welcome and comfortable in our practice.
Becky Dupont, Practice Manager
Becky is an accomplished healthcare professional who is skilled in “bringing up” successful medical practices. She brings 20 years of experience to her role at Altrix Primary Care- Nashua, and is committed to ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care in an efficient manner. Her experience includes developing systems that improve appointment scheduling, make care more accessible for patients, ensure quality, and improve organizational efficiency. Prior to assuming this role at Altrix Primary Care, she has held positions as a Medical Practice Management Consultant, Director of Operations, Practice Manager, and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. She believes that nurse practitioners bring a special element of caring to healthcare. In addition, she is committed to building Altrix Primary Care nurse practitioner practices in other communities to serve the public good. She is a “can do” person who is a strong advocate for patients, and an effective leader in our practice.
Kerry Battle, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Kerry recently completed her training as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the Greater Lowell Technical School in Tyngsboro, MA. As our newest employee, she is eager to work with patients and learn about primary care. She has strong interest in building interpersonal relationships, and is always ready to support our team and our patients. Her past experience is in the hospitality business, where she has worked to provide a great “customer experience.” She has a warm, positive, and engaging personality. She hopes to contribute that skill set to Altrix Primary Care – Nashua. Long term, Kerry plans to become a Registered Nurse, and we are pleased to support her in that career goal – and hope she will find that community based primary care is her “niche.”
Mercedes Torres, Medical Assistant (MA)
Mercedes is the newest member of our team. She comes to Altrix Primary Care- Nashua with excellent experience in primary care practices. She goes “above and beyond” in her efforts to support patients and the healthcare team, and believes in providing high level care for patients. She has worked as a medical receptionist, phlebotomist, and Medical Assistant in several medical practices in recent years. She has experience with the “back office” of the practice- performing patient vital signs, helping with patient exams, assisting with wound care treatments, and performing selected tests under the providers’ direction. She also has experience with front desk procedures, such as scheduling appointments, insurance verifications, and making patients feel welcome. We are delighted to welcome her to Altrix Primary Care- Nashua!
Jane Goggin, Community Outreach Coordinator
Jane brings a strong background in customer relations, business development, and advocacy to Altrix Primary Care-Nashua. She has over 20 years of experience in marketing and more importantly, in developing solid business relationships. She uses her warm, engaging communication style to reach out to organizations, businesses, and individuals to develop trust and respect. She has served as the Director of Marketing for Pathfinders IT, Program Associate and Professional Facilitator for SpeakUp!, and Customer Relations Manager and Patient Advocate for Recovery Centers of America. Prior to coming to Altrix Primary Care-Nashua, she served as Director of Business Relations for Serenite Corporation. In her current role, Jane represents Altrix Primary Care – Nashua on the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, and reaches out to the broader Nashua community as an advocate of quality primary care.