SHAE Medical, PLLC
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    • Home
    • Services
    • About Us
    • New Patients
    • Contact Us
    • Patient Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Education
    • NEWS
SHAE Medical, PLLC
  • Home
  • Services
  • About Us
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Patient Resources
  • COVID-19
  • Education
  • NEWS

Area of Specialty

Family Medicine with a Focus in Adult and Geriatric Care

 At SHAE Medical, PLLC, we recognize that our patients are the most important member of the medical care team.  "SHAE" stands for Senior Health and Education, and we passionately believe that patient education is the foundation of successful healthcare. 


We value and design our medical care with a comprehensive and collaborative approach, while striving to identify a treatment plan that remains patient centered on individual goals and preferences.  

Meet Our Team

Lilly Appleberry, FNP-C

Christine Irons-Yeager, NP-C

Elizabeth Lunsford, FNP-C

Lilly graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Social Work from NC State University in 2006.  She graduated with an Associate of Nursing from Vance Granville Community College and proceeded to Simmons College where she obtained her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner.  


Lilly has devoted her professional career to enrich the lives of her clients and patients in diverse, underserved, and vulnerable populations with exceptional and compassionate care.

Elizabeth Lunsford, FNP-C

Christine Irons-Yeager, NP-C

Elizabeth Lunsford, FNP-C

Elizabeth graduated with an Associate of Science in Nursing from Durham Technical Community College.  She continued her educational endeavors and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.   Elizabeth then obtained her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Duke University.  


Elizabeth has been providing medical care to patients since 2007 and is passionate about practicing meaningful medicine.  She finds that by listening and empowering patients in their care, she has been able to enrich patients' lives each and every day.

Christine Irons-Yeager, NP-C

Christine Irons-Yeager, NP-C

Christine Irons-Yeager, NP-C

 Christine graduated with an Associate of Science in Nursing from Community College of Baltimore County and proceeded to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Drexel University. In 2019, Christine graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner.  


During Christine’s nursing career, she compassionately cared for complex patients in numerous settings including surgical care, emergency medicine, dialysis, as well as providing case management and wellness. Christine joins the SHAE Medical team with experience and passion for adult and geriatric primary care.

Brittany McKinney, PA-C

Brittany McKinney, PA-C

Christine Irons-Yeager, NP-C

Brittany graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008. She earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from East Carolina University in 2013. 


Brittany's passion for healthcare and geriatrics started when she was working as a CNA on a dementia care unit while studying at UNC-CH.  She believes that her most important role as a clinician is providing education to patients and their families so that they can better understand and manage their disease and complications. 

Tuwana Thornton, FNP-C

Brittany McKinney, PA-C

Tuwana Thornton, FNP-C

 Tuwana graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University in 2012 and obtained her Master of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Chamberlain University in 2018. In addition to her passion for patient care with adult and geriatric patients, Tuwana also proudly served in the US Coast Guard as Hospital Corpsman and Registered EMT from 1990 to 1999. 


Tuwana's passion for supporting patients with primary care needs drives her comprehensive approach in the adult and geriatric setting. 

Suzanne Le

Brittany McKinney, PA-C

Tuwana Thornton, FNP-C

Suzanne graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of North Carolina of Chapel Hill in 2013. She continued post-baccalaureate pre-medical courses at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

Suzanne's passion is to support exceptional patient care.  She has experience in administrative support for multiple health care settings, including emergency medicine, primary and urgent care, and long-term care homes. She is passionate about developing thoughtful and responsive relationships with patients, families, and the healthcare team.

Value Statements

Our Relationship with the People We Serve:

Our Relationship with the People We Serve:

Our Relationship with the People We Serve:

  • Our patients always come first. 
  • We are dedicated to understanding each patient as a whole person recognizing their complexity, needs, culture, and history.
  • We take a collaborative approach to healthcare, working as a team to create the best individual treatment plan to get you back on your feet. 
  • At SHAE Medical, we strive to make people feel their best. We want your care to be complete and balanced. 

Our Approach to Healthcare:

Our Relationship with the People We Serve:

Our Relationship with the People We Serve:

  • Management of chronic medical conditions with early identification of complications and a preventive management approach with all comorbidities. 
  • Fiscal accountability and awareness with each care plan.
  • Comprehensive care begins with communication—to the patient, interdisciplinary providers, family members, and caregivers. 
  • Whether it is for a short-term stay or planning for outpatient care, our focus is on caring for the whole patient so that you can return to your home and live your best lives. 
  • Restoring health is our goal. We will work diligently to develop a personalized plan of treatment in order to help maintain the highest level of function for each individual 

Our Relationship with the Community:

Our Relationship with the Community:

Our Relationship with the Community:

  • We seek to be inclusive and never exclusive. Through thoughtful planning, services are provided in the most natural and inclusive ways possible. 
  • By providing comprehensive care on-site, we are able to maximize patient retention and quality of care to create a premier living environment for our communities.  
  • We strive to be the missing element for all to help make a stronger whole. 

Our Work Environment:

Our Relationship with the Community:

Our Relationship with the Community:

  • Act with integrity and honesty.
  • Our workplace fosters personal development and professional growth—we arrive every day inspired to make an impact through our talents, passions and through hard work.
  • Alignment & Accountability: We align around a decision and each contribute to and are accountable for its success. Together we are stronger.

Our Community Partners

Senior Health and Education Partners, PLLC

SHAE Medical, PLLC

5306 NC Highway 55, Suite 105, Durham, NC 27713-7812

Phone: 919-646-4858 FAX: 919-679-7112

Copyright © 2021 SHAE Medical, PLLC - All Rights Reserved.

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