Who We Are

Laura Smith is our Clinic Administrator and Member Services Specialist. After growing up in Memphis and graduating from St. Benedict, Laura’s spirited personality led her to Grand Tetons when she was just 20 years old. After a few years doing everything from supervising lodging to wilderness guiding, she relocated to Athens, Georgia, where she worked in a vet clinic and rehabilitated wounded wildlife, saved puppies, and helped pet owners for ten years. Memphis then called Laura back home, and she now lives in Cooper-Young with her two daughters, Lucy and Eleanor.

Meet Dr. Alex Carmon, ZüpMed’s first resident!

After earning a doctorate from University of Tennessee Health Science Center at just 24 years old, Alex was hired on by Dr. Shannon Finks, who also serves as faculty at UTHSC. In addition to her extensive education in medication management, Alex’s post-doctorate training and research has focused heavily on genetic interpretation and mental health. Her expertise in these areas has made her a valuable addition to our patient care team.

Alex says, “[ZüpMed] is different from any place I have worked, not only because I am encouraged to pursue my passion for personalized medicine, but more importantly, patients truly receive the best comprehensive care. This is made possible when the pharmacist’s unique clinical knowledge is fully utilized with comprehensive medication management – ensuring maximum safety and efficacy of any medicine.”

A native Floridian, Michelle Sands made the move to Tennessee in 1985 to attend Vanderbilt University. After graduating with a B.A. in Biology and in Art History, she attended the University of Tennessee Medical School, from which she graduated Summa cum laude in 1993.  Dr. Sands spent a year studying Obstetrics and Gynecology and then completed an Internal Medicine residency at Methodist Hospital in Memphis in 1997. She has previously worked at the University of Memphis and the Rhodes College student health centers. For the past 15 years, she has practiced and served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine for the University of Tennessee at the Methodist University Specialty Clinic.  Dr. Sands is Board certified in Internal Medicine and a member of the American College of Physicians and the A.O.A. Medical honor society.

She has been married to her best friend Chris Sands M.D. for 32 years and enjoys free time with her husband and her two children, Emma and Russell.  Her hobbies include painting, walking, and doll collecting. We are thrilled to have Dr. Sands bring her primary care, woman’s health, and adolescent medicine expertise to ZüpMed.

Celina is a medical assistant, nursing intern, and in charge of our medical scribe teaching program at Züp!

She hails from Memphis, but moved to Missouri, Brazil, and Texas while growing up. While in Texas, she received her first bachelors degree in Business Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word. After some time in Texas though she returned to her roots in Memphis to pursue a career in Nursing at UTHSC. When not working or studying, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors, traveling, spending time with family and friends, or trying new restaurants!

Passionate about acute care, she’s thrilled to be at ZupMed. She says it’s exciting to be a part of a team where everyone’s individual qualities and skills are utilized to grow the organization! We are thrilled to have her!!

Lizzie is in charge of Travelers Health Services at the Memphis International Airport.

She grew up in Memphis but has been lived in the rocky mountains for the 18 years. She also has a background in hospitality. Lizzie loves the outdoors , especially kayaking, camping, hiking with her dog, and riding her bike.

She says, “I love ZüpMed because it’s a family of the most wonderful people that truly care for each other, the community and every person that walks through the door!”

Susan helped develop our concept of the ZüpMed Concierge after a lifetime of experience in health, fitness, beauty, and hospitality. She has modeled, operated her own health club, and managed a very successful high-end aesthetics spa. She’s a fan of pilates, cooks gourmet meals, and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House. If you have questions about skin health and looking younger, ask Susan!

ZüpMed Concierge Anna Francesca Lara Bengert earned an undergraduate degree from University of Tennessee Knoxville and spent the next ten years trading stock futures in Chicago. Only after returning to Memphis with her husband and three children has she also been able to circle back to a lifelong interest in healthcare. Fran has added nursing school to her busy and productive life, and she speaks Spanish! ¡Muy bien!

Born and raised in Memphis, Abby joined ZüpMed in the Spring of 2021 at the urging of her friend (and fellow Concierge) Fran Bengert. Abby’s first career was as a licensed Aesthetician. She still loves the world of skincare and is happy to share her experience to help our patients achieve beautiful, healthy skin. Abby is also a busy single mother to her five-year-old daughter Farrah.

Graduating from Memphis Harding Academy and continuing on to earn a BA in Communications, Sara worked for over ten years at the legendary Memphis music distribution company Select-O-Hits before changing course and training as a full-scope Radiologic Technologist. Here at ZüpMed, she is our Manager of Lab and X-ray Services, a walking encyclopedia of Stephen King novels, and a dedicated connoisseur of “Little Debbie” pastries.

A native Memphian and former photographers’ model, “Tori” worked her way through school by waitressing at a popular steakhouse to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Southwest Community College with a degree in Radiologic Technology. We were thrilled that she chose to join us here at ZüpMed as our Lead Tech, and we’re amazed every day at her versatility, skills, and commitment to patients. If you have a vein, Tori can find it!

With a pedigree that includes Hutchison School, University of Tennessee Knoxville, and The University of Memphis, ZüpMed’s “do-it-all” Family Nurse Practitioner is “100% Memphis and 100% Tennessee”. As an RN, Liz helped open the new LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and later moved to Methodist University Hospital to care for adults in the orthopedic and stroke units. Since earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2015, Liz has worked in a health and wellness clinic and is now our expert in preparing and administering boutique IV infusions.

Katherine Ray grew up in Memphis, attended Hutchison School, and then went to the University of Tennessee Knoxville where she earned a BS in Microbiology and minored in Spanish. She then returned to Memphis to receive a masters and a doctorate degree in Nursing from University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). For the past six years, K-Ray has worked at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in the pediatric ICU. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and baking.

Our delightfully quirky bookkeeper came to us after answering an ad on NextDoor, and that was truly our good fortune! A self-described “creature of the sun”, Ami spent several of the last few years hiking around the southwest and “falling in love with the desert”. She still enjoys her outdoor time and has recently taken up paddle boarding. Say hello if you see her out at Shelby Farms! Ami’s background is in biology and dietetics, but she loves numbers and puzzles, so bookkeeping is a natural fit. She still has a strong interest in nutrition, however, and has found a side job cooking healthy and delicious meals for a few fortunate families in midtown…and occasionally the ZüpMed staff! Ami also makes and sells raw, fermented probiotic “SuperKraut” and the best blackberry jam you’ve ever tasted. (Yes, you can order some!)

We were heartbroken when we lost our beloved clinic dog “Daisy” to sudden and unexplained heart failure last Fall. Never one to waste time, however, our teenage daughter Grayson came home a few days later with this gorgeous girl born in nearby Bartlett, Tennessee. “Koda” is an AKC German Shepherd Dog and has been attending our Laurelwood clinic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays since she was 9 weeks old. While her Service Dog training continues, she is always ready to offer a wet nose, trusting eyes, and a favorite tennis ball to anyone looking for a little doggie love.