Our Staff
Ismaela P. Gomez
DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS
Ismaela Gomez is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) and Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS). She has more than 20 years of experience working with pediatric patients.
She grew up in Austin and has lived in New Braunfels since 2004. Dr. Gomez is a widow and was married to her husband Carlos for more than 25 years. They have two beautiful daughters.
She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (UTHSCSA) and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Alabama.
Dr. Gomez has a strong sense of faith and loves to spend time with her family, travel, and read. She loves to take care of children and treats them as her own. She wants to improve the health of the children she treats not only by focusing on their physical health but also their mental health.
Premier Plus Pediatrics, PLLC is a dream she shared with her late husband. The clinic is dedicated to the love of her life, Carlos Gomez, who always had a smile on his face and loved to help everyone.
Amy Long
DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC
Amy Long is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP). She has worked with children since 2007. She has worked in various pediatric settings including general pediatrics, pediatric ER and newborn nursery. She has also worked as a nursing professor where she taught and trained students in pediatrics.
She grew up in Schertz and has lived in Seguin since 1996. She and her husband Andrew have three children. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (UTHSCSA) and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Alabama.
Dr. Long loves to travel, be outdoors and spend time with her children. She has a strong interest in improving the health of children in Seguin, particularly those with mental health issues.
Premier Plus Pediatrics, PLLC is dedicated to her beloved father, Gary Stoddard, a successful entrepreneur who loved children and helping the community.
Molly Cator
APRN, CPNP-PC
Molly is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP). She started her nursing career working in the Neonatal ICU in 2019 before becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
She grew up in San Antonio and has lived in Schertz since 2019. She and her husband married in 2021, and now have two beautiful girls.
She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from University of Texas at Arlington. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from University of Texas at San Antonio. She also has a degree in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University (gig ‘em!).
Molly loves spending time with her family and friends, hiking various state parks, and enjoys caring for all of your kiddos!
Dr. Shaylon Rettig
MD, MBA – Collaborating Physician
Dr. Rettig has been working in General Pediatrics, Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine since 2000. He has served as a Medical Consultant for several San Antonio area school districts for over 10 years.
He is passionate about keeping our students healthy so they can reach their full potential and supporting our unsung heroes, school nurses. He has a strong interest in sports performance helping individuals achieve their full athletic potentials.
Outside of work, you might see him getting his steps in on the Leon Creek Greenway Trails throughout San Antonio and jamming to African vibes, jazz and R&B! He also likes visiting with colleagues and friends for breakfast or lunch at a variety of food joints around town.
Tasha Edwards
LVN
She has been an LVN since 1986 and has been working as a pediatric nurse since 2004.
Tasha grew up on a cattle ranch in the small town of Olancha, California. She married the love of her life in August 1990 with whom she shares two amazing children and two beautiful grandsons. They are empty-nesters now and love to chill with their three Australian Sheperds.
In 2000, she moved to New Braunfels and loves to fish and travel, whether it be to see her grandsons or hop over the pond.
Brittany Casarez
MA
Brittany was born and raised in Seguin and loves to work with children within the community. She has three beautiful boys that take up most of her free time.
Bianca Mendiola
Bianca Mendiola is the front office receptionist in our clinic.
She was born in Seguin and grew up in Nixon, Texas. She has worked with children for almost a decade.
Bianca has two children of her own. She is engaged and together with her partner, and they have a beautiful blended family of five.
In her free time, she loves to enjoy anything outdoors and spending as much time with her family as possible.
Bianca loves being a part of the Premier Plus Pediatrics, PLLC Family.
Explanation of Abbreviations
DNP = Doctor of Nursing Practice; APRN = Advanced Practice Registered Nurse; CPNP-PC = Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care; PMHS = Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist; CMA = Certified Medical Assistant; PLLC = Professional Limited Liability Company
About the DNP Academic Degree
As the complexity of the current U.S. healthcare system has increased, national nursing education organizations have recommended that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) become the terminal academic degree for all nurse practitioners. It is considered a path to achieving parity and aligning the workforce with other health professions as seen in pharmacy (PharmD), psychology (PsyD), and physical therapy (DPT).
The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) are:
- Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
- Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
- Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
- Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care
- Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
- Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
- Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health
- Advanced Nursing Practice
Source: pncb.org
About the APRN Credential
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) are a vital part of the U.S. healthcare system. They are registered nurses educated at Masters or post Masters level and in a specific role and patient population.
APRNs are prepared by education and certification to assess, diagnose, and manage patient problems, order tests, and prescribe medications.
Source: ncsbn.org
About the CPNP-PC Credential
The role of the primary care pediatric nurse practitioner is to provide care to children from birth through young adulthood with in-depth knowledge and experience in pediatric primary healthcare including well-child care and prevention/management of common pediatric acute illnesses and chronic conditions. This care is provided to support the optimal health of children within the context of their family, community, and environmental setting.
CPNP-PCs assess, screen, evaluate, and diagnose children from birth through young adult to provide the full spectrum of primary care health services. They prescribe a comprehensive therapeutic treatment plan including pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, patient and family education, as well as referral to collaborative members of the health care team when indicated.
Source: pcnb.org
About the PMHS Credential
The Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) credential addresses the need to strengthen care to children and families experiencing developmental, behavioral, and mental health care (DBMH) concerns.
Therapeutic services include early recognition, intervention, active monitoring, and appropriate referral for complex individual and family mental health disorders. Healthcare services are evidence-based and include DBMH screening tools, brief psychotherapeutic interventions, and psychopharmacology.
Source: pcnb.org
About the CMA Credential
The CMA credential designates a medical assistant who has achieved certification through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). They are educated and tested in a wide scope of general, clinical, and administrative responsibilities.
Source: aama-ntl.org
About the PLLC Designation
A Texas professional limited liability company (PLLC) is formed specifically by people who will provide Texas licensed professional services. Limited liability companies (LLCs), in general, are businesses registered with the state that consist of one or more people—called members—who own the business and are protected individually from many types of liability claims.
All members of a Texas PLLC must be licensed to provide the professional services offered by the PLLC. The default rule is that a PLLC will provide only one kind of professional service. However, Texas law allows PLLCs to provide certain specified combinations of professional services. This includes an array of healthcare professions.
Source: nolo.com