Our Doctors
About Us
Nashville Family Foot Care has been providing caring and compassionate Podiatric services to the Nashville community for over 26 years. Our Doctors of Podiatric Medicine are on the staff of both Centennial Medical Center and St Thomas Midtown (formerly Baptist) Hospitals. All of our physicians are well trained, friendly, compassionate and highly committed to providing YOU with the best possible care.
Michele J. Whittaker, DPM
Michele J. Whittaker, DPM is Board Certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. She is a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Whittaker received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Illinois State University in 1988. She graduated in 1994 from the College of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery at Des Moines University with a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine, and completed her residency at Podiatry Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA in 1997.
The focus of Dr. Whittaker’s practice is diabetic wound care as well as general podiatric conditions such as ingrown toenails, heel pain and routine diabetic foot care. In addition to seeing patients in the office, she is on the staff at Centennial Hospital and St. Thomas Midtown Hospital. Dr. Whittaker also serves as a consultant at the Craig Center for Wound Healing.
Outside of the office, Dr. Whittaker enjoys running (she completed two half marathons), being outdoors, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Nicholas A. Fussell, DPM
Dr. Nicholas Fussell brings a deep commitment to patient-centered care, with a focus on reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, diabetic wound care, and proactive, personalized treatment. He is Board Certified by both the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He also holds memberships in the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association.
After earning his undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Combined Sciences from Santa Clara University, Dr. Fussell went on to receive his Doctorate from Des Moines University’s College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. He completed a rigorous three-year surgical residency at the VA Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, gaining extensive experience in both forefoot and rearfoot procedures.
Based in Nashville, Dr. Fussell also treats patients at TriStar Centennial Medical Center and St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, including specialized care at the Craig Center for Wound Healing. His patients know him for taking time to explain things clearly, with a strong belief in education and prevention as key parts of long-term health.
Outside the clinic, you might find him on a trail, a motorcycle, or exploring the arts with his wife.
Nealan M. Prather, DPM
Dr. Nealan M. Prather brings a unique and comprehensive background to podiatric care, combining over 15 years of experience as a registered nurse in critical care settings with advanced surgical training in foot and ankle procedures. He is committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care with a strong emphasis on education, prevention, and optimal outcomes for every patient.
Dr. Prather earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He later completed post-baccalaureate studies in Chemistry at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before receiving his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University. He completed his surgical residency at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, where he gained extensive experience in forefoot, rearfoot, and reconstructive foot and ankle procedures, as well as diabetic limb salvage and complex wound management.
Prior to his podiatric training, Dr. Prather worked for 15 years as a registered nurse in CCU, SICU, LTAC, and specialized in PICC line placement, providing him with a deep understanding of systemic health issues that affect the lower extremities. He is excited to bring this broad clinical perspective to the Nashville community.
In addition to seeing patients in the office, Dr. Prather will be on staff at TriStar Centennial Medical Center and St. Thomas Midtown Hospital.
Outside of the office, you’ll find Dr. Prather spending quality time with his family. He enjoys music, guitar, concerts, and gathering with friends and loved ones.
Emma Aiken, PA-C
Emma Aiken is a board-certified Physician Assistant who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Mississippi in Oxford in 2017, followed by her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN.
Prior to working in podiatry, Emma worked extensively in urgent care, gaining valuable experience in treating a wide range of medical conditions. Her current work focuses on general podiatric conditions, wound care, and sports medicine. Emma is affiliated with Tristar Centennial and St. Thomas Midtown hospitals and holds licensure in Tennessee.
Emma is a proud member of the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. When she is not in the clinic, Emma enjoys cooking, gardening, live music, and spending time with her husband and their seven-year-old Australian Shepherd.
Annsley Fields, PA-C
Annsley Fields was born and raised in Nashville. She attended Lipscomb University for PA school, and for undergrad she attended Carson-Newman University, where she studied exercise science and kinesiology.
Prior to PA school, she worked as a medical assistant at Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. Annsley has always been heavily involved in sports and has a passion for sports medicine and is excited to use her previous experience to dive deeper into the world of podiatric medicine. In her spare time she loves working out, catching up with friends, and being outdoors at her family farm in southern Illinois (Annsley loves hunting and fishing).
