Healthcare is personal. Every patient has a different medical history, lifestyle, family background, concerns, goals, and priorities. While two people may have the same diagnosis, the best approach to managing that condition may look very different for each person.
That is why patient-centered care is such an important part of modern healthcare.
At Cullman Internal Medicine, patient-centered care is more than a phrase. It is a philosophy that guides how we build relationships with patients, make treatment decisions, and provide care throughout every stage of life. For more than 40 years, Cullman Internal Medicine has served adults and older adults in the Cullman community with a focus on comprehensive, compassionate healthcare.
What Is Patient-Centered Care?
Patient-centered care means putting the individual patient at the center of the healthcare process. Instead of simply treating a disease or focusing on a set of symptoms, healthcare providers consider the whole person and work with the patient to make informed decisions about their health.
In practical terms, this means listening to your concerns, respecting your preferences, explaining your options, and involving you in decisions about your treatment. It also means recognizing that your health is influenced by much more than what happens inside a doctor’s office.
Your work, family responsibilities, nutrition, activity level, stress, sleep, financial considerations, and personal goals can all influence your health. A patient-centered approach takes those factors into consideration when developing a healthcare plan.
The relationship between your provider at Cullman Internal Medicine becomes a partnership. We bring medical knowledge and experience to the conversation, while you bring an understanding of your own body, experiences, and priorities.
Listening Is an Important Part of Healthcare
One of the simplest aspects of patient-centered care is also one of the most important: listening.
A good healthcare visit should give you an opportunity to explain what you are experiencing and ask questions. Sometimes, the information a patient shares during a conversation provides an important clue about what is happening with their health.
At Cullman Internal Medicine, building long-term relationships with patients is an important part of the practice’s approach. Members of the team emphasize personalized care, mutual trust and respect, and empowering patients to take an active role in their health.
That relationship can become especially valuable over time. When your provider knows your medical history and understands your health goals, it becomes easier to recognize changes and make informed decisions together.
Your Health Is More Than a Diagnosis
Patient-centered care also means looking beyond a single medical condition.
For example, someone with diabetes may also be struggling with weight management, sleep problems, stress, or difficulty finding time for physical activity. Treating the blood sugar numbers is important, but addressing the other factors that influence health can be equally important.
The same is true for conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, respiratory conditions, and other chronic health concerns.
At Cullman Internal Medicine, the goal is comprehensive care. In addition to internal and preventive medicine, our practice offers specialized services including pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine, bariatric medicine, acupuncture, rheumatology, and sports medicine. Our office also provides a variety of diagnostic services, including digital X-ray, cardiac testing, bone density scans, mammography, and ultrasound.
Having access to multiple areas of care can make it easier to approach health from a broader perspective.
Prevention Is Part of Patient-Centered Care
Patient-centered healthcare isn’t only about treating problems after they develop. It is also about helping patients stay as healthy as possible.
Preventive care can include wellness visits, recommended screenings, vaccinations, monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol, managing risk factors, and discussing lifestyle habits that support long-term health.
Regular visits provide an opportunity to identify potential concerns early and establish a plan for addressing them. Cullman Internal Medicine emphasizes preventive medicine as an important part of maintaining health, rather than waiting until a problem becomes serious.
Prevention also gives patients an opportunity to set realistic health goals. Whether your goal is improving your nutrition, becoming more active, managing your weight, or simply maintaining your independence as you age, your healthcare provider can help you determine practical steps forward.
Care That Grows With You
Your healthcare needs don’t remain the same throughout your life.
A young adult may primarily need preventive care and help establishing healthy habits. Middle age may bring increased attention to blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, hormones, and other chronic health concerns. As people grow older, maintaining mobility, cognitive health, bone health, and independence may become increasingly important.
A patient-centered relationship allows healthcare to evolve as your needs change.
This is one reason having a consistent medical home can be valuable. Rather than treating every appointment as an isolated event, your healthcare team can look at your health over time.
At Cullman Internal Medicine, a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, and diagnostic professionals works together to provide care for patients. The practice’s team-based approach allows patients to access a broad range of expertise while maintaining a focus on individualized care.
You Have a Voice in Your Healthcare
Patient-centered care also recognizes that patients should have a voice in their treatment.
That doesn’t mean patients have to navigate complicated medical decisions on their own. Your provider’s job is to explain what is happening, discuss appropriate options and answer your questions. Your job is to share your concerns, ask questions and communicate what matters most to you.
Sometimes the best treatment option is not the same for every patient. Your provider may recommend several approaches based on your individual situation. Understanding the benefits, risks and practical considerations of those options allows you to participate in the decision.
This shared decision-making process can help patients feel more confident and engaged in their healthcare.
Convenient, Comprehensive Care in Cullman
Patient-centered care also involves making healthcare as accessible and convenient as possible.
Having multiple services available through a single medical practice can reduce the need to coordinate care across multiple unrelated locations. At Cullman Internal Medicine, patients have access to primary and preventive care, as well as several specialty services and diagnostic testing options within the practice.
Our practice also provides a patient portal where established patients can request appointments, communicate with their physician and request prescription refills.
These resources are designed to make managing healthcare a little easier amid busy everyday lives.
A Healthcare Partnership for the Long Term
Ultimately, patient-centered care comes down to a simple idea: healthcare should be about the person, not just the condition.
Your health journey will have different chapters. There may be times when you need preventive care, times when you need help managing a chronic condition and times when an unexpected health concern requires more specialized attention. Having a healthcare team that knows you and understands your history can provide valuable continuity along the way.
At Cullman Internal Medicine, we are proud to serve the Cullman community and provide comprehensive healthcare with an emphasis on compassion, communication, and personalized treatment. Our goal is not simply to treat illness when it occurs. It is to partner with you to maintain your health, address concerns early, and help you make informed decisions about your future.
Patient-centered care means your voice matters. Your goals matter. Your questions matter. And your health journey deserves a healthcare team that is committed to walking alongside you every step of the way. If you are looking for a patient-centered practice invested in long-term provider-patient relationships, please contact our offices today.
Bethany is a board-certified family medicine Nurse Practitioner. She grew up in Cullman, watching her father, a physician, and her mother, a nurse, care for patients with both their hearts and hands. She learned from them that not only working hard, but loving and treating patients like family would develop the career that best suited her desire to help others. She has been caring for patients at Cullman Internal Medicine for 25 years. Building long-lasting relationships with her patients is important to her, and she genuinely enjoys being a part of their lives. She strives to provide compassionate, competent medical care which fosters an environment of mutual trust and respect.
Bobi Jo Creel is a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ANCC-ACNP) with over 20 years of nursing experience. Born and raised in Cullman County, Alabama, she is deeply committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to adults and seniors in her local community.
Alicia is from Thomasville, Ga, but practiced in Burlington, Iowa from 2017 until joining Cullman Internal Medicine in 2025. Most of Alicia’s experience is in rural primary healthcare, which is where she learned of her passion for caring for patients with diabetes. From 2023 – 2025, her sole focus was assisting individuals in manage their condition more effectively, with a strong emphasis on long-term health and prevention of complications.
Pam is a lifelong resident of Marshall County and a graduate of Albertville High School, Class of 1976. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1981. Pam began her career in emergency and critical care nursing, serving in both the ER and ICU. When Marshall Medical Center North (MMCN) opened in 1990, she became the Nurse Manager of the ICU.
Stacey Varden is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner who works alongside Dr. Jeremy Stidham in Internal Medicine. She earned her Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and collectively has over 18 years of nursing experience. Before becoming a Nurse Practitioner, she served as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Children’s of Alabama, where she developed a strong foundation in acute and compassionate patient care.
Lorie Jones is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner born & raised in Cullman, Alabama. Her nursing career began in 1997 after earning her Licensed Practical Nursing diploma from Wallace State Community College, followed by an Associate Degree in Nursing in 2000. She gained extensive clinical experience working at both Woodland Medical Center and Cullman Regional Medical Center before advancing her education to become a nurse practitioner.
Mollie Dockery, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a passion for providing compassionate, evidence-based care to patients of all ages. With over 14 years of nursing experience and two years in advanced practice, Mollie brings a deep understanding of patient needs, especially in managing chronic conditions and promoting preventive health. Her approach is rooted in empathy, education, and a strong commitment to individualized care.
Kristy is known for providing personalized, expert care in Sleep and Lung Health, where she empowers patients thru education, awareness, supportive listening and compassionate guidance. A Cullman native, Kristy is deeply rooted in our community and shares a sincere
With over 15 years of nursing experience, Nancy Cornell is a dedicated and compassionate Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) committed to providing high-quality care to her patients. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Western Governors University in 2017, she went on to complete her Master’s degree in Nursing in 2022. For two years, Nancy has been a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, applying her expertise in community urgent care to treat a diverse range of health needs.
Clark Still is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Cullman Internal Medicine. Clark is also the founder of New Beginnings Counseling of Cullman. He specializes in Christian-Based Professional Counseling.
Charlie Thornton has spent more than 24 years caring for others in a variety of healthcare roles—including paramedic, registered nurse, and for the past 10 years, nurse practitioner. He began his training at Wallace State Community College, completed his nursing degree at Jacksonville State University, and went on to earn graduate degrees from the University of South Alabama, where he became board certified as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Jeremy Stidham, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician who has been caring for patients in Cullman for more than 15 years. He currently serves as President of Cullman Internal Medicine and the Cullman Physician Alliance, where he works alongside a team of dedicated colleagues to provide compassionate, patient-centered care.
Nathan is a highly experienced Nurse Practitioner with a rich background spanning over two decades in healthcare. For the past ten years, Nathan has been a vital part of the CIM team as a Nurse Practitioner, also serving as a hospitalist nurse practitioner when needed. His extensive foundation was built over 19 years as a critical care registered nurse. Nathan is an alumnus of Wallace State Community College (RN), Jacksonville State College (BSN), and UAB (MSN), holding his nurse practitioner certification from the ANCC.
Dr. Benjamin Rogers obtained a degree in Classical Studies from Hillsdale College before attending medical school at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He then completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University. He joined Cullman Internal Medicine in 2012.
Morgan McHugh, CRNP, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a special focus on diabetes management. A native of Hartselle, Alabama, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Dr. Erin Britt is a compassionate physician proudly serving her local community as a hometown provider. Raised in Cullman, Alabama, Dr. Britt graduated from Cullman High School. Her desire to care for others lead to enrollment at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM), where she earned her medical degree.
The goal of my practice is to help patients achieve optimal health. Eating a balanced diet, exercising, taking care of our mental health, and achieving quality sleep are all crucial for feeling good and living a healthy, enjoyable life. However, sometimes weight gain and hormone imbalances can get in the way.
Naykala is a Triple Board-Certified physician with over 25yrs of experience, dedicated to delivering comprehensive patient-centered care. Her practice emphasizes a whole-body approach, combining traditional Internal Medicine with advanced training in Obesity Medicine and Medical Acupuncture. She evaluates complex medical conditions with a focus on identifying root causes–especially those contributing to weight gain—and provides thoughtful, integrative treatment plans. Naykala’s 10 years of service in the U.S. Air Force deepened her commitment to non-pharmacologic pain management, and acupuncture has become a meaningful part of how she cares for patients.
Dr Parker grew up in Cullman County and attended West Point High School. His path to medicine was not direct. After high school, He attended Wallace State Community college and received an associates degree in business. Shortly after graduating Brian was married to his wife Karen. Unsure of what to do next he left his job as a butcher for the local Walmart distribution center where he would work for the next 7 years. After reflecting on his goals and desire to help others he decided to pursue medicine.
Dr. Vintson is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician originally from Cullman. She graduated medical school from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, AL, and completed residency training at UAB Family Medicine in Huntsville. Dr. Vintson practices medicine seeing the patient as a whole person, understanding there are many components of one’s life that affects overall health and wellness. She loves seeing a variety of patient ages throughout her day and feels this is what makes family medicine and primary care so special. In addition to routine primary care she especially enjoys women’s health and preventative medicine, including Pap smears and menopause care, as well as diabetes management, nutrition, and mental health care. Dr. Vintson loves the Lord and enjoys time on the lake with her family, fishing, hunting, gardening, and podcasts. She has two young children and a loving husband of 12 years.
Dr. Adam Harrison is proud to serve his hometown of Cullman as a dedicated physician. A local from East Elementary through Cullman High, he earned his Biomedical Sciences degree from Auburn University, completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his residency at UAB Huntsville Family Medicine. Drawn by the opportunity to give back to his community, Dr. Harrison chose to build his career at Cullman Internal Medicine.