We would like to welcome the new members of our Austin Team!!! We are glad to have each of you and are excited to see the impact on home health and therapy you will have.
Melanie Hersom, RN – Clinical Supervisor:
Melanie has been an RN for 24 years and has been in healthcare 30 years total. She started her career working for a family practice when she was in high school and then became an RN. She was commissioned as an officer in the US ARMY Nurse Corp and served as an ARMY Nurse during the Gulf War. The majority of her nursing experience has been maternal/child and homecare. She has been in management for the past 10 years+ and tries to advocate for her profession. She is an active TNA /ANA member and has participated in several nursing advisory roles. She is active in is the American Heart Association and has spent many days lobbying issues at the Capitol walking the halls meeting with Senators and House Reps. Currently, she is pursuing two masters, an MBA/HCM and MPH. Melanie loves every aspect of being a nurse, “I was born to be a nurse….it is part of my soul!! “
Jim Thaler, RN – Branch Manager:
Kids have always been my passion in the medical field. I have been working in Pediatrics for over 12 years and in Pediatric Home Health for the past 11 ½. I believe that taking care of kids is my calling and I feel extremely blessed to be able to do so. My top priority is to provide the best PDN services available to the medically fragile children of Central Texas while creating a family oriented work environment that fosters communication and provides our nurses with industry leading support and opportunity.
Most of my personal time is spent with my two sons, Cooper (13) and Rylan (9). They’re both heavily involved in sports so baseball fields and basketball courts are like our homes away from home. On rare occasions when I’m not coaching or watching my kids compete, I enjoy golfing, fishing and hunting. I am excited about meeting each and every patient, caregiver and nurse associated with Viva Pediatrics – Austin in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if I can assist you in any way.
Aaron Thaler – Patient Advocate:
He is only days away from being married to his beautiful fiancé Kristen. Together they have 2 little fur babies, Daphney and Lucy. When he is not chasing dogs around the house he enjoys spending time with family and friends, hunting, fishing, off-roading and riding his Harley. He also enjoys donating his time in the special needs community. He has been a part of the leadership team for CareStarter/Connections Project for the last 3 years where he connects special needs families to the resources they want and need. He has a great passion for pediatrics and helping others. Over the past years he has been able to help deliver quality therapy and nursing services to numerous patients and families throughout the state of Texas. He strongly believes in people, purpose, and possibilities. Aaron is look forward to meeting each and every one of you very soon to learn more about you and your family and how he can best help meet your child’s needs.
