Sienna C. Nelson, MD

Dr. Nelson’s career choice was inspired by her mother, a family doctor who delivered babies and also made frequent trips to Haiti to help run a medical clinic for disabled children. As a teenager, Dr. Nelson accompanied her mother on many of these trips. “Witnessing her compassion and dedication to underserved communities ignited my passion for medicine and inspired me to follow in her footsteps,” she says.

As a board-certified family medicine physician, Dr. Nelson finds that there’s often more than one way to approach health problems. She begins by listening to her patients, gathering information, and presenting the best available options for their care. While she makes recommendations, she firmly believes that the ultimate decision rests with the patient. “My most important role is to make patients feel welcome and valued,” she says. “When patients feel comfortable and supported, it opens the door to better communication and more effective care.”

One of the greatest joys in her work, says Dr. Nelson, is the opportunity to build long-term relationships with her patients and to witness their progress over time. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help patients see positive changes,” she says, “whether it’s eliminating migraines, achieving better control of their diabetes, or improving their health enough to discontinue their blood pressure medication.” Her areas of special interest include obstetrics, lactation, reproductive health, LGBTQ health, and caring for people with substance-use issues.

Originally from Memphis, Tenn., Dr. Nelson attended Tulane University in New Orleans before earning her medical degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She completed her family medicine internship and residency at Oregon Health & Science University, followed by a Salud Rural Maternal Child Health Fellowship. She has specialized training in obstetrics and newborn care and is an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).

In addition to medicine, Dr. Nelson holds a degree in musical theatre. She loves to perform, and also practices an acrobatic style of dance called aerial silks. She and her husband share a mutual love of science fiction and fantasy literature.