Meet the Metabolic & Weight Management Center Team

Dr. Grantham earned his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After completing a residency in general surgery, he completed a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery at Wake Forest University. A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he serves as the president of Pinehurst Surgical Clinic and president of the medical staff at FirstHealth. He is married with three children. 

Dr. Washington is the medical director of FirstHealth Bariatrics and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed his internship and residency at Christiana Care Health Systems in Delaware. He serves on the board of trustees for his undergraduate alma mater, St. Joseph's University, and is married with two children. 

Christi Embler earned a B.S. degree in communication with a minor in marketing from Appalachian State University and worked in the marketing industry before deciding to become a nurse. She earned an associate degree in nursing from Sandhills Community College in 2010 and a bachelor's degree in nursing in 2015 from ASU.

Embler serves as the program manager for the Metabolic & Weight Management Center.  She previously worked as the nursing liaison for bariatrics and as a floor nurse on First Surgical, the nursing unit where patients are cared for after bariatric surgery.

Embler recently earned the title of Certified Bariatric Nurse from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Dena Elbroody earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Nutrition Sciences from the City University of New York-Brooklyn College and completed an accredited dietetic internship.  She has worked as a clinical dietitian for five years, bringing experience across both inpatient and outpatient settings.  Before joining the Metabolic & Weight Management Center, she served as clinical nutrition manager for a large health system, overseeing nutrition services- including bariatric nutrition- for diverse patient populations. 

At the Metabolic & Weight Management Center, Dena specializes in bariatric nutrition, providing personalized guidance for patients before and after surgery.   Her goal is to help every patient feel supported, informed and empowered on their journey toward better health.

Lauren Ferguson earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Louisiana Tech University and completed an accredited dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  She has worked as a clinical dietitian for more than five years caring for patients in the inpatient hospital setting.

At the Metabolic & Weight Management Center, Lauren specializes in bariatric nutrition, providing guidance for patients before and after surgery.  She is proud to serve as a resource for patients in their journey toward a healthier lifestyle.

Melissa is honored to serve as the behavioral health coach at the Metabolic & Weight Management Center. She received her master of science in social work from The University of Texas at Austin and is passionate about helping clients maximize potential so that they can reach their health and personal goals. As a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience, Melissa has the knowledge and skills to work with others to promote emotional and behavioral resilience, which is an important component for success in an individual’s weight loss journey.

Melissa is proud to have served her country in the United States Air Force and appreciates the opportunity to work with the Center's interdisciplinary team to provide high quality care to patients. She is an avid fitness and health enthusiast who enjoys hiking, body building, yoga, paddle boarding and exploring the great outdoors.

Amanda relocated to North Carolina from Oklahoma, where she worked in the bariatrics field for more than 10 years. Amanda is passionate about supporting patients throughout their weight-loss journeys and finds great fulfillment in witnessing their dedication as they take meaningful steps to reclaim their lives. She assists patients with scheduling and provides financial guidance to help navigate the process. Additionally, Amanda serves as a referral coordinator, ensuring patients have timely access to the most appropriate weight-loss services based on their individual needs.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren and being outdoors.

Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has more than 17 years of nursing experience. She began her career as a staff nurse at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital (MRH) in 2005 and has since worked as a clinical instructor at Sandhills Community College, where she educated nursing students on patient care, safe practices and medication administration. Prior to joining the bariatrics team, Laura worked as clinical director of the neurological care unit at MRH. In her role as bariatric nurse educator for the Metabolic & Weight Management Center, she is responsible for nursing staff education and caring for patients pre and post-operatively.  Laura is a Certified Bariatric Nurse from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Tara is a bariatric navigator with the Metabolic Center. She graduated in 2017 from Sandhills Community College, where she completed an associate degree in surgical technology. Shortly after graduating, she began working in the general surgery department at Pinehurst Surgical Clinic before joining the Metabolic & Weight Management team. Tara specializes in guiding patients as they enter the program, including serving as the insurance navigator to support clearance and access to care. Tara is committed to assisting patients throughout their entire journey, providing consistent guidance, support and advocacy from initial consultation through postoperative follow-up.  Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors.