Home > About Us > Our Staff

Our Staff

At Vessel Health, we know that delivering comprehensive cardiovascular wellness starts with people. And we’ve assembled a team that is dedicated to taking care of clients as unique individuals with specialized needs.

HARVEY J. WHITE MD, FACC: Founder



For the past 20 years, Dr. White has dedicated himself to direct patient care, clinical research initiatives and leadership activities designed to improve the cardiovascular health care system.

Initially a resident of Michigan, Dr. White graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Williams College in 1974. He completed his medical training, graduating AOA, medical honors, from Wayne State University in Detroit. Following internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University, Dr. White spent several years in the PHS Indian Health Service on the Apache Indian Reservation in White River, Arizona. He returned to Rhode Island, completing Fellowships in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology under Dr. David O. Williams, prior to assuming the role of Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the Roger Williams Hospital, and subsequently Director of the Division of Cardiology. Dr. White moved to New Mexico in late 1988, and has provided both leadership and direct patient care in the ever-evolving delivery of heart and vascular care to the Southwest. 

During his tenure, Dr. White has participated in multiple clinical trials, both as primary investigator and co-investigator. He has assisted in the authoring of multiple papers, and played contributory roles in such investigations as the TIMI and BARI trials. He was principal investigator in the GUSTO, GUSTO IIA, and GUSTO IIB, RAPPORT, RAMI, SCORES and the CAVEAT trials. Dr. White was co-founder of the Carotid Stent Research Program in New Mexico, which was distinguished by its pioneering contribution to the care of stroke patients. He remains interested in such educational interests as: coronary blood flow assessment; thrombolytic therapy and acute myocardial infarction management; imaging in coronary intervention; and adjuncts to coronary angioplasty and interventional techniques in both coronary and cerebral vascular disease. Dr. White maintains an active role in teaching both at student, resident and physician levels.

Dr. White’s dedication to health care delivery is exemplified in activities such as: participation in the Rhode Island Department of Health Cardiac Care Advisory Committee; his Directorship of Inpatient Services at the Indian Health Service Hospital in White River, Arizona; Chairmanship of Invasive Services at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque; Presidency of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Heart Association; Presidency of Southwest Cardiology Associates in Albuquerque; Presidency of the Southwest Heart Foundation; Directorship of the annual Southwest Heart Symposium; and most recently, his principal role in the founding of the Heart Hospital of New Mexico, serving as its original Chairman of the Board and current Medical Director. Dr. White was also a Governor of the American College of Cardiology. 

Dr. White considers Vessel Health to be the culmination of a career in cardiac medicine. Grounded in extensive training and experience in interventional cardiology (the technique of coronary angioplasty and stent placement), Dr. White has concluded that we, as individuals and as a society, need to enhance our focus on prevention and a proactive approach to circulation and personal wellness. Vessel Health is an expression of that philosophy. 

Alana Grier

Alana Grier has enjoyed a well rounded career in wellness support for over 20 years, practicing as a licensed massage therapist since 1990. She studied Eastern medicine at the New England Shiatsu Center in Boston and is a graduate of the Career Ladder Nursing Program at Kauai Community College. Alana is a certified CPR/First Aid Instructor with the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI), Certified AED Program Specialist with the Initial Life Support Foundation and an American Council on Exercise-certified Group Fitness Instructor. She has developed and coordinated wellness programs for the University of New Mexico and the YMCA, as well as offering support for the Lovelace Health Plan through her own wellness business.

Alana is a Master Trainer (for New Mexico) for an evidence based national fitness program for seniors called EnhanceFitness®. She has been a dancer and yoga practitioner for nearly 30 years and enjoys sharing movement with children and adults. As a personal trainer, she focuses primarily on Pilates and Yoga with her clients. Having taught Stress Management at UNM for the Employee Health Program, as well as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction over the last five years, she has come to value the profound benefits of sharing stress reduction techniques. Alana enjoys helping people get healthier, whether it be through fitness, stress management, health education or chair massage. 

"Your body is your vessel. How you take care of it directly reflects how healthy your journey will be through aging."

 Desirae Montoya: Client Services

 

Kaela Pearson: Lifestyle Program Coordinator

Kaela is an Albuquerque native with a natural drive to assist other individuals to achieve optimal health and life experience. She graduated cum laude from UNM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science with a strong focus on Pre-Medicine and Biology.  Previously a manager at New Mexico Sports and Wellness, Kaela spent four years climbing the executive ladder and started out by taking on leadership roles in many departments such as Personal Training, Fitness Coaching, Hospitality, Martial Arts Instruction and Administration. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through the American College of Sports and Medicine, as well as CPR, First Aid and AED certified through the American Heart Association and Red Heart Association.

After studying abroad for half of a year in Sydney, Australia, where she worked side by side with an exercise physiologist and personal trainers, she returned to intern at a local Physical Therapy Clinic. It was this experience that made her appreciate the value of preventative care.  In a twirling rumble of passion for health and fitness, coinciding with a helpful discovery of her knack for balancing organization and communication with a love of life through experience and spontaneity, she has joined the Vessel Health team to help further the movement of health, starting with the vessels and preventative efforts.

 

 

 

Nancy Montoya: Bookkeeper

Nancy is the Bookkeeper for Vessel Health and has over twenty years of experience in bookkeeping.  Her career spans several industries, starting at IBM as an Account Representative, to several other positions including Bookkeeper, Human Resources Manager and Office Manager.  

 

In 1975, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree at the Minnesota State University.  She also received her Professional in Human Resources Certificate in 2010 from the University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management.

Nancy has two daughters and six grandchildren.  Her oldest grandson is attending school at the Reed College in Portland Oregon and her youngest was born in August 2011.  Nancy’s hobbies include walking, reading, camping, gardening and playing with the grandkids.  

Nancy enjoys working with people and looks forward every day to working with the staff and clients at Vessel Health.

Roann Sexson, RN, MBA: Business Development Consultant 

Roann Sexson, RN, MBA has over 25 years of experience in the medical profession, both as a clinician and as a leader. She began her career in healthcare as a critical care and flight nurse at Presbyterian Healthcare Services. She later joined Southwest Cardiology Associates where she took on various roles including Manager of Clinical Research, Director of Practice Development and Director of Clinical Services. In 1999, she began working at Lovelace Health System as Director of Cardiology Services. In 2003, Roann became Vice President of Outpatient Clinical Services at Lovelace and was later promoted to Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at ABQ Health Partners (formerly Lovelace Medical Group). She recently joined Vessel Health as the Business Development Consultant.

Roann received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of New Mexico. She earned her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix.

 

 

 

Sarahlynn Kile: Communications Coordinator          

 

 

 

Our partnerships in proactive care.

At Vessel Health, we also recognize the need for multiple resources in providing comprehensive, proactive health to clients. We maintain close alliances with complementary healthcare institutions including: