By Your Side & At Your Service!

Our award-winning and board-certified team of experts includes physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, lab technicians, and concierges, to name just a few — and we’re all poised to take care of your every need.

“Finally, a medical staff that knows how to WOW their patients. Best treatment I've ever received from a doctor's office, PERIOD!”

- Loren M.

Shannon W. Finks, Pharm. D.

President & Director of Pharmacy Services

A Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Tennessee, Shannon holds multiple Board certifications, is an internationally recognized lecturer, and is widely published in medical literature.

We’re especially proud, though, of her many teaching and service awards.

Learn More

A. “Lloyd” Finks, M.D.

Senior Physician & Director of Operations

Lloyd served with Methodist Healthcare for over 20 years, most recently as the Medical Director for Methodist Hospice and the Minor Medical Centers.

His training included time spent with the National Health Service in London, England, as well as coursework in hospitality management at Cornell School of Hotel Administration. He’s Board Certified in Internal Medicine.

Learn More

ZüpMed Staff

Michelle Sands, M.D.

Physician

Read Bio

A native Floridian, Michelle Sands made the move to Tennessee in 1985 to attend Vanderbilt University. After graduating with a B.A. in biology and in art history, she attended the University of Tennessee Medical School, from which she graduated summa cum laude in 1993.

Dr. Sands spent a year studying obstetrics and gynecology and then completed an Internal Medicine residency at Methodist Hospital in Memphis in 1997. She has previously worked at the University of Memphis and the Rhodes College student health centers.

For the past 15 years, she has practiced and served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine for the University of Tennessee at the Methodist University Specialty Clinic. Dr. Sands is Board certified in Internal Medicine and a member of the American College of Physicians and the A.O.A. Medical honor society.

She has been married to her best friend Chris Sands M.D. for more than 30 years and enjoys free time with her husband and her two children, Emma and Russell. Her hobbies include painting, walking, and doll collecting.

We’re thrilled to have Dr. Sands bring her primary care, woman’s health, and adolescent medicine expertise to ZüpMed.

Alex Carmon, Pharm. D.

Pharmacist

Read Bio

Meet Dr. Alex Carmon, ZüpMed’s first resident! After earning a doctorate from University of Tennessee Health Science Center at just 24 years old, Alex was hired on by Dr. Shannon Finks, who also serves as faculty at UTHSC.

In addition to her extensive education in medication management, Alex’s post-doctorate training and research has focused heavily on genetic interpretation and mental health. Her expertise in these areas has made her a valuable addition to our patient care team.

Alex says, “ZüpMed is different from any place I have worked, not only because I am encouraged to pursue my passion for personalized medicine, but more importantly, patients truly receive the best comprehensive care.

This is made possible when the pharmacist’s unique clinical knowledge is fully utilized with comprehensive medication management – ensuring maximum safety and efficacy of any medicine.”

Katherine Ray

Nurse Practitioner

Read Bio

Katherine Ray grew up in Memphis, attended Hutchison School, and then went to the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where she earned a BS in microbiology and minored in Spanish. She then returned to Memphis to receive her Master's and Doctorate degrees in Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).

For the past six years, “K-Ray” has worked at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in the pediatric ICU. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and baking.

Liz Lemley

Nurse
Practitioner

Read Bio

With a pedigree that includes Hutchison School, University of Tennessee Knoxville, and The University of Memphis, ZüpMed’s “do-it-all” Family Nurse Practitioner is “100% Memphis and 100% Tennessee”.

As an RN, Liz helped open the new LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and later moved to Methodist University Hospital to care for adults in the orthopedic and stroke units.

Since earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2015, Liz has worked in a health and wellness clinic and is now our expert in preparing and administering boutique IV infusions.

Laura Smith

Clinic Administrator & Member Services Specialist

Read Bio

Laura Smith is our Clinic Administrator and Member Services Specialist. After growing up in Memphis and graduating from St. Benedict, Laura’s spirited personality led her to Grand Tetons when she was just 20 years old.

After a few years doing everything from supervising lodging to wilderness guiding, she relocated to Athens, Georgia, where she worked in a vet clinic and rehabilitated wounded wildlife, saved puppies, and helped pet owners for ten years.

Memphis then called Laura back home, and she now lives in Cooper-Young with her two daughters, Lucy and Eleanor, and a growing collection of stray dogs.

Sara Saunders

RT(R), Manager of Lab & X-ray Services, Medical Assistant

Read Bio

Graduating from Memphis Harding Academy and continuing on to earn a BA in communications, Sara worked for over ten years at the legendary Memphis music distribution company Select-O-Hits before changing course and training as a full-scope Radiologic Technologist.

Here at ZüpMed, she is our Manager of Lab & X-ray Services, a walking encyclopedia of Stephen King novels, and a dedicated connoisseur of “Little Debbie” pastries.

Victoria Coates

RT(R), Radiologic Technologist & Medical Assistant

Read Bio

A native Memphian and former photographers’ model, “Tori” worked her way through school by waitressing at a popular steakhouse to graduate magna cum laude from Southwest Community College with a degree in Radiologic Technology.

We were thrilled that she chose to join us here at ZüpMed as our Lead Tech, and we’re amazed every day at her versatility, skills, and commitment to patients. If you have a vein, Tori can find it!

Lizzie McCarty

Concierge & Traveler’s Health Services Manager

Read Bio

Lizzie takes care of our many ZüpMed travelers, an ideal position for someone with a background in hospitality who grew up in Memphis but then left to live and work in the Rocky Mountains for over 18 years. We’re glad she came home!

Lizzie loves the outdoors, especially kayaking, camping, hiking with her dog, and riding her bike. She says, “I love ZüpMed because it’s a family of the most wonderful people that truly care for each other, the community and every person who walks through the door!”

Francesca Bengert, RN

Nurse

Read Bio

Anna Francesca Lara Bengert first earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and then spent the next ten years trading stock futures in Chicago. Only after returning to Memphis with her husband and three children has she also been able to circle back to a lifelong interest in healthcare, earning her R.N. in 2022.

Fran works at the Le Bonheur Pediatric ICU and fills in for us here at Züp when time allows. We’re especially grateful that she speaks Spanish! ¡Muy bien!

Brinkley Raby

Concierge

Read Bio

Shannon and Lloyd have known Brinkley since she was in junior high and played bass guitar for “2nd Gen”, the greatest kid band in rock history (really!). She is a graduate of Hutchison School who then completed a degree in Business Administration at Belmont University with a minor in law.

When she’s not manning our front desk, she’s preparing for law school and enjoying all things music. Brinkley has a passion for helping people and we’re grateful to have her at ZüpMed.

Susan Macchiarella

Concierge

Read Bio

Susan helped develop our vision of the ZüpMed “Concierge” after a lifetime of experience in health, fitness, beauty, and hospitality. She has modeled, operated her own health club, and managed a very successful high-end aesthetics spa.

She’s a fan of pilates, cooks gourmet meals, and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House. If you have questions about skin health and looking younger, just ask Susan!

Ami Okasinski

Bookkeeper

Read Bio

Our delightfully quirky bookkeeper came to us after answering an ad on NextDoor, and that was truly our good fortune! A self-described “creature of the sun”, Ami spent several of the last few years hiking around the southwest and “falling in love with the desert”. She still enjoys her outdoor time and has recently taken up paddle boarding. Say hello if you see her out at Shelby Farms!

Ami’s background is in biology and dietetics, but she loves numbers and puzzles, so bookkeeping is a natural fit. She still has a strong interest in nutrition, however, and has found a side job cooking healthy and delicious meals for a few fortunate families in midtown…and occasionally the ZüpMed staff!

Koda

Chief Executive Pawficer

Read Bio

We were heartbroken when we lost our beloved original clinic dog “Daisy” to sudden and unexplained heart failure in the Fall of 2021. Never one to waste time, however, our teenage daughter Grayson came home a few days later with this gorgeous girl born in nearby Bartlett, Tennessee.

“Koda” is an AKC German Shepherd Dog and has been attending our Laurelwood clinic daily since she was nine weeks old. While her real passion is Frisbee, she is always ready to offer a wet nose, trusting eyes, and a favorite chew toy to anyone looking for a little doggie love.

Our Staff

By Your Side & At Your Service!

Shannon W. Finks, Pharm. D.

President & Director of Pharmacy Services

A. “Lloyd” Finks, M.D.

Senior Physician & Director of Operations

ZüpMed Staff

Michelle Sands, M.D.

Physician

Alex Carmon, Pharm. D.

Pharmacist

Katherine Ray

Nurse Practitioner

Liz Lemley

Nurse Practitioner

Laura Smith

Clinic Administrator & Member Services Specialist

Sara Saunders

RT(R), Manager of Lab & X-ray Services, Medical Assistant

Victoria Coates

RT(R), Radiologic Technologist & Medical Assistant

Lizzie McCarty

Concierge & Traveler’s Health Services Manager

Francesca Bengert, RN

Nurse

Brinkley Raby

Concierge

Susan Macchiarella

Concierge

Ami Okasinski

Bookkeeper

Koda

Chief Executive Pawficer

Follow Us

Nurse
Practitioner