Medical Staff

SHARON BELCHER - Health Care Provider

Hi Campers!  I'm Sharon Belcher RN.  Though I lived in N.C. for 25 years, I now reside on Amelia Island in N.E. Florida.  My nursing specialty is pediatrics and still work in Labor & Delivery.  My daughter has been a Navajo since 1997 and her photos are still up in Linden Hall!

My passion at the moment is hiking and hope to get more in this summer.  Nicholas Sparks is my go-to-author.  In my free time I keep a vegetable garden and bike 15-20 miles a day.

I love Camp TAW because it empowers us all to be the best we can be AND have fun doing it!
Stay safe.  I can't wait to see you this summer.

CINDY "KITTY" BRYAN - Lead Health Provider

Hi everyone! My name is Kitty. I am returning for my 3rd year as the camp nurse. I have been a nurse for many years and am so excited to be going back to camp. I am excited and see everyone that I have meet in the past years plus meet all of the new people. This is going to be an exciting summer with lots of fun, laughter, and learning.

MERRIE JO DESAI - Health Care Provider

Hi! I'm Merrie Jo Desai and I live in Columbia, SC with my three children and three puppies! My two girls have been Ton-A-Wandah girls for several years, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to spend time at Camp in the Infirmary for most of them. When we aren't at camp, we love to host foster puppies, ride horses, and enjoy time outside-- usually at the soccer or baseball fields! We all love seeing our camp friends year after year, and welcoming new faces, too!

MARK ELLLIS - Health Care Provider

Hi!! I am Mark Ellis from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. So excited about camp. I will be coming with my daughter, Abilene...I am an Emergency Medicine Doctor for the past 10 years...I love Harry Potter, Running, Kids Bop Music, being in the outdoors and traveling to new places...I like being silly, playing and eating! I cant wait to meet everybody

JESSIC GARRRTT - Health Care Provider

Hi guys! My name is Jess, but everyone calls me "Sprout". I am originally from south Florida but moved to the mountains when I was 11 years old. We moved into a house right across the street from the camp actually! I loved hiking through the woods as a kid. I still enjoy hiking today, or nearly anything I can do outside. I love science fiction movies and shows when I'm inside. I love cooking and am currently trying to learn new recipes from India since we will eventually travel there. My family's goal is to travel all around the world on a sailboat one day to meet new people. I look forward to meeting everyone at camp and learning more about our beautiful mountains!

AMY SLAVEN - Health Care Provider

Hi everyone! I'm Amy Slaven this will be my 3rd summer here as one of the Camp Nurses. I have lived in Hendersonville now for 4 years, moving from Florida, where I lived for the majority of my life. My daughter loves camp and I can't say enough good things about it. I can't wait to meet all of you, and please don't hesitate to stop by the Infirmary. Hope to have another great summer!

ASHLEY WHITFIELD - Health Care Provider

Hello! My name is Ashley Whitfield and this is my second summer at TAW. I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a camp nurse again this summer during first session. When not at camp, I am a nurse within Belk Heart and Vascular at Novant Presbyterian in Charlotte, NC. Some of my favorite hobbies include hiking, baking, and traveling. I cannot wait to see everyone at camp!

MAKAYLA WILSON - Health Care Provider

Hi everyone! My name is Makayla Wilson and I am originally from Asheville, North Carolina. I graduated in May 2019 from the University of North Carolina with my degree in nursing! GO HEELS! Since graduating I have worked on a surgical/trauma floor at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. I worked in the infirmary during second session in the summer of 2019! I am SO excited to be back at camp and see familiar faces!