The Nurture Team

Dana Ramsey, CNM (she/her)

For over 20 years, Dana Ramsey has been dedicated to helping women navigate every stage of their health—from gynecologic care and pregnancy to postpartum and menopause. Her approach is rooted in expertise, compassion, and a deep commitment to truly listening to her patients, ensuring they feel heard, supported, and empowered in their healthcare decisions.

Dana earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before completing her Master’s in Nursing with a specialty in Women’s Health and Midwifery at Yale University. Her passion for lifelong learning has led her to pursue advanced training in functional medicine, hereditary cancer genetics, ultrasonography, and female sexual medicine. Most recently, she became a Certified Menopause Practitioner through the Menopause Society, further expanding her expertise in midlife care. She remains committed to staying at the forefront of emerging research, always striving to provide her patients with the most up-to-date, evidence-based care.

A Santa Cruz native, Dana is honored to care for families in the same community where she is raising her own. After spending a decade in corporate medicine, she longed for a more personal, meaningful, and patient-centered approach to women’s health. Recognizing a **critical gap in individualized care—particularly in infertility, perimenopause, and menopause—**she felt called to create a space where women’s unique needs were prioritized. This vision led to the founding of Nurture Women’s Health & Fertility, a practice built on comprehensive, holistic care that supports women throughout all stages of life.

Outside of her work, Dana loves traveling, spending time with her husband and three children, and exploring the outdoors. Her favorite place to unwind and recharge is Kauai, where she enjoys the beauty and tranquility of the island. Whether at home in Santa Cruz or traveling to her favorite destinations, Dana is passionate about creating balance in her own life—just as she encourages her patients to do.

Kayla Cushner, CNM, MSN, RN (she/her)

Kayla Cushner, CNM, is a dedicated Certified Nurse Midwife with over 12 years of experience providing integrative, personalized care to women at every stage of life. From puberty to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond, Kayla is passionate about helping individuals navigate hormonal transitions with a holistic, evidence-based approach. She blends the best of Western medicine with complementary therapies, creating individualized care plans that honor the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

With a background deeply rooted in both conventional and holistic care, Kayla understands that true wellness is more than just the absence of disease. She prioritizes collaborative, patient-centered care, ensuring each person she works with feels heard, supported, and empowered to take charge of their health. She has a particular interest in working with individuals through significant life transitions, including fertility and preconception support, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and menopause management. She is also passionate about working with teens and young adults as they begin advocating for their own health and wellness.

Originally from the Boston area, Kayla earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Yale School of Nursing and has been practicing midwifery in Santa Cruz since 2016. She brings a deep passion for helping women thrive through every stage of life and particularly loves supporting individuals through major life transitions.

Outside of work, Kayla is a devoted mother to her two energetic boys, Rivers (7) and Arlo (4). She cherishes exploring the beaches and trails of Santa Cruz with her family, cozying up with a good book, and spending time with close friends—because strong female friendships truly make the world go round!

Alex Beaudoin, PT, DPT (she/her)

Alex Beaudoin is a graduate of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Touro University NV, and is also a UCLA alumni (Go Bruins!). Alex is passionate about pelvic floor physical therapy and has received specialized training in the field through Herman & Wallace. Alex is also an Aptos, CA native who is excited to return to her beautiful hometown and give back to her community.

Her approach is characterized by compassion, empathy, and a patient-centered focus. Recognizing the sensitive nature of pelvic health concerns, she creates a supportive and comfortable environment for her patients. By fostering open communication and building trust, Alex ensures that each individual receives personalized care tailored to their specific needs.

As an advocate for women's health, Alex is particularly passionate about providing comprehensive care throughout all life stages. Whether assisting with prenatal and postpartum concerns, addressing pelvic pain, or helping manage conditions such as incontinence, Alex is dedicated to empowering women to achieve optimal health and well-being.

Outside of the clinic, Alex enjoys spending time watching movies with her partner and cat babies, going on beach walks (especially when foggy!), trying different coffee shops, and attending workout classes.

Samantha Demesmaeker, RN (she/her)

Samantha is a Registered Nurse and Functional Medicine Consultant dedicated to bridging the gap between allopathic and functional medicine. Through nursing school, she witnessed the impact that environment, nutrition, and lifestyle have on long-term health. After working in health care for nine years, she saw firsthand how many chronic illnesses could be improved—or even prevented—through intentional changes in diet and daily habits. This realization inspired her to expand her expertise beyond conventional medicine and pursue training as both a Functional Medicine Nurse and a Functional Medicine Nutritionist.

As a Functional Medicine Nurse and a Functional Nutritionist, Samantha takes a root cause approach to demystifying symptoms. She believes in the innate self-wisdom and intuition that each individual possesses and sees these as invaluable tools in the healing process. Her mission is to listen, validate, and guide her patients toward understanding their bodies while equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to support their own health. She is a firm believer that food is medicine and that true wellness is achieved through empowerment, not dependence.

Ila Breeann “Bree” Bode, LMFT (she/her)

Ila Breeann “Bree” Bode is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional with nearly 20 years of direct service, supervisory, and managerial experience (working with children, adolescents, families, substance use disorders, Juvenile Justice, and Child Welfare) in community mental health settings.

After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of California Davis, Bree completed her Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. Bree has been a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2009 (LMFT#47139), and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional through Postpartum Support International since 2021. She has received specialized training and certification in Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders and recently completed advanced training in EMDR for Perinatal & Infant Mental Health.

Bree’s passion for supporting individuals, couples, parents, and families on the journey to parenthood and through the perinatal period grew out of her own experience of becoming a mother. The perinatal period can be both a beautiful and challenging time as the path and transition to parenthood is filled with vulnerability, triumphs, losses, joy, and unknowns. Bree is able to discern the unique needs within the perinatal period from both a personal and professional lens.

Lynn Ingram, APCC (she/her)

Lynn is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with extensive experience in community mental health, specializing in work with children, adolescents, families, substance use disorders, and Child Welfare. She earned her Master’s in Counseling from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University, Irvine, after completing a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Most recently, Lynn provided care through the Families Together program at Encompass Community Services, where she served a culturally diverse population of individuals, couples, families, and children. In this role, she addressed generational and complex trauma and substance use issues, working within a collaborative network of community support.

Before becoming a therapist, Lynn facilitated focus groups for women of all ages, igniting a passion for supporting the mental, spiritual, and physical well-being of women. She has also devoted herself to raising her three teenagers, actively engaging in their schools, sports, and hobbies. Alongside her husband of 20 years, Lynn helped establish a successful physical therapy clinic in Santa Cruz.

Lynn’s counseling approach reflects her belief that each life stage holds unique joys and challenges shaped by past experiences, relationships, and trauma. She offers an empathetic, authentic presence, providing a safe space where clients feel truly “felt” as they share their stories. Her goal is to support clients as they work through past and present challenges to move forward in health.

A Santa Cruz native, Lynn cherishes the area’s natural beauty, enjoying hikes in the redwoods and walks on the beach. She loves a strong cup of coffee, long talks with friends, and a good thrift sale. Lynn is thrilled to bring her nurturing spirit to the collaborative team at Nurture Women’s Health and Fertility.

* Supervised by Ila “Bree” Bode, LMFT, PMH-C

Michele Claussen, BS, RDMS, FE, RVT (she/her)

Michele Claussen brings over 20 years of experience as a skilled sonographer in both hospital and clinical settings. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Nevada-Reno and completed her ultrasound training at the Penrose School of Diagnostic Imaging in Colorado Springs, CO. Michele’s expertise spans Women’s Health and Fetal Imaging, with current work at Nurture. She holds registries in Abdomen, OB/Gyn, Vascular, Breast Imaging, and certification in Nuchal Translucency ultrasound.

In addition to her clinical work, Michele spent several years in Sales and Applications, training physicians and sonographers on ultrasound systems. Her approach focuses on making every individual feel comfortable and safe in the ultrasound room, a value we are so grateful to have at Nurture. When she’s not in the office, Michele enjoys spending time in, on, or near the ocean with her family.

Roxanne Sweeting (she/her)

Roxanne grew up near Yosemite National Park before moving to Santa Barbara where she attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. Roxanne holds a degree in Communications and discovered her calling in healthcare, further becoming a certified Medical Assistant, Doula, and Life Coach.

Now residing in Santa Cruz, Roxanne's dedication to fostering inclusivity and empowerment led her to join Nurture from its inception, where she has played an integral role as our MA and office manager. When she's not strolling along the beach at low tide with her family, Roxanne is a dedicated advocate for inclusion, equality, sexual health, and reproductive rights. She is committed to ensuring that Nurture remains a welcoming and safe space for all.

McKenna Barr (she/her)

McKenna, a passionate History student at UC Santa Cruz, brings a compassionate spirit to her work at Nurture. Hailing from a small town in the North Bay, McKenna is driven by a belief in educational equity and the power of kindness and empathy. At Nurture, she cherishes the meaningful connections with patients, ensuring they feel comfortable and heard. 

Outside of the clinic, McKenna is an avid reader, hiker, and artist, always seeking to explore and appreciate the world. Looking ahead, McKenna plans to pursue a master's degree in Information and Library Sciences, furthering her mission of helping people and expanding access to knowledge. Dedicated to making a positive difference, McKenna is proud to contribute to Nurture's welcoming and inclusive environment.