Ashley Dowdy, PA-C (pictured left), a physician’s assistant, and Kristen Hayes, DNP, FNP-C (pictured right) at West Cancer Center’s Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center have dedicated their careers to supporting women and mothers along very personal medical journeys.
The two women crossed paths in a way that would shape their professional lives and a genuine personal bond that has fortified their team approach to helping their patients.
Ashley was a new PA in her late 20s working in a cardiology practice when she noticed a suspicious lump and found herself as a patient at Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center. She was awaiting biopsy results when the Breast Center called with delightful news — not only was the lump benign, but they also shared that they were looking for a new PA. She interviewed for the job, and the rest is history.
Three years later, Ashley met Kristen, a former pediatric nurse at St. Jude who returned to school to become a nurse practitioner. While on rotation at Margaret West, Kristen fell in love with the work. Her mother had battled breast cancer, and knowing she was also high-risk made the experience deeply personal; she joined the team immediately after finishing her degree.
What started as a preceptorship blossomed into a powerful friendship and professional alliance rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a passion for patient care.
Kristen states, “Many women find out they are high-risk but ask, ‘But now what do I do?’” In response, she helped create a High-Risk Breast Clinic focused on screening and cancer prevention, while educating patients and encouraging them to be proactive in their health journey.
Ashley shares, “I love working in breast surgical oncology. There is an art to taking care of breast cancer patients; a lot of it is emotional support, and I value being able to share my own experience to help them.”
Kristen, mother of three, and Ashley, mother of two, each balance full-time work at a comprehensive breast center practice alongside motherhood and their personal health maintenance. Kristen states, “I love what I do; it makes me want to get up every day, and it’s important that my kids see that.”
They share a deep commitment to health and fitness for themselves and as an example to their children and patients. Whether it’s squeezing in a lunch break walk around the office, attending Pilates at Club Pilates in Collierville, or maintaining a healthy diet by utilizing a local healthy meal service, Ashley and Kristen see wellness as both a personal priority and a professional responsibility.
This mindset has helped them support each other through the inevitable ups and downs of life and has also influenced how they care for patients. They help women facing breast cancer feel safe, empowered, and never judged with their confidence and a maternal, nurturing grace.
Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center is located in Germantown, TN, and has another screening center on Park Avenue. Kristen and Ashley are joined by three surgical oncologists and two breast-specific radiologists, along with a full spectrum of breast care in partnership with West Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary team. The Breast Center accepts all major insurance carriers and is available for annual mammograms, second opinions, and high-risk surveillance services.
For more information, please call 901.692.9600 or visit Margaretwestbreastcenter.com.
By Amanda Tompkins
Photo by Tindall Stephens
