EmpowHER Health Collaborative
BALANCE. JOY. EXCELLENCE
EmpowHER Health Collaborative is dedicated to empowering health and wellness through collaborative care. Our services include comprehensive health assessments, personalized wellness plans, and access to a community of professionals committed to enhancing the lives of those we serve. We integrate various disciplines and foster an atmosphere of trust and understanding, because we believe that true wellness knows no boundaries.
Built on three foundational pillars: Balance. Joy. Excellence. EmpowHER Health Collaborative takes a comprehensive approach to well-being that goes beyond treating symptoms. We are here to meet you where you are, and guide you toward where you want to be by supporting whole person wellness.
Our Providers
Autumn Mercer
MSN, FNP-C, AGNP-C
Autumn is a Medford native and Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience, holding an MSN from Maryville University (Phi Beta Kappa). Her calling was sparked by caring for her own grandmother at home, and has since grown to span primary care, urgent care, hospital settings, and developing local home care, hospice, and long-term care programs. She now leads EmpowHer's team focused on preventative care, functional medicine, longevity, addiction, and aesthetics.
Susan Rugh
MSN, NP-C
Susan is a Corvallis-born Oregon Nurse Practitioner whose healthcare roots stretch back to 1984, beginning as an EMT-firefighter and spanning over 30 years of emergency and critical care transport. After retiring from EMS, she earned her MSN from Simmons University in Boston and built a career in primary, urgent, and pain management care across Oregon. Sue is passionate about partnering with patients to develop individualized care plans that improve daily health and fit the way they live.
Babbette Murphy
RN, MSN, ACNP-BC
Babbette is a nurse practitioner with over 30 years of experience spanning emergency medicine, critical care, functional medicine, and executive healthcare leadership, with advanced training at Stanford, UCSF, and San Francisco General Hospital. Her career has included opening medical facilities and developing trauma and critical care training programs for nurses and nurse practitioners across the country. Now rooted in Southern Oregon, she brings her depth of experience and genuine compassion to EmpowHer, helping patients achieve their goals for health, wellbeing, and longevity.
Dr. Thea Wessel
LPC, CADC III, PhD
Thea is a nationally certified Master Addictions Counselor credentialed in both Colorado and Oregon, currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her practice weaves together CBT, DBT, psychedelic therapies, mindfulness, and bodywork modalities into a distinctive whole-person approach to addiction and mental health. Thea brings deep expertise and a community-minded spirit to EmpowHer, with a passion for high-quality addiction treatment at the intersection of substance use, mental health, and criminal justice.
Our Team
Brianne Merriman
RMA, CPPM, CEO
Bri is a healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience and a proud native of Southern Oregon. Driven by a passion for closing gaps in care, she is a tireless advocate for equitable access to mental health and medical services in her community. At EmpowHER, Bri is the connector, always forging new collaborations and partnerships to better serve those in need. Now a cornerstone of EmpowHER Health Collaborative, she brings her heart for people and commitment to care to everything she does. and when she's not advocating for others, you'll find her gardening, fishing, camping, and exploring the beautiful outdoors with her family.
Liz Wimberly
Office Manager
Liz is an experienced medical office manager with a strong background in healthcare operations, compliance, and revenue cycle management. Driven by a passion for patient-centered care, she is a dedicated advocate for building efficient systems and ensuring clinics operate with both excellence and integrity. At the practice, Liz is the organizer, always refining workflows and keeping operations aligned with the highest standards. She brings both structure and a collaborative spirit to everything she does. And when she's not developing her team or streamlining clinic operations, you'll find her pouring that same care and attention into the people and community around her.
Makena Ojeda
Marketing Director
Makena is the spark of innovation at EmpowHER Health Collaborative, bringing fresh energy and creativity to everything she touches. Driven by a heart for others, she is a tireless advocate and connector - always out in the community forging meaningful relationships and championing those in need. And when she's not out making a difference, you'll find her soaking up live music, cherishing time with her husband and family, and basking in the love of her two border collies.
Josilyn
Office Assistant
Ben
Medical Assistant
Courtney
Medical Assistant