Saint Joseph Health has announced the addition of Melissa Stipp, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FNP-BC, to its gastroenterology team at Saint Joseph Medical Group in Lexington. Stipp is originally from Berea and began her career with an interest in teaching before transitioning to healthcare after working in a local emergency room.
“But I got a job at the local ER here and fell in love with medicine, taking care of patients,” she said, “and being supportive of families in their time of need.”
Stipp emphasized her commitment to patient-centered care. “I hear patients express feeling like ‘just a number’ sometimes,” she acknowledged, “but for me, it’s about seeing each person for who they are and genuinely understanding their struggles in that moment. They’re never just a number to me.”
She described her approach as rooted in empathy and mutual respect. She aims to understand and address all aspects of her patients’ needs rather than focusing solely on their primary complaint.
Stipp completed all her nursing education at Eastern Kentucky University, earning degrees ranging from an associate degree in nursing (ADN) to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Her clinical experience includes roles as a registered nurse in Lexington and Richmond and as the school nurse at Model Laboratory School on the EKU campus. She later served as a family nurse practitioner at White House Clinics before deciding to specialize in gastroenterology.
Outside work, Stipp lives with her husband Daniel Stipp, a retired Lexington firefighter, and their three sons. The family spends much of their free time involved in sports activities and tending to their farm animals.
Missy Stipp will be available for appointments at Saint Joseph Medical Group – Gastroenterology located at 3470 Blazer Parkway, Suite 202, Lexington.
Saint Joseph Health is part of CommonSpirit Health. It operates over 100 locations across 20 counties throughout Kentucky including hospitals such as Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. The health system serves patients across 35 counties statewide through various services aimed at building healthier communities while maintaining its mission-driven heritage.
The provider network within the organization—Saint Joseph Medical Group—includes 88 locations serving central and eastern Kentucky communities.
Chi Memorial Hospital Georgia is also part of the CommonSpirit Health system according to its official website. The hospital system provides comprehensive medical services across Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia with specialties such as heart care and cancer treatment as detailed online. Chi Memorial has received recognition for quality care and patient safety from leading organizations.
