Our Team

Heather Parker

Radiology Practitioner Assistant

Heather’s healthcare career began 23 years ago in St. George, Utah as a radiologic technologist assisting radiologists and performing radiologic procedures in CT, MRI, and mammography.

In 2004, she advanced from assisting physicians at St George Radiology to performing procedures herself in fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI, including breast biopsies, ultrasound-guided and nuclear medicine procedures. She taught radiologic technologists proper patient assessment and management, and served as president of the Utah State Radiologic Division of Professional Licensing board.

She moved to the region in 2017 to join Radiologic Associates of Northwest Indiana, continuing her work as a radiology practitioner assistant. After several months, she was given the opportunity to apply her extensive medical knowledge and expertise to exciting, new areas of patient care, treating the outside of the body as well as the inside.

In her position at Vein & Laser Institute, Heather is an essential member of a patient’s care team, whether for varicose vein, joint pain, or skin rejuvenation treatments. Her medical background and familiarity with minimally invasive procedures have proven indispensable when counseling patients on vein and regenerative therapies. Her compassion and empathetic nature make her a favorite with aesthetic patients.

Heather is inspired by the progressive doctors at VLI, who are forward-thinking and continuously researching the most cutting-edge options for patients, the latest being regenerative medicine therapies.

She enjoys learning new treatments and is excited about the advances in stem cell and Platelet Rich Plasma, as they pertain to patients’ medical and aesthetic concerns. She uses these therapies to treat pain, restore mobility, or rejuvenate features without the complications and downtime of surgery and loves seeing how these therapies improve people’s quality of life.

In addition to stem cell injections for pain and injury, Heather administers Platelet Rich Plasma for many cosmetic concerns from skin rejuvenation to hair restoration. Heather also performs traditional aesthetic treatments like radiofrequency skin resurfacing and intense pulsed laser facials and injects Botox, dermal fillers, and Instalift thread lifts.

Passion for the job and dedication to her patients’ safety and well-being have won her a legion of devoted patients, both medical and cosmetic. She builds trust with them by discussing their concerns & goals and educating them on their options. Her custom treatment plans outline procedures, pre-and post-care, and potential side effects, and she is always willing to talk with patients post-procedure about their results.

Outside of helping patients and keeping abreast of the latest technology, Heather is thrilled to live in Northwest Indiana and take advantage of the variety of nearby activities. She loves Valpo, going to the beach, and going to Chicago.

Certifications

• Registered Radiologist Assistant
• Registered Radiologic Technologist
• Registered Computed Tomography Technologist
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
• VenaSeal Closure System
• Absorbable PDO Threads for Skin Rejuvenation & Repositioning
• Venus Legacy, Venus Versa, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Radio Frequency (RF), Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields and Fractional Radio Frequency.

Regenerative Medicine

• Lipoharvest & Protocols
• Hair SVF hair protocol
• Musculoskeletal Protocol

Degrees

• Master’s in Radiologic Science
• BS in Advanced Radiologic Science MRI/CT
• Associate’s in Radiologic Science
• Associate of Applied Science

” Giving people the opportunity not only to look better but to feel better is what makes my career rewarding.”

Susie Hasselfeldt

Nurse Injector

Susie has been a nurse for over 25 years, with 15 of them spent working in the ER caring for people during their most vulnerable times. She believes one of the best things about being a nurse is giving her patients empowerment through education. Susie also strongly believes in providing others with knowledge pertaining to self improvement, and in the world of esthetics, she found the perfect outlet. In the fall of 2018, Susie completed her initial certification for basic botox and fillers and in 2021 transitioned from hospital RN to a full time esthetics career. She has since completed multiple additional certifications for botox, dermal fillers, Sculptra, Kybella, Silhouette Instalift Threads, and multiple other modalities, in a continuing effort to help patients and clients achieve their goals.

“There is nothing better than seeing clients shine with confidence. I love knowing that they feel better about themselves every day when they walk out the door. I truly feel like I have found my calling in this career.”

Susie has been married to her husband Mike since 2006. They enjoy golfing, working and relaxing together as often as possible. She has 2 beautiful daughters, 2 beautiful granddaughters and 2 adorable grandsons. Susie’s greatest joy is spending time with her family on her days off.

Heather

Cosmetic Technician

Heather has always had a knack for all things beauty and her passion for aesthetics and cosmetics first took root when she began doing wedding and special occasion makeup on the weekends. Two years ago she transitioned from makeup to join VLI as a cosmetic technician. She performs body contouring procedures such as CoolSculpting® and Venus Legacy™ skin tightening, IPL hair removal, and facial treatments including HydraFacials, Tribella, radiofrequency skin resurfacing (microneedling), and intense pulsed laser (IPL) photo facials.

She’s learned many new techniques by attending continuing education seminars and workshops, and is certified in Coolsculpting, Hydrafacial and Venus Viva techniques. She looks forward to learning more in order to provide her patients with the most up-to-date, non-invasive cosmetic procedures and treatments. “I’m excited to grow in an industry that is constantly evolving and changing, one that helps me help our patients be the best versions of themselves.

When not treating patients, she helps plan monthly specials and packages, prepares cosmetic treatment rooms, and schedules appointments. . On a daily basis, she spends a big portion of her time following up with her patients, and to her, this is the best part of her job. She answers questions and advises patients on skincare routines to maximize the results of their procedures.

“I love connecting with my patients and getting the chance to help them achieve their goals,” she said. “We often get very close with our patients after spending so much time with them, talking about our families and work. I think that giving women and men the chance to enhance their appearance or correct something that has been bothering them is so important. It gives them their confidence back and that can be life-changing.”

Mary

Medical Scribe

Mary has been with VLI for years, and in that time, she has proven herself to be indispensable at performing a variety of tasks. She is adept at anticipating physicians’ needs before, during and after procedures, allowing them to focus on what is most important – treating our patients.

Our scribes work directly with the physician and clinic staff to collect test samples, maintain patient records, explain common medical procedures to patients and assist in basic examinations.

The assignments Mary handles in any given day are numerous and varied. From documenting medical visits and procedures as they are being performed to alerting the physician when a medical record is incomplete or incorrect, Mary’s discreet, tactful execution of her duties keep her patient’s appointments running smoothly and efficiently. She is also responsible for compliance with all legal and ethical requirements for medical documentation.

Mary is always available before, during and after procedures to ensure that you are comfortable and answer any questions you may have.

Nicole

Certified Surgical Technologist & Medical Assistant

Nicole graduated in 2015 from Indiana University Northwest with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She came to the Vein & Laser Institute in April of 2016 as a social media and marketing specialist, but was looking for more. In 2018 she began assisting the physicians with cosmetic procedures, as well as recording medical information for all cosmetic and medical consultations and follow ups. In 2020, Nicole enrolled back in school and in 2021, she completed over 1,000 clinical hours in the operating room at Northwest Health Porter and graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Surgical Technology from Ivy Tech. Nicole is now our Certified Surgical Technologist and Medical Assistant on staff. Nicole continues to see both medical and cosmetic patients during their initial consultations and all follow up appointments. You will also see her assisting the physicians in a variety of medical and cosmetic procedures that we offer here at the Vein and Laser Institute.

Nicole is also certified in CoolSculpting, Venus Legacy and Venus Versa and attends seminars to stay up to date on innovations in the industry.  She is knowledgeable in both our medical and cosmetic services and able to talk with patients about products as well as different treatment options that we offer.

“What I like most about my job is the variety of work that I get to do. I’ve been here for over 5 years and can fill into pretty much any position wherever an extra hand is needed. I really enjoy getting to see patients for both medical and cosmetic consults, follow ups and procedures. Overall, I love what I get to do at the Vein and Laser Institute, but I also love the team of people that I get to work with every day. They’ve truly become my second family.”

Karen

IR Case Coordinator

If you need help with insurance claims, chances are you’ve spoken to Karen. As our interventional case coordinator, she is happy to help patients navigate the insurance process for their medical procedures. She doesn’t just answer your questions. She works directly with your insurance carrier, acting as your liaison to get authorizations, provide necessary documentation, resolve eligibility issues, or answer benefit coverage questions.

And, if your procedure is not covered, she helps find convenient financing options to fit your budget.

With over 19 years experience handling billing, authorizations, insurance and patient inquiries, there isn’t a question or a problem she hasn’t seen.

“Let me do the legwork!”

Tia

Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, RDMS

Tia is our Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, RDMS. After graduating from IUN with a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, she worked in the hospital setting, where she gained valuable knowledge and sharpened her skills. Since her move to become a full-time employee of the Vein and Laser Institute, she has switched her focus to a vascular specialty doing vein mappings for our patients. The ultrasound scan itself is a highly detailed, 2-hour process, that gives the doctor the tools he needs to create a customized treatment plan for each patient.

“My ultimate goal is to make this process as comfortable and successful as possible for my patients.”

When Tia isn’t scanning patients, she enjoys helping her husband with their family roofing company, camping with their children, and tending to The Bradley Homestead, her small farm of animals and fresh produce.

Ashleigh

Lead Scheduler

Ashleigh has worked in the Customer Service and Administration field for over 20 years and is currently pursuing certifications in Medical Billing and Coding. She works closely with our doctors and providers, overseeing their schedules, to ensure all patient and client needs are met. Ashleigh is the lead scheduler at the Vein and Laser Institute but is also willing and able to assist with many other roles as the need arises.

“I really enjoy working directly with the public and scheduling appointments. I was a patient at Vein and Laser before I became an employee here. It really gives a different perspective when I’m answering questions and addressing the concerns of our patients.”

Originally from Southwest Michigan, Ashleigh has lived in Indiana with her spouse for 10 years now and is a mom of 5 growing young men. As recent empty nesters, Ashleigh and her spouse plan to keep busy with house and landscaping projects.

Ali

Desk Attendant and Scheduler

Ali has been a member of the Vein and Laser Institute team for over two years. She can usually be found at the front desk, greeting patients with her contagious smile. She’s been working in the medical field for many years and can offer our patients a level of comfort and confidence with her knowledge. Ali has also been trained on many of our cosmetic treatments and is CoolSculpting Certified. With this “extra know-how” Ali is such an asset to our clinic as she can answer questions and assist with scheduling.

When asked what she likes about her job, she responded, “Doing whatever I can do to help.”

Outside of work, Ali enjoys being outside, painting and spending time with her family.