Dr. James R. Herrin, M.D.
Dr. James Herrin completed his undergraduate Pre-Med degree at Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1972. He then attended UTMB Galveston to obtain his Medical Doctor degree in 1976 and subsequently his Pediatric Residency Certification at Oklahoma Children’s Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City in 1979. He then fulfilled his obligation to the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1981 as he served as Chief of Pediatrics at both Cannon AFB, New Mexico and Luke AFB, Arizona. He achieved the rank of Major and received the Air Force Commendation Medal during his tour. Dr. Herrin has worked for Galveston County Pediatrics, Sadler Clinic in Conroe, and now as the owner of Herrin Pediatric Clinic in Conroe, Texas. Over the last 25 years, Dr Herrin has enjoyed serving the children and their families of Montgomery County with compassion, empathy, and personal involvement in the lives of his patients. He is married over 30 years to his wife Kathi and they have 3 children and 1 granddaughter. He enjoys teaching Sunday School, playing disc golf, and playing with his granddaughter as often as he can.
Patti Ardeel, C.F.N.P.
Patti Ardeel is a family Nurse Practitioner who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Houston Baptist University in 1979. She has extensive experience in Pediatrics, having worked at Texas Children’s Hospital on a general medical-surgical floor, Pediatric ICU, and Neonatal ICU, over a span of 10 years. When her children were small, she also worked part-time for her pediatrician as a staff nurse and with Katy ISD as a school nurse. Patti returned to school at University of Texas Medical Branch and received her Master’s of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1997. She worked for Northwest Family Practice in Houston for 5 years, and when she and her husband relocated to Conroe in 2004, she came onboard with Dr. Herrin. Patti’s hobbies include running, sewing, computers, and church activities. She and her husband, Richard, live in Montgomery, and between them, they have 5 grown children. Patti is also the “mom” to 2 cats, Jasmine and Benji.
Laurie Brown, R.N., C.P.N.P.
Laurie Brown received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing in 1986. She worked at Hermann Memorial Hospital in the Neonatal ICU/Neonatal Transport department for 9 years before returning to graduate school at UTHSC. Laurie received her Master’s of Science in Nursing—Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree and joined the pediatric practice of Dr. James Herrin in January 1996. She continued working with Dr. Herrin until December 2001, at which time her husband’s job transferred her family to Bangkok, Thailand. Her family transferred back to the Houston area and she rejoined Herrin Pediatric Clinic in January 2011.
Laurie and her husband Steve live in The Woodlands with their children, Jeremy and Liana, and two funny Chihuahuas named Sammy and Taco.
Heather King, CPNP-PC
Heather King attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where she received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development. In 2008, she graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing with her Master of Science in Nursing in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care program. While at Vanderbilt, Heather was part of a research team studying the coping mechanisms of families who had lost a child to cancer in order to improve palliative care approaches. This experience showed her the importance of empathy and the power of faith in healing. From 2008-2013, Heather worked at Livingston Pediatric Clinic. She joined Dr. Herrin in May of 2013. She is married to Dr. Ben King who is an administrator for Magnolia ISD. Ben and Heather are high-school sweethearts from Bridge City, TX who actually went to the same daycare. They have two young children, AnnElise and Langston, and a puggle named Austin. She and her family attend First Baptist Church of Conroe where Heather enjoys volunteering in the children’s department. When she gets the chance, her favorite activity is to curl up and read a good book.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered professional nurses who are prepared, through advanced graduate education and clinical training, to provide a wide range of health care services, including the diagnosis and management of common, as well as complex, medical conditions to individuals of all ages.
Nurse Practitioners have been providing quality care for patients since 1965. Today there are over 150,000 NPs nationwide practicing in a variety of settings, for example, employee health centers, universities, student health centers, school health clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and private offices. Wherever health care may be given, nurse practitioners may be found.
What is a Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.