MEET THE TEAM
VALERIE MONISMITH, RN
Registered Nurse, Founder & Owner
Valerie Monismith is a skilled and dedicated Registered Nurse with over 15 years of experience in the medical aesthetics field. Valerie has built her career around providing unique solutions to clients for a range of issues.
Before founding Ashtoria Aesthetics & Wellness in 2015, Valerie excelled as a dedicated Labor & Delivery and NICU nurse for many years. Valerie made the transition into medical aesthetics after being presented with an opportunity to work as a plastic surgeon’s lead nurse. This new challenge opened her eyes to the vast spectrum of aesthetic procedures, especially those that improve a patient’s quality of life.
Over the years Valerie continued to work with doctors and other aesthetic professionals across the country and abroad, constantly building her expertise in both laser and injectable therapies.
Valerie is skilled in safe skin/tissue rejuvenation treatments using the highly acclaimed Fotona Laser systems, and has additional expertise in advanced methods for injecting neuromodulators, temporary and bio-stimulating fillers as well as PRP. She is only nurse in the Memphis area with 15+ years of injecting Bellafill. Valerie uses and trains with comfortable micro-cannulas for superior results with minimal bruising, and has served as a National Injection Trainer for Suneva Medical (the makers of Bellafill) and is currently a trainer for Revanesse.
Motivated to expand her knowledge in healthy living, Valerie became a Certified Food For Life Instructor through the award-winning Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). The Food for Life program was designed by physicians, nurses, and registered dietitians to train and certify health advocates in promoting healthy eating and disease management.
Valerie is excited to add Functional Medicine Memberships in 2024 to help her clients on a deeper level on their journey towards good health.
VANESSA M. GIVENS, MD
Medical Director
Vanessa M. Givens is an experienced and decorated doctor and OBGYN who ensures that the Ashtoria facility provides the highest level of care. Dr. Givens serves as Ashtoria’s Medical Director to provide top-level assurance of quality and control, however, she does not perform treatments within the Ashtoria facility.
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Dr. Vanessa M. Givens graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She then moved to Memphis where she received her M.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.
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She subsequently completed her internships and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in the College of Medicine. Dr. Givens then received fellowship training in Advanced Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2001 to 2002.
Dr. Givens has numerous journal publications as well as award-winning research papers. She has been listed every year since 2005 in “Best Doctors in America” and she has been named one of “America’s Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists” by Consumers’ Research Council of America. She is currently a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP).
Karen Aiken, RN, BSN
Karen is a registered nurse with 14 years of prior clinical experience in emergency medicine. Her professional background has given her the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and fuels her passion for patient advocacy. Her love of aesthetics and medicine drive her to practice safely using a holistic individualized approach to improving one's sense of self, quality of life, and overall wellbeing.
Ashley Peel, RN, BSN
Ashley received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. She went on to complete her Nursing Residency in Critical Care at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, TN. She has been actively working as a Registered Nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit for several years, all while fine-tuning her skills in the medical aesthetics industry. She has expanded her practice in aesthetics to so she can help others feel and look their best.
Ashley loves being able to meet people where they are, talk through concerns, and develop a plan to help them feel more confident in their own skin. Ashley is passionate about patient education and providing the information needed to make the best decisions in their treatment plan.
ALLISON, LME
Licensed Medical Esthetician
Allison is an experienced esthetician with a passion for helping others attain their skincare goals. As a teenager, Allison battled acne which led to scarring. This inspired her to become an esthetician and help others like herself. After 7 years of helping her clients using treatments, facials, and medical-grade skincare, Allison began training on the Fotona laser systems at Ashtoria. She is passionate about helping clients achieve their goas via multiple modalities and custom treatment plans.