Staff

Cristy Auckland

Cristy Auckland joined the LOA staff as a nurse in 2010. Prior to her arrival at LOA, she worked as a physical therapy aide at Longview Physical & Sports Therapy.

She earned her associate degree in nursing from Excelsior University and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Walden University with a focus on family medicine. She began seeing patients as a mid-level provider after becoming a nurse practitioner in 2024.

Cristy grew up in the local area and graduated from Toutle Lake High School. She is very involved in youth sports and coaches basketball and volleyball tournament teams. She plans to serve as a liaison to expedite sports medicine care for local athletes.

Ashley Hawkes

Ashley Hawkes joined the LOA staff in 2019. Ashley earned her associates degree in Nursing from Lower Columbia College and her Bachelor of nursing degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix Arizona. She also earned her Masters degree in nursing, adult gerontology with an orthopedic specialty from Duke University in Durham North Carolina.

Prior to working at LOA, Ashley worked at St John Medical Center from 2006-2019 as a nursing assistant, registered nurse on the orthopedic unit and was the joint coordinator for knee and hip replacements.

Renee Merrill

Renee Merrill joined the LOA staff in 2025. Renee graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. She continued her education at George Fox University’s Physician Assistant program, earning a Master of Medical Science in 2024, and a Doctor of Medical Science in 2025.

In her free time, Renee enjoys spending time with her family and fully embracing many outdoor activities such as trail running, hiking, and paddleboarding. A personal love for staying active drives Renee’s passion for orthopedics and her belief that movement is essential to healing and quality of life.