Braedyn McCurry, FNP

I attended Duke School of Engineering on a soccer scholarship. I had the opportunity to play with some outstanding athletes. Part of my excitement about Novant Health Surgical Partners is, once again, I am blessed with an extremely talented and dedicated group of partners. \n I had no grand plan to become a doctor. I came to it by happenstance. As an undergraduate in biomedical engineering, I thought an MD/PhD would serve me best in my career. Early in my clinical years as a medical student while on a family medicine rotation in rural Virginia, I was offered the opportunity to assist the local general surgeon perform a cholecystectomy. That day I was hooked on surgery and never changed course. \n My path led me to a general surgery residency at Duke, followed by a surgical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson. I came to Asheville in 2000. Originally as chief of general surgery at the Oteen Veterans' Hospital, I later transitioned into solo private practice in Asheville. In 2004, I joined a general surgery group and eventually joined Novant Health in 2023. \n I believe that being a physician is a privilege. It is a privilege bestowed upon me by my patients. I feel this is especially true for a cancer surgeon like myself. Being entrusted with the care and well-being of my patient is a responsibility I take very seriously. Sometimes surgery is all that is needed for successful treatment. Other times surgery is part of a more comprehensive treatment plan. Occasionally surgery is not the right choice. Regardless of the treatment you receive, my goal is to provide you with the best quality of life for as long as possible. There is no one right or wrong answer to this question. It is a discussion with each patient to decide their treatment goals and decide whether surgery is the right choice for them.

I always wanted a career in medicine and started as an RN in acute care oncology. I loved connecting with patients and making an impact on their lives. \n After 11 years in oncology, I had the opportunity to specialize as a gastrointestinal (GI) cancer nurse navigator and work closely with the surgical team. I was instantly hooked and fascinated by the GI system and the surgical interventions used to address GI issues. I pursued my acute care nurse practitioner degree and knew I wanted to continue focusing on the GI system and surgery. \n My approach to healthcare has always been to treat the person - not just the problem. Each patient is an individual with needs and goals. It is my job to collaborate with each patient and help create a treatment plan that not only delivers excellent outcomes, but targets what my patient feels is important in their healthcare. \n I am board-certified in acute care for the adult and geriatric populations and certified as a surgical first assistant, meaning I have specialty training that allows me to assist in the operating room. \n Today, I have two decades of experience as an acute care RN and nurse practitioner with a focus on acute care oncology, gastrointestinal malignancy and colorectal surgery. \n I am proud to have been born and raised in the Asheville, North Carolina, area. I have a wonderful husband and an amazing son who plays competitive baseball. So, we spend lots of time on the baseball field. When I'm not working or on the ball field, I enjoy being outdoors, hiking and spending time with friends. As a family, we love to travel and explore new places.