Our Staff

Tori Rea

CEO, CFO

Biography:

Tori Rea is the Chief Executive Officer at Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida. She draws on her extensive management experience and leadership skills to improve day-to-day operations at the practice.

Tori has eight years of experience managing multiple locations for a Fortune 500 company and more than a year of experience in an executive role. She holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Florida State University in Panama City, FL. She is also working toward her Master's Degree from Southern New Hampshire University in Healthcare Administration. Tori's core skills include resource allocation, marketing development, client relations, process improvement, and financial management. Tori is proud to have been a part of the Brain and Spine Specialists team since 2011.

Merle Stringer

M.D.

Biography:

Merle Stringer, MD, was a neurosurgeon who devoted his life to serving patients with various neurological conditions as part of the Brain and Spine Specialists team. Board-certified in both Neurological Surgery and Pain Medicine, he practiced medicine for over 50 years and was affiliated with multiple facilities, including Bay Medical Center, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, and Northwest Florida Surgery Center.

A highly educated individual, he was awarded a full engineering scholarship to Georgia Tech but made the fateful decision to dedicate himself to the study of medicine and the treatment of patients suffering from neurological disorders. Dr. Stringer received his medical degree from the Medical College at the University of Georgia and completed residencies at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and the University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Fiercely loyal to his country, Merle Stringer also served as a Medical Officer in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Dr. Merle Stringer was well-known for his public service and involvement in the medical community. He chaired various professional and oversight-related committees and served on the board of trustees at each of the area's hospitals. Tirelessly working to help meet the needs of those in Panama City, he was the founding President of the Bay Medical Foundation and a founding member of Bay Cares. These two organizations continue to make health services more accessible for underserved residents of Bay County.

Laura Nofal

PA-C

Biography:

Laura Nofal, PA-C, works at Brain & Spine Specialists, in Panama City, Florida, as a physician’s assistant, where she uses her experience in surgery and neurosurgery. Her special interests and skills include alternative therapies, performing minor procedures, and working with patients with complex neurological diseases and chronic pain syndromes.

Laura has been working in neurology since 2006 when she worked in brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center Rehabilitation Hospital in Atlanta. While working as a certified neurosurgical assistant, Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and Behaviors from Georgia State University, and her Master of Medical Science degree from Emory University School of Medicine, both in Atlanta.

Today, she focuses her energies on outpatient pain management and general neurology. She’s an active member of her local chapter of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. For her skills, she has been certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Khurram Nazir

M.D., FAAN

Biography:

Khurram Nazir, MD, serves Brain & Spine Specialists as a neurologist and neurophysiologist. He is board-certified in both clinical neurophysiology and headache medicine. Dr. Nazir brings his extensive neurological experience to patients in the Panama City, Florida, area.

A native of Pakistan, Dr. Nazir earned his medical degree at Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan, and completed his internship there as well. Dr. Nazir first moved to the United States in order to perform clinical research at Harvard Medical Center in Boston.

After his time at Harvard, Dr. Nazir trained in neurology at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island, New York. During his final year of residency, he served as chief resident. He then completed an additional year at North Shore University Hospital, in order to receive fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology.

Dr. Nazir continues to advance in the neurological field. He’s a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and he’s a member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Florida Medical Association. Dr. Nazir is also part of the clinical faculty at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan.

Katie Arnold

FNP-BC

Biography:

Karin Maddox

M.D.

Biography:

Karin Maddox, MD, specializes in neurology and pain management at Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida. Her local hospital affiliations include Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center and Sacred Heart Health System-Bay Medical Center, both located in Panama City.

Dr. Maddox received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1997 in Augusta, Georgia, from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She then completed both an internship in internal medicine and a residency in neurology at Medical College of Georgia.

Dr. Maddox is proud to serve neurological patients in Panama City at Brain & Spine Specialists, the only certified neurodiagnostic center for EMG and EEG in the area. She has more than 20 years of neurology experience and is known for her kind and caring attitude, and her success rate. Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Maddox offers her neurological patients thoughtful, thorough, expert care.

Kamel Elzawahry

M.D., FACP, FAAN, FAHA, FAHS

Biography:

Kamel Elzawahry, MD, FACP, FAAN, FAHA, FAHS serves his practice, Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida, as a neurologist. He’s board-certified in pain management, headaches, vascular neurology, tropical medicine, internal medicine, neurology, and psychiatry.

Dr. Elzawahry received his medical degree from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. Two years later, he completed his internship and residency in internal medicine. A phenomenal young doctor, he then went on scholarship to train in the United Kingdom.

While in the UK, Dr. Elzawahry trained at Oxford University, Leicester University, Edinburgh University, and the Midland Neuro Center. He then moved to Kingston, Jamaica, to work at University Hospital of the West Indies.

In 1976, Dr. Elzawahry moved to the United States, where he completed a neurology residency at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, then served as the chief resident of internal medicine at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Dr. Elzawahry serves the greater Panama City community as the founder of the Bay Cares program in Bay County and as an active member of several medical societies, including the Florida Medical Association, Florida Society of Pain Medicine, Florida Society of Interventional Pain Medicine, Florida Society of Neurology, and American Academy of Neurology. He also teaches neurology students at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan as a clinical faculty member.

He’s a diplomate of The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Pain Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Elzawahry is extremely accomplished and has been recognized with many awards, including the Merit Award of the Florida Medical Association, Wall of Honor Gulf Coast Medical Center, Kenneth M. Viste Patient Advocate of American Academy of Neurology, Bay Medical Center Community Service, and Gulf Coast Medical Center Doctor of the Year.

Kaitlyn Blais

ARNP

Biography:

Graduated from Troy University with a Masters of Science in Nursing with a 4.00 GPA
Graduated from Spring Hill College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Deans Listat Spring Hill College
Certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Licensed in the State of FL

Jenny Reeves

DNP, APRN

Biography:

Jenny Reeves serves Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida, as a Nurse Practitioner. She is a board-certified adult-gerontology acute-care nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. She is also certified in Spanish, allowing her to effectively communicate with and assist our diverse patient base.

In 2022, Jenny received her Master of Science degree as an acute care nurse practitioner and family np from the University of South Alabama located in Mobile, Alabama. Currently, she is working to obtain her Doctor of Nursing degree as an acute care nurse practitioner also from the University of South Alabama.

Before serving neurological patients in Panama City at Brain & Spine Specialists, Jenny was a registered nurse working in the ICU at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center located in Panama City, FL.

Jenny is currently the medical team captain for the Ironman Florida 70.3 competition and has been for the past 7 years. She also serves as the chair of the ICU unit council at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center.

Jenny is passionate about providing care to neurological patients in Panama City at Brain & Spine Specialists and is a great asset to the team.

Jeannie Farris

APRN

Biography:

Jeannie Farris serves Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida, as a dedicated family nurse practitioner. She specializes in pain management, critical and acute care and is experienced in diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses using evidence-based clinical guidelines.

In 2020, Jeannie received her Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University. Before that, she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Gulf Coast State College located right here in Panama City, Florida.

Before serving neurological patients in Panama City at Brain & Spine Specialists, Jeannie was a family nurse practitioner working for Consult Care Pain Medicine, located in Panama City, FL.

Jeannie is currently an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as well as the Florida Nurses Association. She is passionate about providing care to neurological patients in Panama City at Brain & Spine Specialists and is a great addition to the team.

Jamie Williams

ARNP

Biography:

Hoda Elzawahry

M.D.

Biography:

Hoda Elzawahry, MD, works at Brain & Spine Specialists in Panama City, Florida, as a neurologist, neurophysiologist, and headache expert. She’s particularly interested in pediatric neurology and multiple sclerosis.

Born and raised in Panama City, Dr. Elzawahry received her medical degree from the alma mater of her father, Dr. Kamel Elzawahry, Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. After that, she returned to the United States to complete her training in neurology.

Dr. Elzawahry completed her neurology training at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Later, she moved to Atlanta to complete a subspecialty in neurophysiology, neuromuscular medicine, and epilepsy at Emory University.

Dr. Elzawahry is board-certified in neurology and psychiatry, headache medicine, and neurophysiology. She has hospital privileges at two Panama City hospitals: Gulf Coast Medical Center and Sacred Heart Health System-Bay Medical Center. Dr. Elzawahry is also a clinical faculty member of the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan.

When she’s not working, Dr. Elzawahry enjoys spending time with immediate and extended family in Florida.

Douglas Stringer

M.D., FACS

Biography:

Douglas Stringer, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida. At the practice and nearby area hospitals, including Bay Medical Sacred Heart Health System and Gulf Coast Medical Center, Dr. Stringer specializes in neurological surgery.

Dr. Stringer has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. He received his medical degree in Augusta, Georgia, at Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia. He completed his internship at Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, and his residency at the Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Dr. Stringer stands apart as one of only five neurological surgeons at Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart Health System, and one of a mere three neurological surgeons at Gulf Coast Medical Center.

Dr. Stringer is committed to neurosurgery and his patients. For his efforts, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons recognizes him as a Fellow, and he is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Brynn Ledman

APRN

Biography:

Brynn Ledman is a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner at Brain & Spine Specialists, located in Panama City, Florida. Her affiliation with our practice follows her graduation from the Family Nurse Practitioner Master's Program at Troy University in May 2023. Brynn brings a wealth of knowledge to patient care, underpinned by her educational background and extensive clinical experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors from Florida State University. In addition, Brynn has over three years of experience as an Emergency Department RN at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Medical Level 2 Trauma Center, where she honed her compassionate approach to care.

Her clinical expertise spans primary care, cardiac rotations, emergency care, and pain management. She has extensive experience in managing acute conditions such as STEMIs, acute TIAs and CVAs, traumas, and more, making her well-equipped to address the complex needs of neurological patients.

Certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Trauma Nursing Core Course, and several other critical competencies, she is committed to providing the highest standard of care. Her time in various clinical settings has honed her ability to adapt quickly, learn continuously, and build meaningful relationships with patients.

Achraf Makki

M.D., M.Sc., FAAN

Biography:

Dr. Makki, M.D., M.Sc., is a highly-qualified neurologist serving Brain & Spine Specialists located in Panama City, Florida. He served our community and the state of Florida for several years before becoming the Assistant Professor of Neurology at the American University in Beirut. Dr. Makki had appointments at several universities, including his alma mater at Emory University, but he decided to rejoin our group because of his love of the community. He is an experienced and knowledgeable provider with numerous board certifications, including Pain Management, Neurophysiology and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Headaches. He was the Director of the Headache Clinic at the American University in Beirut.

He has served in many leadership positions within the medical community and has taken an active role in advocating for patients in medicine. Dr. Makki served as the President-Elect and a board member of the Florida Society of Neurology and was a Gulf Coast Medical Center Board of Trustees member. He was also the President of the Bay Medical Society from 2011 to 2012 and Chairman of the Continuing Medical Education between 2008 and 2013. He has held many other positions related to patient advocacy, among them a member of the Executive Medical Board at Healthsouth Rehabilitation. He is a Pediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Fellow and served as Chief Resident at Emory.

In addition to his numerous achievements, Dr. Makki has a Master's Degree in Neuroscience and has published many papers in the field of Neurology.