Our Story
Gillian Choate, “Gillie” has practiced as a registered nurse then board-certified nurse practitioner in the Dermatology community of Middle Tennessee for over seventeen years. As a native Tennessean and having made her home in Murfreesboro in 2007, then with Dr. Junior Nelson at Stones River Dermatology in 2014, she has always loved this area and providing quality care to her patients. She truly believes healthcare should include more caring and listening- areas that have seemed to diminish some in today’s world of medicine. In 2021, she and Dr. Nelson began plans to form a separate skin care center that would allow her to devote more of her schedule to cosmetic therapies. However, as her love for the medical aspects of skin remained, she decided to practice in a manner that still allowed for both. As most of her patients know her simply as “Gillie,” they decided to use this as the name for the new practice.
Gillie and her team truly believe one can achieve the highest quality of healthcare in a beautiful environment, while ensuring each patient feels understood and leaves with each of their skin care needs met!
Our Services
Full-service medical and aesthetic skin care.
Our office provides a wide range of skin care services. We perform medical skin visits such as skin cancer screenings and biopsies and accept many insurance plans. We also assess and treat most skin conditions including acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, folliculitis, hair loss, warts, molluscum, and more! In addition, we specialize in aesthetic procedures and skin care with an undertone of sound medical knowledge. With so many choices in aesthetics, we emphasize safety and quality first and promote a natural, elegant outcome. With over seventeen years of Dermatology experience and working alongside one of the best Dermatologists in Tennessee, Dr. Junior Nelson, Gillian Choate, “Gillie” believes skin care- both medical and aesthetic, should be tailored to each individual’s needs and performed in a beautiful, comfortable, spa setting. Skin and people are our passion, and it reflects in the level of care we strive to provide.
Gillian H. Choate, RN, MSN, FNP-BC
A native Tennessean, “Gillie” was born and raised in Nashville where she graduated high school from Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School. She then attended nursing school at Cumberland University earning her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2007. In 2009, she graduated from Middle Tennessee State University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program. At the time of her graduation from the Master’s program, she was employed by Franklin Dermatology Group and was given the opportunity to join them as their first nurse practitioner. She worked alongside Drs.’ Dana and Paul Latour, Dr. Charity McConnell, Dr. Jill Fichtel, and Dr. Shelley Franklin. In 2012, she left FDG to begin working in Murfreesboro- closer to her home.
As previously mentioned, she joined Dr. Junior Nelson at Stones River Dermatology in 2014. In that time she has received multiple local honors including the Daily News Journal’s “Ruthie” award for “Favorite Dermatology Provider” and “Favorite Nurse Practitioner” for many years. In addition, she was selected in the coveted "40 under 40" feature in the Murfreesboro VIP Magazine in 2024 for her contributions to her community. She credits much of her success in practice to the unmatched guidance by the previously mentioned physicians that she has had the privilege to work alongside during her career.
In addition to her formal education, Gillie holds a plethora of certifications in cosmetic injectables and devices and greatly enjoys this aspect of her career. She loves treating patients of all ages and believes beauty definitely comes from within- but is enhanced with a great skin care regimen. Her favorite response from a patient when seeing their results is, “Oh there I am.” Helping patients connect the gap between their self-image in their mind to reality is a goal that she prides herself in achieving.
Her personal life consists of spending time with her
children, family, and friends. In addition to dermatology, Gillie has a passion for interior design, organizing, antiquing, traveling, riding UTV's, camping, and animals.
She prides herself on being open and real with her patients and providing extraordinary care that ensures they each know how unique they are.
Lindsay M. Waldrep, PA-C
Originally from North Carolina, Lindsay attended the University of Tennessee, graduating in 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in nutrition and minor in biological sciences. She moved to Nashville in 2021, earning her Master of Science in Medicine at Trevecca Nazarene University’s Physician Assistant program. Following graduation, she worked in urgent care for two years.
She originally met Gillie during her clinical rotation with Dr. Nelson at Stones River Dermatology. They immediately hit it off and quickly bonded over their shared passion for taking care of our bodies’ largest organ (the skin!), as well as their dedication to helping patients look and feel their best. Outside of the office, she enjoys playing pickleball, spending time with friends- especially her nephew, and trying to keep her two dogs out of trouble. Lindsay truly believes that all people deserve exceptional care and she strives to achieve this every day in our office.
Vilaiphone "Pon" Chanthaphanij, LMA
Vilaiphone, affectionately called "Pon," began her journey in dermatology as a medical assistant at Stones River Dermatology, quickly proving herself as an indispensable part of the team. She was the first employee to join Gillie when GILLIE Aesthetics and Dermatology was founded, bringing her passion for skin, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional care to every patient she sees.
Known for her gentle touch and mastery of intricate details, Pon ensures every treatment is precise, comfortable, and tailored to each patient’s needs. As a licensed aesthetician, her dedication, skill, and warmth make her a standout in the world of aesthetics.
In addition to skin care, Pon spends her time with her amazing family and enjoying time in the kitchen. She is an exceptional chef and frequently delights the GILLIE team with her amazing culinary skills.
Maggie Tanner, LMA
A native Tennessean from Lewis County, Maggie joined our team in 2025. She is a licensed medical aesthetician that has practiced since 2021. As she is originally from Lewis County, she has practiced in her hometown of Hohenwald, Spring Hill, and has now made her way here to the Boro!
Her drive and commitment to excellence is what Gillie admired about her upon their first interaction. She is kind-hearted, exceptional in her skin knowledge, and unmatched in her curiosity about all things skin. She holds a plethora of certifications and performs many treatments including facials, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, brow wax/tint/lifts, hair growth procedures, skin care consultations, and more. Her favorite procedures to perform on patients include microneedling and deep chemical peels as she wants to get to the root of the problem. She enjoys greatly helping each client achieve their goals and leave the office glowing feeling their best!
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and 4-legged children, spending as much time as possible outdoors!
Collaborative Physician l Medical Director
Dr. Ronald "Junior" Nelson first moved to Tennessee in August, 1986, to attend the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine after graduating from Stanford University in California. Following graduation from medical school in 1990, he entered the United States Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. While at Keesler, he finished a medical internship then trained in aerospace medicine. He served as a flight surgeon for F-15 Eagle Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In 1999, he left the Air Force to begin dermatology residency training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Nelson founded Stones River Dermatology in 2010. Since, he has provided the Rutherford County community with award-winning, exceptional dermatological care. He serves as GILLIE Aesthetics and Dermatology's Medical Director, as well as Gillie's collaborating physician and friend.
OUR OFFICE
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OUR TEAM
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OUR TEAM
About GILLIE Aesthetics & Dermatology, Award-winning team
