meet team

ALAN G. FORSHEY, M.D.

Dr. Forshey was born in Caldwell, Ohio; he is part of a large family (12 children). He is married to Barb, his wife of 44 years. They have three grown children Nathan, Desmond and Drew and they are currently spoiling their 8 grandchildren.

Dr. Forshey obtained his Doctorate of Medicine from Ohio State University and he completed his residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He worked as an emergency physician in 1981 and then moved to Newton, North Carolina in 1982 to open a Family Medicine clinic. He is still living in and serving this community 38 years later.

Currently he is on active staff with Catawba Valley Medical Center. He served as Chief of Staff in 2003 and has continued to serve as a Trustee and on various other committees. He is Board Certified through the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, the North Carolina Medical Society as well as the Catawba County Medical Society.

Dr. Forshey takes care of newborns to seniors. He is especially interested in improving lifestyles for all ages and is now caring for third generations of families. He does minor office surgeries and enjoys all the aspects of disease management.

He is an avid gardener, enjoys playing golf, running and traveling to see his grandchildren.

SHANNON M. SHERFEY, M.D.

Dr. Sherfey grew up in Severna Park, Maryland, between Annapolis and Baltimore. She graduated as Valedictorian of her high school in 1992 and got her undergraduate B.S. degree in Psychology from Duke University in 1996. She met her husband, Josh Sherfey, while at Duke. After college, Dr. Sherfey received her M.D. from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and stayed at Wake Forest to complete her residency in Family Medicine. She served as Chief Resident during her final year of residency training.

Dr. Sherfey practiced for two years in High Point at MedCentral before joining Newton Family Physicians in 2005. She and Josh live in Hickory and have two boxers who are spoiled rotten. She and Josh both enjoy running, cycling and traveling. Dr. Sherfey also enjoys hiking, cooking and yoga.

Dr. Sherfey sees patients of all ages and is passionate about Lifestyle Medicine. She feels that making healthy lifestyle changes is the primary way to prevent and treat chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The six pillars of lifestyle medicine are a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management and positive social connections.

Dr. Sherfey is on active staff at Catawba Valley Medical Center, where she previously served as Chair of the Department of Family Medicine. She is a member of the Catawba County Medical Society, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians as well as the American Academy of Family Physicians. She has been Board Certified in Family Medicine since 2003.

ALAN W. STORY, M.D.

Dr. Alan Story is a Catawba County native, who joined the practice of Newton Family Physicians in August, 1999. He lives in Newton with his wife and children and enjoys practicing the full spectrum of Family Medicine with the exception of Obstetrics.

After graduation from Bandys High School, Dr. Story continued his education at Lenoir-Rhyne University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. After graduation from Lenoir-Rhyne he enrolled in medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in 1996 earned the degree of Medical Doctor. After graduation he entered into residency training at Greenville Hospital Systems in Greenville, SC where he completed his Family Medicine training. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a full member in good standing with the American Academy of Family Physicians as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Story’s medical interests include care for infants, children, teenagers, adults and geriatric patients. He is particularly focused on disease prevention and well care. Several common medical conditions that he treats extensively include hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders and lipid disorders. He also provides acute care for sickness/illness including infectious diseases, musculoskeletal sprains or strains, lacerations/injuries, rashes and other dermatological conditions.

His interests also emphasize the yearly preventative exam for adults age 18 and older where the doctor and patient have the time to discuss in detail their health status and ways to prevent illness and develop healthy habits. This is also a great chance to discuss age-appropriate laboratory evaluations, cancer screenings and specific preventative care for men and women at each stage of life.

DAVID E. PELTZER, M.D.

Dr. Peltzer has been practicing Family Medicine in Newton since 1994. He grew up outside of Washington, D.C. in Fairfax, Virginia. He graduated with Honors from the University of Virginia in 1987. He stayed at UVA for his medical degree, which he received in 1991. After medical school, he did his residency in Family Medicine at St. Margaret Memorial Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, finishing in 1994.

Dr. Peltzer practices full-service Family Medicine, with the exception of Obstetrics. He enjoys all aspects of preventive care and Pediatrics. He does office surgeries including treatment of warts, skin cancers and other minor office procedures.

Dr. Peltzer is on staff at Catawba Valley Medical Center, where he previously served as Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine. He currently chairs the Physician Development Committee. He was the first Medical Director of PACE of Catawba County. He is a member of the Catawba County Medical Society, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians as well as the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has been Board Certified in Family Medicine since 1994.

Personally, Dr. Peltzer is married to Julie Lail Peltzer. Julie is a native of Catawba County and is a self-employed photographer. Dr. Peltzer has four children; Ben, Rachel, Sam and Sarah. He is an active member and past president of the Rotary Club of Catawba Valley. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Corner Table Soup Kitchen and Montessori at Sandy Ford. He is a member of Temple Beth Shalom, where he has previously served on the Board of Directors. He enjoys racquetball, cycling, hiking, soccer, whitewater rafting and woodworking.

BARTHOLOMEW J. LOPINA, M.D.

Dr. Lopina was born the 6th of 8 children into a loving family in a small, rural town in Wisconsin. He spent most of his young life in Winston-Salem, NC. In 1992 he graduated from Bishop McGuinness High School, where he was Valedictorian, Student Council President and Co-Captain of the varsity soccer team. Dr. Lopina has two degrees from UNC Chapel Hill. In 1996 he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with highest distinction. In 2000 he received a Doctorate of Medicine. In 2003 he completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he received two teaching awards. Since joining Newton Family Physicians in 2003 he has served as Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Catawba Valley Medical Center, provided free medical care at St. Joseph’s Good Samaritan Clinic in Newton and volunteered as team physician for the Newton-Conover High School varsity football team.

Dr. Lopina practices full service Family Medicine, with the exception of Obstetrics. He cares for newborns, children, adolescents, and adults. He performs minor surgical procedures in the office. His specific area of interest is Pediatrics.

Dr. Lopina lives in Newton with his wife and 3 children. He and his family are parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Newton. He has been a leader for Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout Troop 383 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover since 2011. He was Cubmaster from 2017 to 2019 and has been Assistant Scout Master since 2019. He enjoys playing and listening to music, staying fit, spending time outdoors, and, most of all, spending time with his family.

YING VANG, M.D.

Dr. Vang was born in Merced, California and is the youngest of five children. His family relocated to Catawba County when he was six years old and he has remained a North Carolinian since then. He is married to his high school sweetheart and a local native of Catawba County. Together they have three children and have a pet Yorkie. They are both excited to be back in their hometown of Newton.

Dr. Vang graduated as Valedictorian from Maiden High School and then attended Wake Forest University where he earned his B.S. degree in Biology. After college, Dr. Vang received his M.D.from the Brody School of Medicine at ECU and was awarded The Golden Living Center, Geriatrics Award. He and his wife then moved to Concord, NC to complete his residency training with Cabarrus Family Medicine at Carolinas HealthCare Systems – Northeast Hospital. He served as Chief Resident during his final year of residency.

Dr. Vang enjoys practicing Family Medicine and loves taking care of patients of all ages including newborns, children, adolescents, adults along with geriatric patients. Management of common medical conditions that he has had extensive training in include: hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. He is also competent in completing minor surgical procedures in the office. Dr. Vang has joined the staff at Catawba Valley Medical Center where he hopes to be an active member of the community. He currently serves as a Board Director for the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. He is a member of the North Carolina Medical Society and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Vang enjoys spending time with his family, dog, friends and loved ones. Special interests include tennis, hiking, photography and fishing.

DANA MARIE F. MORETZ, FNP-C

Dana Marie F. Moretz is a native of Catawba County. Marie graduated from Bandys High School in 2004 and went on to attend The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. There she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing undergraduate degree and graduated in 2008. After graduation from UNCC, Marie worked for five years at Catawba Valley Medical Center as a Surgical Unit Nurse and Charge Nurse. Marie went on to study at Western Carolina University from 2011-2014 and obtained her Family Nurse Practitioner graduate degree. Marie joined the team of providers at Newton Family Physicians in August, 2014 as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She enjoys practicing all aspects of patient care across the lifespan with the exception of Obstetrics, and focuses on health maintenance and disease prevention.

Marie is married and has two young daughters. Marie enjoys spending the majority of her free-time with her husband, daughters, family and friends.

HEENA PATEL, FNP-C

Heena was born in England and moved to the United States as a young child. She eventually made it to Catawba County as a young teen and graduated from Newton-Conover High School in 2006. Thereafter she completed her undergraduate degree at UNC Charlotte in 2010 and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She moved back to the area and began her nursing career at Catawba Valley Medical Center as a telemetry nurse. She worked there for a year and then moved on to work in critical care for an additional 4 years. She went on to pursue her Master’s degree and earned a Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Duke University. Shortly after graduating she moved back to the area to join the Newton Family Physician team. Her professional interests include diabetes and hypertension management.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew. She became interested in hiking some time ago and has enjoyed doing so through the summers. She also enjoys bowling and watching movies.

KATHERINE LANEY, FNP-C

Katherine is a lifetime resident of Conover, NC. She graduated Valedictorian from Bunker Hill High School in 2006. After achieving her Associates Degree in Nursing from Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte, NC she went on to work at Carolinas Medical Center – Main in Charlotte on a busy orthopedic/trauma unit. She also served as a preceptor for new nurses and worked as a Charge Nurse. While working, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University in 2013. She went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2016 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She resigned her Registered Nurse position at CMC-Main after over five years and joined Newton Family Physicians as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

Katherine enjoys seeing patients all across the lifespan, especially women’s health and pediatrics. She puts a strong focus on health maintenance and disease prevention.

Katherine married Taylor in 2011. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves country music and attending concerts, with her favorite artist being Eric Church.

Crystal Mosteller Hopson, PA-C

Crystal was born and raised in Gaston County, NC. She graduated from North Gaston High School in 2001 and moved to Michigan to attend Western Michigan University. There she obtained her Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services and minor in Biological Services in 2005. She immediately started her graduate program at Western Michigan University and obtained her Masters of Science in Medicine in Physician Assistant studies in 2007. Crystal moved back to North Carolina in 2008 and has been practicing medicine in Hickory ever since. Crystal joined Newton Family Physicians in November 2019. She enjoys seeing patients all across the lifespan, especially women’s health and adolescents. She puts a strong focus on health maintenance, disease prevention, and learning to live a healthy lifestyle.

Crystal is married to Jon and has one son named Jaxon. She has several dogs and fosters dogs in her home. Crystal spends the majority of her free time directing a local non-profit dog rescue and spending time with her family. She also enjoys fitness and traveling.

JESSE S. BRUMLEY, FNP-C

Jesse S. Brumley is a native of Catawba County. Jesse graduated from Bandys High School in 2012 and went on to attend Lenoir Rhyne University. She finished her undergraduate education in 2016 and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. After graduation from Lenoir Rhyne, Jesse worked for 2 years as an Emergency Department nurse at Atrium Health Lincoln. In 2018 Jesse went back to Lenoir Rhyne University to be a part of the inaugural class of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. In the Spring of 2021 Jesse graduated from Lenoir Rhyne University for the second time with her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. During her career as a nurse she has worked in the Emergency Department, in long term care, and as a clinical instructor for Lenoir Rhyne undergraduate nursing students. Jesse joined the team of providers at Newton Family Physicians in September, 2021 as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She enjoys practicing all aspects of patient care across the lifespan with the exception of Obstetrics, and focuses on health maintenance and disease prevention.

Jesse married her husband Christopher in 2020. They are expecting their first child in January of 2022. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends.

Ashley Crow, FNP-C

Ashley Crow was born and raised in Gaston County, NC. She graduated from South Point High School in 2009. She received her Associates in Nursing from Gaston College in 2015 and then obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from UNC Greensboro. She has worked in healthcare since 2009, starting out at a nursing home on an Alzheimer’s Unit. Her nursing jobs have included Caromont Regional Medical Center and Atrium Health where she worked in the step down critical care units, focusing on cardiac, sepsis, and acute care patients. She graduated with her Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, in 2023 from Simmons University in Boston. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages, especially geriatrics and pediatrics, and provides evidence-based, holistic, and patient-centered care. She is passionate about advocating for patient’s needs and providing education to promote sustainable wellness habits to mitigate pain and illness.

She spends her free time with her husband, their two young children, and their two dogs. She is an active member in her church in Hickory, NC and serves on the worship team. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, music, and a good cup of coffee.