Our Providers

Michael Meza, MD

Physician

Dr. Meza has been an Idaho-based physician for over 25 years. After graduating from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Dr. Meza began providing full spectrum family medical care in Orofino, Idaho and to all residents in the region.  In 2012, Dr. Meza and his wife Casey moved to Coeur d’ Alene and began serving the geriatric and rehabilitative patients.  Dr. Meza provides medical care to residents of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and independent living facilities.

He is the medical director for many of the local and regional skilled nursing facilities and works collaboratively with several of the hospitals to insure safe transitions of care.  He has been nominated twice for Idaho Physician of the year.  He enjoys boating, snow skiing and welding.

Alexandra Bellem, MD

Physician

After graduating from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Dr. Bellem completed her residency from the Kootenai Clinic Family Medicine Residency in Coeur d Alene, Idaho.  Following residency Dr. Bellem decided to stay in Coeur d Alene and began providing care to the geriatric and rehabilitative patients in the community.  Dr. Bellem provides medical care to residents of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and independent living facilities.  She is passionate about caring for adults with chronic illness and disabilities, and enjoys being part of a team of providers that provides excellent medical care for the elderly and chronically ill patients in our region. When she is not working, Dr. Bellem enjoys running, backpacking, and skiing.

Jason Schwintek, MD

Physician

Dr. Schwintek was born and raised in North Idaho. He completed medical school at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, completing his internal medicine residency in Spokane, Washington. He has worked in the Northwest for the past 22 years, mostly as a hospitalist.

Dr. Schwintek and his wife Misti have been married for 29 years. They have two amazing children.

In his free time he enjoys reading, getting together with family and doing projects around the house.

Ali Wheatley

Physician Assistant

Ali graduated from Idaho State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Zoology with an emphasis in Biochemistry. She later graduated in 2014 with her Master of Physician Assistant Studies.

Soon after graduating, she found her passion for Internal Medicine and Geriatrics working in a family and internal medicine clinic in Mesa, Arizona. She later joined Dr. Meza in 2016 caring for the elderly patients in Post Acute and Long Term Care facilities. She is passionate about providing excellent medical care for the elderly and chronically ill patients in this area.

When she is not working, Ali loves spending time outdoors with her husband and son camping, backpacking, and boating, as well as trail running with her dog.

Nathan Wheatley

Physician Assistant

Nathan graduated from A.T. Still University with his Master of Physician Assistant Studies.  Nathan began providing treatment and care plans for a wide variety of geriatric and internal medicine patients in multiple Post-Acute and Long-Term facilities in our region immediately after graduating.  Nathan has been practicing with Dr. Meza since 2016.

Before becoming a Physician Assistant,  Nathan was a Medic in the Idaho National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2010-2011. After completing his tour, he completed his bachelor’s in nursing at Idaho State University while serving as an EMT and firefighter in Chubbuck, ID.

Nathan also worked as a registered nurse in cardiology cardiac floor in Pocatello, Idaho before starting Physician Assistant school.

When not caring for geriatric and rehab patients, Nathan loves spending time with his family outdoors: hiking, camping, and boating on lake Coeur d’Alene.

Hollys Nielsen

Nurse Practitioner

Hollys Nielsen has joined the MezaCare team, returning to her hometown of Coeur d Alene, Idaho. Hollys is a graduate of Gonzaga where she received her Masters of Science in nurse and her Nurse Practitioner Degree. Hollys has had years of experience in family medicine, emergency medicine and urgent care and is pleased to be serving the needs of the geriatric population in our region. Hollys enjoys backpacking, hiking, camping, and spending time with her family and her dog. Hollys spends the majority of her days caring for the residents of LifeCare Coeur d Alene and the residents of the Silver Valley.

Lisa Kailey

Nurse Practitioner

Lisa graduated from college with an accounting degree, but when she moved to New England in 2010 she discovered she had a passion for nursing. Beginning college for a second time, Lisa obtained her nursing degree from Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH. Then, while working fulltime on an acute Geriatric Psychiatric Unit as an RN, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern New Hampshire University, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. After obtaining her MSN-FNP, she worked in Skilled Nursing Facilities managing and prescribing psychiatric medications until moving to the Coeur d’Alene area to be closer to her husband’s family. Lisa plans on continuing her education to obtain her DNP in psychology to better serve the geriatric population in the facilities we serve. As a former athlete, she enjoys watching sports with her husband and is excited to be able to spend time boating and kayaking in the area. She has 2 children who are in college and is excited to see what the world has in store for them.

Manuela Orban

Nurse Practitioner

Manuela Orban, DNP-FNP was born in Romania and emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 14.  She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Riverside and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Loma Linda University.  She worked as a registered nurse on a medical surgical unit, as well as inpatient rehabilitation unit.  She later returned to school and in 2014 obtained her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Washington State University.  Since graduation, she has practiced in both family medicine and long-term care.  She enjoys the role of primary care provider because it allows her to build a lasting professional relationship with her patients and gives her the opportunity to be their primary advocate navigating health care.  She believes that the purpose of life is to live it well, one day at the time, and that a healthy lifestyle is at the very core.  When she is not working, she can be found snuggling with her two babies, going on family walks, cooking, or cleaning the kitchen while planning for the future together with her husband.  She is also a huge hot yoga devotee.

Brittany Johnson

Physician Assistant

Brittany Johnson, PA-C was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She completed her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Gonzaga University, before moving to Arizona with her husband to pursue her Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies. She attended A.T. Still University and graduated in 2014. After graduation, she spent several years working as a family medicine provider in Arizona before moving back up to the Northwest with her family. She has also worked in pain management, specializing both procedures to reduce pain and medication management. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, crafting and spending time with her family.

Erika Mikles

Physician Assistant

Erika Mikles earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from University of Puget Sound and then she received master’s degree in  Physician Assistant Studies and science at Pacific University in 2005. She received specific cardiac and renal training through Yale University and published research in renal studies in conjunction with Yale University in 2006.  She has practiced medicine in Idaho since 2005, specifically in cardiology, primary care, emergency medicine and hospital medicine. Originally from the Seattle area; Erika enjoys hiking, backpacking, boating, wakesurfing, cooking and traveling with her husband and two children.

Joshua Price

Physician Assistant

Joshua is a 2018 College of Idaho graduate, where he also played collegiate football. He recently graduated in December of 2021 from Baylor College of Medicine with his Master of Physician Assistant Studies. As a born and raised Idahoan, he is happy to be back in Coeur D’Alene to serve the community that raised him. Joshua is enthusiastic about Geriatric medicine and is eager to be joining Dr. Meza’s team caring for post-acute and chronically ill patients.

In his free time, Joshua enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, hunting, fishing, and watching football.