Meet Our Columbia, MO
Concierge Nursing Team
Our at-home nursing and care navigation team are highly-skilled and experienced healthcare professionals, with years of experience working with patients and their families.
Ryan Hopper
Co-Founder and Nurse Navigator
RN, BSN, CCRN, MBA
My passion for caring for others started as a caregiver for my mother before becoming a nurse. Since then, I’ve worked as an ICU, ER, hospice and travel nurse, caring for many different patients in a variety of settings.
I started caring for patients in their homes while working as a hospice nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw the need for in-home nursing care first-hand.
I started Navigate Wellness so I could support aging adults and their families, keeping seniors in their homes longer and helping caregivers navigate the complex healthcare system.
Ryan Hopper
Co-Founder and Nurse Navigator
RN, BSN, CCRN, MBA
My passion for caring for others started as a caregiver for my mother before becoming a nurse. Since then, I’ve worked as an ICU, ER, hospice and travel nurse, caring for many different patients in a variety of settings.
I started caring for patients in their homes while working as a hospice nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw the need for in-home nursing care first-hand.
I started Navigate Wellness so I could support aging adults and their families, keeping seniors in their homes longer and helping caregivers navigate the complex healthcare system.
Janie Bailey
Co-Founder and Care Navigator
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to work with older adults. I have worked in mental health case management, low-income housing and long-term facility care coordination. In 2018 I started my own care management business to help aging adults and their families get the high-quality, personalized care they need.
After meeting Ryan while he was working as a hospice nurse, we quickly realized we had the same passion for providing heart-centered, human-forward and well-rounded care that keeps older adults in the driver’s seat.
We started Navigate Wellness to provide the highest-quality at-home nursing care in Columbia, MO.
Monica Korba
Director of End of Life
RN
I bring over 22 years of nursing experience to my role at Navigate Wellness, along with my full-time facility dog, Mars. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in a variety of specialties, from maternal child health and cardiology to ICU and, most recently, hospice care. No matter the setting, my passion has always been the same: providing compassionate, person-centered care that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Columbia College. I believe in a holistic approach to care – one that values not only physical health but emotional wellbeing and quality of life for both patients and their families.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Navigate Wellness team.
And of course, I don’t do this work alone. Mars, my certified facility dog, was trained by CHAMP Assistance Dogs and works alongside me every day. With his calm energy and intuitive presence, he brings comfort, connection, and a whole lot of tail wags to the people we serve.
Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors, reading a good book, and practicing yoga.
Monica Korba
Director of End of Life
RN
I bring over 22 years of nursing experience to my role at Navigate Wellness, along with my full-time facility dog, Mars. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in a variety of specialties, from maternal child health and cardiology to ICU and, most recently, hospice care.
No matter the setting, my passion has always been the same: providing compassionate, person-centered care that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Columbia College. I believe in a holistic approach to care – one that values not only physical health but emotional wellbeing and quality of life for both patients and their families.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Navigate Wellness team. And I don’t do this work alone. Mars, my certified facility dog, was trained by CHAMP Assistance Dogs and works alongside me every day. With his calm energy and intuitive presence, he brings comfort, connection, and a whole lot of tail wags to the people we serve.
Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors, reading a good book, and practicing yoga.
Lacy Rios
Care Navigator
I have a deep love for working with older adults that first started developing during an undergraduate internship at a skilled nursing facility. I worked at a nursing facility in long-term care coordination, short-term discharge coordination, admissions and eventually as the Interim Executive Director before working in the hospital systems in Columbia, MO.
It was during the transition from the nursing facility to the hospital system that I recognized the need for more personalized care for older adults. I am excited to be working with Navigate Wellness and play a part in providing high-quality, heart-centered care and resources for holistic care.
DJ Paet
Director of Mobility Service
I have years of experience working in health and wellness, aquatic therapy and the rehab industry. I’ve worked with patients of all ages, from individuals in youth sports and elite athletes to acute care settings and the geriatric population.
As the director of mobility services for Navigate Wellness, I am looking forward to offering mobility services to more clients, empowering them to live and move more independently.
I love working with a team that not only cares about our clients but is just as committed to helping them age at home.
DJ Paet
Director of Mobility Service
I have years of experience working in health and wellness, aquatic therapy and the rehab industry. I’ve worked with patients of all ages, from individuals in youth sports and elite athletes to acute care settings and the geriatric population.
As the director of mobility services for Navigate Wellness, I am looking forward to offering mobility services to more clients, empowering them to live and move more independently.
I love working with a team that not only cares about our clients but is just as committed to helping them age at home.
Jordan Acock
Mobility Specialist
I worked at the University of Missouri Hospital as a Care Team Associate- Clinical for the last 7 years, working alongside nurses to better the lives of others. I also worked with physical and occupational therapists to keep patients moving and mobile so they weren’t laying in bed all day. I went to school to be an occupational therapy assistant and used those skills to help patients in the hospital setting.
I am thrilled to be working at Navigate Wellness, to help the company continue to grow, and be able to work with clients on a more personal and meaningful level. I’m also very excited to work with a group of people who work as a team to accomplish goals for our clients!
Morgan Davis
Care Specialist
I have over 8 years of experience working in healthcare. For over 6 years I worked as an EMT for Boone Ambulance Service. I also have over 6 years of experience in private-duty hospice care.
While finishing my degree, I transferred into health administration. Most recently, I was an Operations Strategist tasked with helping healthcare companies identify problems, enforce policies, recruit, and improve overall quality of patient care.
Working in both patient care and the administrative side of healthcare, I’ve seen a variety of holes in our health system. Navigate Wellness is trying to identify those holes and bridge gaps. I’m excited to work with a team of healthcare professionals who are motivated to improve our healthcare system.
Morgan Davis
Care Specialist
I have over 8 years of experience working in healthcare. For over 6 years I worked as an EMT for Boone Ambulance Service. I also have over 6 years of experience in private-duty hospice care.
While finishing my degree, I transferred into health administration. Most recently, I was an Operations Strategist tasked with helping healthcare companies identify problems, enforce policies, recruit, and improve overall quality of patient care.
Working in both patient care and the administrative side of healthcare, I’ve seen a variety of holes in our health system. Navigate Wellness is trying to identify those holes and bridge gaps. I’m excited to work with a team of healthcare professionals who are motivated to improve our healthcare system.
Christy Ingram
Nurse Navigator
RN
I have over 25 years of experience working in healthcare. I began my career in 1999 as an LPN at University Hospital and later returned to school to earn my RN in 2014. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles, including skilled nursing, orthopedics, and surgical specialty care, as well as serving on the skin, wound, and ostomy team.
During my time at Columbia Regional Hospital, I worked on the skilled nursing unit until its closure and later transferred to the orthopedic unit. After graduating from RN school, I became the lead charge nurse on the ortho trauma unit, where I stayed until 2020. From 2017-2019, I also served as a clinical adjunct instructor for MACC, sharing my experience and skills with future nurses.
What excites me most about working at Navigate Wellness is the opportunity to return to patient-centered care. I’ve always valued building strong relationships with patients and helping them maintain their independence and health for as long as possible. With both my husband’s and my grandmothers still living at home at 94, I understand how important it is to respect patient wishes and support their vision for their future. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that prioritizes this level of care and connection.
Emma Morton
Care Navigator
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri in 2024. During my undergraduate program, I completed my internship at Navigate Wellness because I’ve always been passionate about supporting and working with the aging population.
Currently, I’m pursuing my Master’s degree in Social Work alongside a graduate certificate in Gerontological Social Work. This certification provides me with additional knowledge and resources to better serve our clients.
I’m excited to be part of the Navigate Wellness team because I’ve personally experienced the challenges family members face when trying to age at home without the proper resources.
I’m passionate about helping members of our community access the tools they need to stay happy and healthy while aging at home. Navigate Wellness has an amazing team of professionals who truly care about each client, and I’m thrilled to work alongside them.
Emma Morton
Care Navigator
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri in 2024. During my undergraduate program, I completed my internship at Navigate Wellness because I’ve always been passionate about supporting and working with the aging population.
Currently, I’m pursuing my Master’s degree in Social Work alongside a graduate certificate in Gerontological Social Work. This certification provides me with additional knowledge and resources to better serve our clients.
I’m excited to be part of the Navigate Wellness team because I’ve personally experienced the challenges family members face when trying to age at home without the proper resources.
I’m passionate about helping members of our community access the tools they need to stay happy and healthy while aging at home. Navigate Wellness has an amazing team of professionals who truly care about each client, and I’m thrilled to work alongside them.
Aubrielle Morgenson
Care Specialist
CNA
I have previously worked as a CNA in an assisted living facility and am looking forward to continuing my career with Navigate Wellness.
Helping people feel loved, cared for, and seen has always been a driving force in my life, which is why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare. Building meaningful relationships with the individuals I work with and seeing them as people, not just patients or clients, is incredibly important to me.
I’m excited to join a team that genuinely cares about people and is dedicated to helping them age gracefully. Being part of a group that shares this commitment makes me eager to grow and contribute to our shared mission.
We promise to be transparent.
We promise to be by your side.
We promise to humanize healthcare.
Whether you are looking to gain a nurse in the family or find support for an aging loved one, we are here for you.