About Us
Jennifer Istre, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner
Jennifer Istre, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, brings an exceptionally diverse background to Creekside Family Practice, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering from Louisiana State University. She had previously served in the U.S. Navy, and after graduating from LSU (Geaux Tigers), she transitioned to nursing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she earned her master’s degree. In 2009, she was commissioned into the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Following her military service, Jennifer completed her Family Nurse Practitioner education at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Her doctoral project focused on developing and opening an independent medical practice, a vision that created Creekside Family Practice, where her remarkable talent for creating beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming spaces helped shape an environment intentionally designed to feel different from the traditional medical office.
Jennifer combines the analytical mind of an engineer with the compassion of a nurse and a genuine love of learning, teaching, and caring for others. Her engineering background provides a unique perspective on complex systems and problem-solving, while her years of military and clinical service have shaped her deeply patient-centered approach to care. She has devoted much of her recent clinical work to serving veterans and is very soon expanding her role at Creekside to include psychiatric nursing services, bringing together her clinical experience, passion for mental wellness, and love of education in the next chapter of her practice. Jennifer is also certified by IAPAM in weight-loss medication and diet plans and by NIOSH in spirometry.
Christie Hurst, MSN APRN, FNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner
Christie Hurst, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, began caring for patients in 1990 as a nursing aide, laying the foundation for a healthcare career that would ultimately span more than three decades. While raising her family and navigating the frequent moves that came with her husband’s military career, Christie continued her education, earning professional degrees in human resources and business, and was a successful business owner before returning to healthcare full-time. She then continued advancing her nursing education, earning her LVN, ADN, BSN, and MSN before becoming a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Her diverse clinical experience includes medical-surgical nursing, internal medicine, allergy, neurosurgery, pulmonology, cardiology, gastroenterology, ENT, and plastic surgery. She also completed a clinical internship in functional medicine, further shaping her approach to identifying underlying contributors to illness and integrating evidence-based medicine with nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and appropriate medical therapies.
Family medicine has always been Christie’s true passion. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages and believes the best healthcare begins with listening and emphasizes prevention, education, individualized care, and lasting patient relationships. Having served as an EFMP nurse and spent many years as part of a military family, Christie also brings a firsthand understanding of the unique needs of military families and extensive familiarity with navigating TRICARE. Before returning to nursing full-time, she owned and operated childcare centers for nearly eight years, further strengthening her love of caring for children and families. She and her husband, a retired U.S. Army veteran, are proud to call Salado home. Christie is currently accepting new patients and looks forward to caring for individuals and families throughout every stage of life.
Miss Teresa
Miss Teresa
Miss Teresa
Front Desk Receptionist
Warm, cheerful, and caring, Ms. Teresa brings a smile, a gift for connecting with patients, and over 27 years of Salado community spirit to Creekside.
Rebecca
Miss Teresa
Miss Teresa
Director of Office Operations
Kind, organized, and resourceful, Rebecca brings years of leadership and a talent for navigating insurance, referrals, authorizations, and scheduling with ease.
Margaret
Miss Teresa
Margaret
Part-time Office Assistant
Warm, welcoming, and polished, Margaret brings years of hospitality experience and a gift for making everyone feel at home.
Carmen
Miss Teresa
Margaret
Certified Medical Assistant
Skilled, bright, and compassionate, Carmen brings a sharp mind, a caring heart, an eagerness to learn, and plenty of spunk to Creekside.