About Us
As a Direct Primary Care provider in Reno, NV, Preferred Family Medicine focuses on you and your health without the unnecessary intrusion of insurance companies. We believe that the best primary care medicine is both personal and affordable, and that’s what we offer. Primary care is all we do, so let us restore your faith in health care. Experience a patient-doctor relationship based on trust and respect; the type of relationship every patient deserves.
Our patient benefits include full access to primary care, meaning you will have more time with your provider, 24/7 access for acute medical issues, no co-pays, and no limit on visits. Your monthly membership fee covers general adult physicals, women’s healthcare, newborn and pediatric care, wellness education, chronic disease management, minor procedures and coordination of care with specialists when needed. We also offer the added convenience of in-house phlebotomy, discounted labs and an in-house pharmacy for dispensing deeply discounted medications.
Have more questions on Direct Primary Care and our practice? Go here for answers.
Our Doctors
Meet Dr. Highley
"I will be your healthcare fiduciary"
Christopher C. Highley D.O.
Dr. Christopher Highley has over 21 years of experience in the primary care medical space. Having worked on the front line of healthcare, Dr. Highley has garnered an acumen of skills at the point-of-care, treating patients of all ages and just about every conceivable problem. He is not only passionate about patient care, but optimizing the experience for both the doctor and the patient. He is especially skilled in developing a rapport with his patients, and takes the time needed to explain medical conditions.
After practicing in Carson City, NV for 15 years, Dr. Highley opened the first Direct Primary Care office in Reno, NV in August 2018. The concierge Direct Primary Care model allows Dr. Highley to continue to provide the highest quality care, while continuing to focus on his patients’ needs with unmatched convenience. The DPC model allows for more time and attention with regards to patient care. Learn more about Direct Primary Care here and Dr. Highley's practice model here.
Not sure what a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is? Here is a pretty good summary: What is a D.O.?
.
DR. HIGHLEY'S EXPERIENCE:
-
Carson Medical Group, Carson City, NV - Partner
August 2003 - July 2018 Board-Certified Family Physician Carson Medical Group
Family Medicine Physician - Primary Care Physician Treating All Ages Newborn to 90 year olds! , Partner Carson Medical Group
-
FAA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
2006 - present
-
Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medical Education at University of Nevada School of Medicine
2006-presentPreceptor Clinical Externships
-
Adjunct Instructor Family Medicine at Touro University Nevada
2006-presentPreceptor Medical Students during Clinical Externships
-
Major, Medical Corps, Family Practice Physician at US Army
July 1996 - June 2003Resident, Tripler Army Medical Center, 1996-1999; Staff Physician 1999-2003
-
Founder, CEO at Cirrus Medical Network, LLC
January 2014 - PresentFounder, CEO of Cirrus Medical Network, LLC (CirrusMED) - "Your Doctor. Online." - Online Concierge Doctors. Proprietary all-in-one direct care telehealth platform for physicians moving to a virtual practice environment.
DR HIGHLEY'S EDUCATION:
-
Tripler Army Medical Center, U.S. Army
1996 – 1999Residency, Family MedicineConcentration: Family MedicineActivities: 3 -year Medical Residency -
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
1992 – 1996D.O. -
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1988 – 1992B.S.Concentration: Molecular Biology
DR HIGHLEY'S INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES:
Primary Care Medicine, Health Information Technology, Digital Health, Direct Primary Care, EHR / EMR, Healthcare Optimization, Healthcare Innovation, Aviation, Music, and Tahoe.
Meet Dr. Scullion
"Excited to help my patient's health journey"
Amy Scullion M.D.
Dr. Scullion was born and raised in Ohio but every winter her family took a ski trip to Lake Tahoe. She fell in love with Tahoe’s beauty and the endless outdoor activities. She spent some time working at Preferred Family Medicine while in her third year of Family Medicine residency at the University of Nevada-Reno. She is excited to build her own practice and put her skills, caring for the entire family, to work! She is now accepting patients.
Education
University of Nevada, Reno July 2018 – June 2021
Family Medicine Residency
The Ohio State University College of Medicine August 2014 –May 2018
Doctorate of Medicine
The Ohio State University June 2010- May 2014
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Summa Cum Laude
Professional Experience/ Interests
Chief Resident: July 2020 – Present
- Served as primary liaison between faculty/administration and 30 family medicine residents
- Developed educational opportunities and helped residents navigate personal and professional conflicts
Family Medicine Council Operations Committee Member July 2020 – Present
- Weekly meeting to address patient, resident, and organizational issues that arise in the clinic
Interests:
- Sports and musculoskeletal medicine, women’s health, and family planning, primary care
procedures, newborn care
Publications
“Evaluating Back Pain in the Active Adolescent” Presented at NAFP winter CME conference, Stateline, NV 1-2021.
Licensure/Certifications/Professional Memberships
American Board of Family Medicine: Board Exam Schedule April 7th
Licensures: Nevada Limited License, Pharmacy License, DEA License
Certifications: BLS, ACLS, ALSO
Memberships: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy for Sports Medicine
Life Experiences
The Ohio State University Women’s Basketball Team June 2010- April 2015
- Big Ten Tournament Champions 2010, 4 NCAA appearances
- Named captain in 2014, Played final season during the first year of medical school
Our Team

Jennifer Peterson O.D.
Optometrist
Dr. Peterson has been providing comprehensive eye care for residents of Northern Nevada since 2003. She has worked side-by-side with ophthalmologists in both military and civilian/private practice settings. She brings her keen optometry skills (and sense of humor) to the practice for the benefit of our members.

Meghann
Certified Medical Assistant
Meghann is from our home state of Nevada. She has had many adventures in her journey as a MA. From assisting our front-line firefighters and police officers all along the west coast and into Colorado to serving the community of Carson City, she has done it all. She comes from a big family and family always comes first. She and her dog Oliver, a frequent visitor of PFM, enjoy long walks in the mountains. Give Meghann a good quality cup of coffee and you've made a pal for life.

Sarai
Front Office
Julia
Certified Medical Assistant
Julia is an experienced medical assistant from Reno. She takes pride in interacting with patients and giving good service. She states "It is personally very important to me that the patient feels comfortable with the care they are receiving, as it pertains to my role within the clinic."
"Dr. Scullion is absolutely amazing. If you are looking for personalized care and a practice that actually cares about you as a patient then you must check out Preferred Family Medicine. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about the monthly subscription service however the quality of the care and time that Dr. Scullion spent with me made it worth every penny." (Facebook review)

Wes F.

Personal Health Care is Our Mission
(775) 204-0150 (phone)
hello@nvpfm.com
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri 9AM -5PM