Our Team

The Salient MD team shares a mutual commitment to the pursuit of excellence in the business of medicine and their professional relationships within the medical field.

Jesse O. Weatherly (“Jay”)

Jesse O. Weatherly (“Jay”)

PRINCIPAL / CO-FOUNDER

Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, he attended the University of Alabama, and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Health Care Management in 1978. Jay attended graduate school at The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) and successfully completed the two-year program in 1980, with a M.S. in Hospital Administration.

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Prior to co-founding Salient MD, Jay worked for a total of 24 years with two health care organizations; Regional Health Corporation (Anniston, Al) and the Baptist Health System (Birmingham, Al). His most recent professional experience prior to co-founding Salient was thirteen years of service as the Chief Executive Officer of Cullman Regional Medical Center (CRMC), a facility affiliated with the Baptist Health System. During his tenure at CRMC, Jay oversaw the development of a replacement facility, the recruitment of in excess of forty new physicians to the medical community, and the development of several new clinical services in cooperation with the medical staff.

Jay presently resides in Cullman, AL; has been married to the former Sharon Bowen for 32 years; and has three grown children: Hunter, Austen, and Caroline

Stephen C. Nyquist (“Steve”)

Stephen C. Nyquist (“Steve”)

PRINCIPAL / CO-FOUNDER

Born in Los Angeles, he also lived in Atlanta for five years before spending his teen years in Western Europe. Steve graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN in 1982 with a B.A. in Political Science. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1990 from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the northern Chicago suburb of Deerfield, IL.

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Prior to co-founding Salient MD, Steve worked for CashRetriever Systems, Inc (CSI), a national revenue cycle software development and services company, based in Birmingham, AL. CSI developed tools and training for hospitals to follow up on outstanding insurance and private pay accounts. During his years with CSI, Steve became their Vice President of Business Development. 

Steve lives in Cullman, AL, and has been married to Kristi since 1983. They have four grown children (James, John, Cooper and Katherine), and one grandson (Brooks).

Cooper Nyquist

Cooper Nyquist

FINANCIAL ANALYST

Cooper Nyquist was born and raised in Cullman, AL. He attended the University of Alabama, and graduated in 2014 with a B.S. Degree in Political Science. Cooper has worked with Salient MD since his graduation, and serves as the Financial Analyst for our various revenue cycle related activities. Cooper loves music, and sports in every dimension!

Melissa Patterson

Melissa Patterson

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Born and raised in Cullman, AL, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Athens State University in 2003, with a major in Business Management. Her love for the medical field began in 1998, while employed with North Alabama Medical Associates, where she worked her way up to Assistant Office Manager.

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Melissa later served as the Office Manager for Charles B. Lovelady, MD, PC; and then for R. Frank Roberts, Jr., MD, PC. When Dr. Roberts relocated his practice, she became a Legal Assistant and Bookkeeper for a local law firm, Bland, Harris, and McClellan, PC.

Melissa joined the Salient MD team in January 2015.

Melissa presently resides in Cullman, AL, with her husband of ten years, John, and their two sons, LJ and Justin. 

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