01
Supervising physician
Dr. Josh Waltzman, MD
Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, California licensed
Dr. Waltzman is the supervising physician for BraveWorms, providing the physician oversight that California law requires for nurse practitioner and physician assistant practice. He signs the standardized procedures and delegation of services agreements that govern the clinical team and reviews cases as required. The parasitology protocols on this service are built on published guidance from the CDC, WHO, and IDSA; they are not derived from any individual clinician's specialty.
02
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants deliver care on this platform under standardized procedures and a delegation of services agreement with the supervising physician. Each clinician is licensed in California and has prescriptive authority for the medications relevant to this practice.
The roster is small by design. Every clinician listed has been selected for direct experience with the workups and procedures this service is built around.
Tamiko G. Smith, MSN, NP-C
Nurse practitioner — infectious disease and advanced wound care
Thirty years of nursing experience across acute rehabilitation, med-surg, and complex wound management, now practicing as an infectious disease nurse practitioner. Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN) with hands-on experience in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, limb salvage, and case management. California NP and RN licensed.
Gabriela C. Supple, PA-C
Physician associate — emergency and acute care
Trained at Samuel Merritt University with clinical rotations across emergency medicine, dermatology, family medicine, OB/GYN, and internal medicine in Los Angeles County. Background in high-volume vaccination operations and COVID-era infection-control analysis. Focused on equitable, culturally responsive care for diverse communities.
Robert Phan, PA-C
Physician associate — wound care and procedural medicine
West Coast University–trained PA practicing across mobile wound care, neurosurgery, and home-based medicine. Skilled in complex debridement, skin graft application, advanced dressings, and surgical first-assist. Speaks English and Vietnamese, with conversational Spanish.
03
Selected references
A short selection of the published clinical guidance behind protocol development on this service. See the full bibliography.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidance for the Presumptive Treatment of Newly Arrived Refugees, 2025. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2025.
- Buonfrate D, et al. Multiple-dose versus single-dose ivermectin for Strongyloides stercoralis infection (Strong Treat 1 to 4). The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2019.
- White AC Jr, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurocysticercosis: 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines (IDSA / ASTMH). Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2018.
These references are provided for educational context. BraveWorms is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the World Health Organization, or any other cited organization or publication.