Here to provide you with the best care.
Our Team
Founder
Dr. Sunil Sharma
Dr. Sunil Sharma has been practicing family and geriatric medicine for over 15 years. He joined Dr. Eric Hemberg almost ten years ago and then founded Premier Primary Care in 2021, following Dr. Hemberg’s retirement. Dr. Sharma also serves as medical director for several area nursing homes, hospice care, and home health organizations. Dr. Sharma was born and raised in Atlanta. Although he met his wife Courtney in Atlanta while in high school, she has ties to the Auburn area. Courtney was born in Lee County, and she grew up coming to Auburn football games as a child. Courtney works as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner practicing in Alexander City. They have three children, a daughter named Sam and two boys, Chandler and Bodhi. The Sharma family lives in Auburn but also enjoys spending time on Lake Martin. Dr. Sharma and his wife spend most weekends watching their kids’ sporting events, but they also love to travel. Dr. Sharma enjoys running, going to the gym, and trying out new restaurants.
Daniel R. Barlow, M.D.
Dr. Daniel R. Barlow is a board certified family medicine physician who is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. He went to college at Brigham Young University where he studied Mechanical Engineering and received a minor in math. He met his wife, who is originally from Alberta, Canada while at BYU. He attended the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and also received a Master’s degree from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Research between his 3rd and 4th year. He completed 1 year of general residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock before switching to Family Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, California. In the year between surgery and Family Medicine he worked in healthcare consulting at Health Catalyst as director of clinical improvement. He and his wife have 2 children and live in Opelika. They enjoy spending time together, being outdoors, exploring the region, traveling, following sports, and reading.
Jeremy W Ledford, D.O.
Jeremy W Ledford, D.O. is board certified in Family Medicine and practicing at Premier Primary Care starting in August. Originally from Fayetteville, GA, he completed his bachelor’s degree from Point University in West Point, GA. He then earned his medical degree from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn (VCOM-AUBURN) and went on to complete his medical residency in Columbus, GA at Piedmont Columbus Regional Medical Center. Dr. Ledford enjoys family medicine because it allows him to see and manage many aspects of medicine, from wellness visits all the way up to managing critical acute and chronic illnesses. His medical interests include preventative care, dermatological procedures, heart failure, diabetes management, and end-of-life/palliative care. He and his wife, BriAnne, are high school sweethearts from their hometown in Georgia. They have three young children, Landon, Leah Kate, and Brooks. His interests outside of medicine include fishing, hunting, saltwater reef aquariums, and trying new restaurants.
Emily Norris, CRNP
Emily Norris, RN, BSN, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. Having a father with Type 1 Diabetes, she became interested in the medical field at a young age. She received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Auburn University at Montgomery and worked as a Registered Nurse in the emergency room and in critical care before deciding to expand her nursing career. She received her master’s degree in Nursing from Auburn University with a focus in Family Healthcare. She is AANP certified and provides preventative screenings, sick visits, diabetes care, and women’s services for our office. Emily lives in Auburn and enjoys watching Auburn University sports and spending time with her husband, Ryan, their two children, Caden and Lilly Kate, and their Australian Shepherd, Leo. War Eagle!
Amy Schwadron, CRNP
Amy Schwadron RN, BSN, MSN, FNP-C graduated from Auburn University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. As an RN for almost 25 years, she gained in-depth experience in a variety of specialized nursing fields including Medical-Surgical Intensive Care, Cardiology, Post-Anesthesia Care, and Public Health. Amy received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Mobile in 2019 and is Certified as a Nurse Practitioner in Family Medicine. She has been at Premier Primary Care since 2020 as Clinical Manager and is the Primary Provider for Wellness Exams for Medicare and Commercial Insurance. Amy and her husband, Dr. Allan Schwadron, live in Auburn with their three children. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at Lake Martin, and cheering for the Auburn Tigers.
Don Upton, CRNP
Don is a nationally certified family nurse practitioner that has been an integral part of the Premier Primary Care team since 2013. He began his healthcare career working in emergency medical services as a paramedic and progressed to critical care nursing before transitioning to his current position. He is a proud product of nursing education in the state of Alabama with degrees from Southern Union Community College, Auburn University Montgomery, and the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). Don is a native North Carolinian, lives in Auburn with his wife Margaret and their dogs. Don and Margaret are members of a local church congregation and enjoy their involvement there. The Family Nurse Practitioner program at UAB is focused on the disease processes of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia. The treatment of these disease processes is the core of Don’s practice and aptly suited for the local population.
Harry Ward, Jr., CRNP
Harry Ward, Jr. (RN, BSN, CRNP) was born and raised in the Auburn-Opelika area. He is a graduate of Auburn University (2001, Logistics). After a successful decade in business, he began his medical career and received degrees from Southern Union (RN), Auburn University at Montgomery (BSN), and the University of Alabama Birmingham (CRNP). He specializes in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care. Harry combines his experience and compassion to serve adults and adolescents with their primary care needs, as well as leading the walk-in clinic for sick patients at PPC. Harry lives in Auburn with his wife and five children.
Brandee Schnuelle, CRNP
Brandee is a lifelong Auburn resident. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Auburn University Montgomery and later returned to get her Master of Science in Nursing. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has been a registered nurse for over seven years working at East Alabama Health in various medical and surgical specialties where she has developed a strong foundation in patient care and advocacy for health. Brandee is passionate about promoting health and wellness through initiatives such as immunizations and healthy lifestyle modifications. When she is not working, she enjoys Auburn athletic events, staying physically active, reading, and spending time with her husband Tyler and their two fur-children, Rex and Leo.