Tonya Michelle Smith Moretz, NP

Tonya Smith Moretz, APRN, NP-C, is a family nurse practitioner with Emory at Duluth. She sees patients ages eight and older, providing a full complement of primary care services. Caring for orthopedic injuries is a personal clinical interest.

Smith Moretz began her career as a nurse in rural Georgia. She worked in both the emergency department and the operating room. However, she recognized that with the lack of primary care providers in her area, she could do more for her community as a nurse practitioner. As a result, she returned to school, graduating with a Master of Science degree in nursing in 2018. She worked in urgent care and practiced hospital medicine until she moved to the Johns Creek area with her husband, who is an attorney.

With her background in nursing, Smith Moretz has extensive experience working with patients when they are in their most vulnerable state. She believes that’s helped her become an excellent listener and to hear what her patients put into words and sometimes what they do not. For example, a patient might tell her about the knee pain they are experiencing. But through her conversation with them, Smith Moretz might discover that the inability to play with their grandchild is what bothers the patient most about their pain. She focuses on caring for patients in mind, soul and body so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life. For some people, that might include developing a plan to make it easier to play with the grandkids. For others, it might mean taking a little extra time to educate them about their condition or even visiting. Smith Moretz tries to give each patient what they need at the moment.

Smith Moretz’s best general advice for her patients is to start healthier habits at an earlier age because that can make a significant difference in their health later. She says it's particularly important to pay attention to how you fuel your body and limit fast food and foods high in sodium.

Outside of work, Smith Moretz enjoys flower and vegetable gardening and crocheting. She is also an avid traveler, having been to every continent except Antarctica, which remains on her bucket list. Of all the places she has traveled, Australia is her favorite.