April 9, 2026 Georgia Heart Institute welcomes physician assistant Ashley Himmel and nurse practitioner Michelle Povolny to Blairsville View »

People in the North Georgia mountains now have more access to exceptional heart care since Georgia Heart Institute recently welcomed advanced practice providers Ashley Himmel, PA-C, and Michelle Povolny, FNP, to serve patients in Blairsville.

Ashley is a board-certified physician assistant who was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by her mother, who is a retired respiratory therapist. Ashley was drawn to cardiology by her grandmother's experience of having a heart attack and requiring ongoing maintenance of her heart disease.

"It made a lasting impression on me and motivated my desire to care for patients with cardiovascular conditions," said Ashley. "I was drawn to become a physician assistant because it allows me to provide hands-on care as part of a collaborative team that is improving the health of our community, particularly in rural areas."

Ashley earned her master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Brenau University, and she also holds a master's in Biological Sciences with a Health Studies concentration from Nova Southeastern University.

Michelle is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who has more than 30 years' experience in health care. She started her career as a nurse in hospital cardiology units. Then, after earning her master's degree in Nursing in 2012 from the Medical College of Georgia,Michelle became a nurse practitioner and practiced at several cardiology clinics and in other specialties.

"I believe a trusting relationship with patients is built on good communication," said Michelle. "My goal is to make sure every patient has a good understanding of his or her health condition and why I'm making the medical recommendations that are right for them. I strive to listen to my patients and work with them in a partnership to optimize their cardiovascular health and overall well-being."

Georgia Heart Institute's Blairsville clinic is located at 346 Deep South Farm Road, Suite B, on the lower level behind North Georgia Family Medicine. For more information about the practice, visit georgiaheartinstitute.org/Blairsville. To schedule an appointment, call 770-835-1914 or visit georgiaheartinstitute.org/himmel or georgiaheartinstitute.org/povolny.

Georgia Heart Institute is the most forward-thinking heart and vascular program in the state and includes one of the largest cardiology practices in the region, including more than 120 clinicians seeing patients at more than a dozen locations. With a multi-disciplinary team of experts treating nearly every type of heart and vascular disease and participating in leading national research, we're providing advanced care that ensures lasting heart health for generations. Request an appointment and learn more at georgiaheartinstitute.org.

The experts of Georgia Heart Institute also form the core of the cardiac care team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center's acute care hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. It's all part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.