Meet the Team

Ujwal Meka, MD has served as Pelican Urgent Care’s Louisiana Medical Director since September 2017, providing clinical leadership and helping ensure the highest standards of patient care across all clinic locations. A board-certified Emergency Medicine physician with nearly 30 years of medical experience, Dr. Meka completed his Emergency Medicine residency at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans after earning his medical degree from Andhra Medical College in India. He has served as an Emergency Physician at Slidell Memorial Hospital since 2006, where he has extensive experience managing trauma, medical emergencies, and critical care situations. As Louisiana Medical Director, Dr. Meka is committed to supporting Pelican Urgent Care’s providers, advancing clinical excellence, and ensuring patients receive safe, efficient, evidence-based care.

Edward Lirette, MD has served as Pelican Urgent Care’s Louisiana Medical Director since September 2025, bringing more than 25 years of experience in emergency medicine and physician leadership. Dr. Lirette earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed a combined Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine residency at LSU. Prior to joining Pelican Urgent Care, he spent more than two decades as an Emergency Department physician at Slidell Memorial Hospital, where he also served as Emergency Department Medical Director and currently serves as Chairman of the Department of Medicine. A board-certified Emergency Medicine physician, Dr. Lirette is dedicated to advancing clinical excellence, supporting Pelican Urgent Care’s providers, and ensuring patients receive exceptional, evidence-based care.

Megan McNeil, MD has served as Pelican Urgent Care’s Mississippi Medical Director since June 2024, bringing more than a decade of experience in emergency medicine, physician leadership, and urgent care. Dr. McNeil completed her Family Medicine residency with an emphasis in Emergency Medicine at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare after earning her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. Throughout her career, she has served in leadership roles including Emergency Department Medical Director, Emergency Department Section Chief, and Emergency Medicine Service Chief at multiple hospitals across Mississippi and the Gulf Coast. Board certified and licensed in multiple states, Dr. McNeil is dedicated to supporting Pelican Urgent Care’s clinical teams, promoting evidence-based medicine, and ensuring exceptional patient care throughout Mississippi.

Michael Stephens joined Pelican Urgent Care in August 2021 and serves as the organization’s Provider Lead, helping guide clinical excellence and support providers across all clinic locations. With nearly 20 years of experience in emergency medical services and healthcare, Michael brings extensive expertise in emergency medicine, urgent care, nursing leadership, and patient safety. Before joining Pelican Urgent Care, he worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport and held multiple leadership roles at Ochsner Medical Center, including RN Supervisor and Operations Coordinator. Michael earned his Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from The University of Southern Mississippi and is committed to advancing clinical excellence while ensuring patients receive timely, high-quality care.

Matthew Stevens joined Pelican Urgent Care in April 2025 and brings more than 15 years of healthcare experience, including over 12 years as an Emergency Department Registered Nurse. Before joining Pelican Urgent Care, Matthew served in emergency medicine leadership as an Operations Coordinator and Charge Nurse at Slidell Memorial Hospital, where he helped oversee patient care, staff development, and department operations. He earned his Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of South Alabama and completed clinical training in family practice, primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and urgent care. His broad clinical background allows him to confidently care for a wide range of illnesses and injuries while helping patients feel informed and at ease throughout their visit.

Julie Reese joined Pelican Urgent Care in July 2021 and brings nearly 30 years of nursing and advanced practice experience to the team. Her diverse clinical background includes emergency medicine, labor and delivery, women’s health, telemetry, and primary care, with more than two decades spent serving patients at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Julie earned her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of South Alabama. She enjoys building lasting relationships with patients and empowering them through education and personalized healthcare.

Sydney Miley joined Pelican Urgent Care in June 2023 and brings more than eight years of nursing experience, including extensive experience in emergency medicine and clinical leadership. Prior to joining Pelican Urgent Care, she served as a Charge Registered Nurse and later as an Emergency Department Registered Nurse at Slidell Memorial Hospital, where she helped lead quality improvement initiatives, mentored nursing staff, and coordinated patient care in a fast-paced emergency setting. Sydney earned her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner and enjoys combining her leadership experience with a patient-first approach to deliver exceptional urgent care.

Allison Ledet joined Pelican Urgent Care in February 2025 and brings more than seven years of healthcare experience, including over five years in pediatric emergency medicine. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has clinical experience in primary care, urgent care, and emergency medicine. Prior to joining Pelican Urgent Care, Allison served as a Clinical Nursing Supervisor and Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, where she helped lead nursing operations while caring for pediatric patients. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages and is committed to providing evidence-based care tailored to each individual’s needs.

Lisa Stephens joined Pelican Urgent Care in December 2024 and brings more than 26 years of healthcare experience to the team. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from The University of Southern Mississippi and has extensive experience in family medicine, primary care, home health, geriatrics, and rehabilitation. Before joining Pelican Urgent Care, Lisa practiced as a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary care and served as the owner and operator of Bay Rejuvenation Medical Spa. She is passionate about helping patients improve their overall health by providing personalized care focused on both treatment and prevention.

Brittany Lander, FNP-C joined Pelican Urgent Care in September 2024 and provides high-quality care to patients of all ages. She brings a strong background in urgent care, virtual urgent care, and emergency medicine, with experience caring for patients in both clinic and Level III and Level IV trauma center settings. Brittany earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Purdue University and is licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner in both Louisiana and Mississippi. She strives to create a welcoming environment where patients feel heard, respected, and confident in their care.