Ashley Richards

Ashley Richards is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a diverse clinical background spanning emergency medicine, critical care, pediatrics, orthopedics, pain management, sports medicine, and preventive wellness care. She is passionate about helping patients of all ages optimize their health, prevent disease, recover from injury, and improve their overall quality of life through a personalized, patient-centered approach.

‍

Ashley grew up on a horse farm in Goochland, Virginia, where she developed a strong appreciation for hard work, discipline, and an active lifestyle. As a multi-sport athlete, she developed an early passion for sports medicine and human performance, which ultimately influenced her career path in healthcare. Throughout her nursing and nurse practitioner career, she has been fortunate to incorporate this passion into her work in emergency medicine, orthopedic and pain management practice, and now functional and preventive medicine at Koniver Wellness.

‍

Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 2014, which provided a strong foundation in the biological sciences and human physiology. She later obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), graduating magna cum laude from Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing in 2019. She then completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Duke University, graduating from the Family Nurse Practitioner Program with a concentration in Orthopedics.

‍

Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Ashley worked as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, caring for both pediatric and adult patients in a high-acuity emergency setting. During her time at Inova, she also cross-trained to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), further expanding her expertise in the management of critically ill patients. Additionally, she served on the hospital's Rapid Response Team, providing urgent assessment and intervention for hospitalized patients experiencing acute clinical deterioration.

‍

In 2021, Ashley relocated from the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. area to Charleston, South Carolina, where she joined the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) team. At MUSC, she served in the Emergency Department Float Pool (Meduflex), rotating among the University Medical Center Emergency Department, Ashley River Tower Emergency Department, and Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital Emergency Department. She later transitioned to the Pediatric Emergency Department at MUSC's Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, South Carolina's only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, where she cared for critically ill and injured children while further developing her expertise in emergency and pediatric medicine.

‍

Following graduation from Duke University, Ashley practiced as a Nurse Practitioner at Restoration Medical Center, delivering comprehensive outpatient care to patients across the lifespan. Her practice integrated orthopedics, pain management, physiatry, and neurology, allowing her to gain extensive experience in orthopedic evaluation and procedural medicine. She performed fluoroscopy-guided procedures and ultrasound-guided injections, as well as a variety of injection-based pain management treatments, including carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel steroid injections, knee viscosupplementation injections, nerve blocks, and intra-articular joint injections. She also worked closely with athletes and active individuals, helping patients recover from injuries, improve performance, and return safely to the activities they enjoy.

‍

Ashley joined Koniver Wellness in May 2025, where she combines her broad clinical experience with a passion for functional, preventive, and longevity-focused medicine. Her areas of special interest include hormone optimization, sports medicine, orthopedics, concussion and post-concussion management, acute and chronic illness, autoimmune disease, metabolic health and weight loss, and preventive medicine. She enjoys caring for patients across the lifespan, from pediatrics to geriatrics, and is dedicated to helping individuals achieve optimal health through evidence-based, personalized care plans that address the root causes of disease rather than simply treating symptoms.

‍

Drawing from her background in emergency medicine, critical care, orthopedics, sports medicine, and wellness optimization, Ashley brings a comprehensive perspective to patient care that emphasizes prevention, education, performance, and long-term health. She believes that every patient deserves an individualized approach and enjoys partnering with patients to help them reach their health, wellness, and performance goals.

‍

Outside of work, Ashley enjoys staying active and taking advantage of Charleston's outdoor lifestyle. Her hobbies include playing tennis, spending time at the beach, traveling, horseback riding, and skiing. She also enjoys spending time with her Parson Russell Terrier, Maverick, as well as with her husband, family, and friends. Whether she is on the tennis court, at the beach, in the mountains, or exploring a new destination, Ashley values maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle and brings that same passion for wellness and balance into her patient care.