Meet the Team!
Becky Bowen RN, MSN — Director-Kansas City
Becky is the Director of our Leawood location and a powerhouse of both heart and hustle. A registered nurse with a Master’s in Business Administration and a Certified Nutrition Coach, she brings the perfect blend of clinical knowledge and real-life strategy to the Merit team. Originally from Topeka, Becky now lives in Prairie Village with her husband Jon and their two boys—with baby boy #3 on the way! Becky loves helping clients transform not just their health, but their energy, confidence, and joy. When she’s not at Merit, you’ll find her outdoors, in the kitchen, or turning the living room into an epic adventure zone (couch forts included). Oh—and if you think you’re seeing double, you’re not wrong. Becky has a twin sister who also works at Merit… but we’ll let you figure out who’s who.
Amanda Duarte, APRN, FNP-C
Amanda is a nurse practitioner at Merit Leawood with a passion for wellness, real-life results, and making her patients feel supported every step of the way. She earned her BSN from MidAmerica Nazarene University and her MSN from Rockhurst University, and holds certifications in cosmetic and migraine Botox. Amanda loves being part of a team that truly cares, and brings her own relatable perspective—because she’s on a wellness journey too. She lives in Leawood with her husband Nick and their two daughters, Eden and Maeven. In her free time, you’ll find her reading, walking, or showing off her hidden talent: playing the piano. Fun fact: Amanda got married on New Year’s Eve… talk about starting the year with fireworks!
Ashley Butler, APRN, FNP-C
Ashley is a nurse practitioner at Merit Leawood and living proof that strong is beautiful. She holds her MSN and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, blending clinical expertise with an authentic passion for helping clients feel their absolute best. Ashley was drawn to Merit because of the energetic, knowledgeable team—and her own experience with weight struggles made her deeply empathetic to the journey. She's especially passionate about helping clients break through plateaus, ditch medications, and feel stronger, healthier, and more confident. Outside the clinic, Ashley is a competitive powerlifter and strongwoman (seriously—she’s competed at Nationals and Worlds!), a devoted dog mom to German Shepherds Salvy and Maverick, and is expecting her first baby with her husband, Trent—her high school sweetheart of 21 years. Fun fact: her deadlift max is 408 lbs. (We asked her to carry the office fridge… she didn’t even flinch.)
Amanda Kauffman, NRCMA – Lead Medical Assistant
Amanda is the Lead Medical Assistant at Merit Leawood and the ultimate cheerleader for our clients. A Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (and currently working toward her Healthcare Management degree), she brings energy, empathy, and a whole lot of heart. Having lost over 100 pounds herself, Amanda knows the journey firsthand and is passionate about helping others feel supported every step of the way—whether that means celebrating a win or offering a hug on a hard day. She’s a proud mom of two awesome kids, Cameron and Ellie, and shares life with her partner, Derek. Fun fact: she’s secretly hilarious and can really sing—but you’ll have to visit to hear it!
Sami Mitchell – Client Communications Coordinator
Sami is the cheerful voice behind the phone and text messages at Merit—and your go-to girl for quick help, a friendly tone, and excellent vibes. A licensed medical aesthetician with advanced training in over a dozen laser and skincare modalities, she brings a passion for wellness and a love for small business into everything she does. Born and raised in Overland Park, Sami enjoys getting to know clients from both locations and helping them feel confident, supported, and at home. Outside of work, she crochets, rides her motorcycle, and plays the clarinet (she went to college for music performance!). She lives with her two goofy cats and has one unforgettable party trick: she can move her eyes independently. Trust us—it’s wild.
Let’s work together
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