Our Staff

Dr. Steele, a native of New Jersey,  joined Chester Pediatrics in August of 1999. She attended Wake Forest University where she  played varsity field hockey, receiving her B.S. in Biology in 1992.  Dr. Steele attended medical school  at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University., graduating in 1996.  She completed her pediatric residency at the Medical College of Virginia in 1999. Dr. Steele is board certified in pediatrics and  a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  She enjoys spending time with her family at Lake Gaston, traveling, playing golf and running.  

Dr. Bourassa, a native of Chesterfield County, completed her undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary. She received her medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Dr. Bourassa then joined the United States Air Force, and completed a pediatric internship and residency at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She spent the last four years practicing as a pediatrician at Hanscom Air Force Base, where she was also medical director of the Child Development Center and liaison to the local school system. Dr. Bourassa is a board certified pediatrician with special interests in child development, patient education and advocacy.

Dr Elizabeth Cross, a native of North Carolina, is still a Tarheel at heart! She graduated from Wake Forest School of Medicine and completed her residency in Pediatrics at Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte. She and her husband love spending time with their four adult children and their families. Her hobbies include hiking in the mountains, exploring the Virginia countryside, volunteering in her church and cheering for the UVA basketball team!

As her children have grown up Dr. Cross has enjoyed learning to parent in every stage of their journey. She loves caring for children from newborns through college; helping families navigate the challenges of parenting, advocate for their children and promote health and wellness. Dr Cross has a passion for the underserved and volunteers at Elijah House Academy in Richmond.

Dr. Patel, a native of Chester, completed his undergraduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He received his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Dr. Patel completed his pediatrics internship and residency at the Bernard and Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center. He enjoys all aspects of pediatric care. Developing long lasting relationships with patients and their families is the most rewarding. Outside of work, Dr. Patel spends his free time with his fiancé, family and playing golf.

Rachael joined our practice in December 2018. She grew up in rural central Virginia. She graduated with her BSN from Radford University in 2000. Before graduating with her MSN from Drexel University in 2018, she spent her nursing career in the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (Duke University), the Pediatric Intensive Care unit (University of Maryland & University of Minnesota), the Pediatric ER (Children’s Hospital of Minneapolis & Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU), and most recently in Labor and Delivery (VCU). She is board certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), a Certified Lactation Counselor and a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Eta Nu Chapter.

Her long experience with a diverse pediatric patient population from birth to age 21 has helped shape who she is as a provider. Her experience helping new moms learn to breastfeed after birth, led her to pursue her certification in lactation counseling (CLC). She enjoys supporting new moms at our practice with the many facets of breastfeeding. Whether your journey in breastfeeding is long or short, she is happy to be there offering support in any way she can!

Rachael is married and has 2 children. When she is not working, she enjoys spending her free time outside with her husband and kids, often watching many of their various sporting events, gardening, staying active, and reading.

Rachael loves every stage children experience as they grow, from infancy through young adulthood and the many triumphs and challenges life can bring.

Kara Cunningham is a native of Chester. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University in 2004 before attending George Mason University and earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In 2018, Kara received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Marymount University. She is board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is a member of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to earning her Masters degree, Kara worked as a Registered Nurse in the NICU and Pediatric units of hospitals in Northern Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and spending time with her son.

Meghan Hoskins, a native of Pennsylvania, joined Chester Pediatrics in June 2022. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Shenandoah University in 2013. Prior to graduating from Old Dominion University with her Masters of Science in Nursing in 2019, Meghan worked on an inpatient pediatric unit at a Level I trauma facility in Pennsylvania and at St Mary's inpatient pediatric unit here in Richmond. Meghan has over 9 years of pediatric nursing experience, with the last 3 years working as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in primary care. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and is currently continuing her education to become a Certified Lactation Counselor in the coming months. 
Meghan has experience caring for all pediatric patients and enjoys building long standing connections with the patients and families she cares for. It is a joy for her to witness her patients grow and develop throughout the years. Outside of work, Meghan enjoys spending time with her two small children, taking trips to the beach, and reading.

Amanda Rush, a native of Virginia, joined Chester Pediatrics in September 2023. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Christopher Newport University in 2015 and a Bachelor of Nursing from South University in 2020. She graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2023 with a Master of Science in Nursing. Amanda worked in the Neonatal ICU at VCU for the last 3 years. She hopes to continue her education to become a certified lactation counselor since having so much experience with mothers in the NICU. Amanda loves interacting with families and seeing her patients grow up. Outside of work she loves discovering new places in Virginia with her husband and dog