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By Lisa Wack Two women who began their professional journeys on very different roads arrived almost 15 years ago at Retina Consultants of Charleston. Rae Phillips and Katie Ortiz may not have followed a direct path into the health care field, but they are both proud to say they found professional and personal success in … Read more

Women in Health: Deeanna Enfinger
Deeanna Enfinger’s life of helping others began in her youth when she volunteered at a runaway shelter. Even the pursuit of a marketing career was tied to service. It was through a position with Home Depot in Pensacola, Florida, that she realized the outsized impact even the smallest of actions could have. In conversations with … Read more

Women in Health: Shay Young-King
By James Rada Jr. Shay Young-King is a force to be reckoned with in the world of senior care. As the director of operations and administrator for Care For Life in the Charleston area, this 29-year-old leader is breaking barriers in an industry where she’s often underestimated due to her age and gender. “I often … Read more

Women in Health: Richele Taylor, CEO, CLO
By Lisa Breslin Fixing broken things has always been Richele Taylor’s modus operandi. “If I see a need, especially a need that requires digging deep, I’m definitely in,” she said. And while her leadership in the South Carolina Medical Association won’t fix health care, she has aligned herself with physician leaders to improve the state’s … Read more

Women in Health: Jesse Greenwood
By Anne Toole Jesse Greenwood knew early on that she wanted to go into a medical field and followed a unique pathway with inspiring experiences along the way before becoming a physician assistant with Coastal Vascular & Vein Center. A native of Marietta, Georgia, Greenwood attended the University of Georgia, where she studied exercise and … Read more

Women in Health: Lauren Ouellette, M.A., CCC-SLP
During her early years, Lauren Ouellette, MA, CCC-SLP, attended a Montessori School and had the opportunity to work with a girl who had Down syndrome. This experience ignited her passion for a career in education, focusing on children with special needs. After taking a career assessment her freshman year of college, Ouellette discovered the field … Read more

Women in Health: Evelyn Carter, CEO
By James R. Rada Jr. For Evelyn Carter, building a strong reputation requires hard work, perseverance and unwavering faith in God. Carter, the CEO of Palmetto Digestive, worked her way up to the leadership position, launching into health care first as a nurse. “My parents instilled in my siblings and me the values of diligence, … Read more

Women in Health: Dean Catherine Durham, DNP
By Lisa Breslin As College of Nursing dean at the Medical University of South Carolina, Cathy Durham’s to-do list is often packed with meetings about strategic planning, academic programs and policies, financial operations, the institutional budget and research infrastructure and support; however, one to-do item that she always enjoys is the Dean Durham Scrubs Tour. … Read more

Women in Health: Dana Blalock, DDS
By Lisa Wack Dana Blalock, DDS, has a passion for excellence and an innovative approach that have improved the lives of countless patients at Sleep Better South Carolina in Charleston and Bluffton. Through her practice, she treats patients with sleeping problems such as snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Blalock did not follow a straight path … Read more

Women in Health: Kellye Palmer
By Jim Rada Kellye Palmer has discovered her true calling in senior living, where she brings comfort and solutions to residents and their families during significant transitions. Grateful for her more than a decade of experience in the corporate world, she found that it was her work in senior living that finally made her feel … Read more

Women in Health: Reganne Nowell
By Anne Toole New technology and senior living don’t often go hand-in-hand, nor do fresh-from-college hires and milestone projects, but Reganne Nowell is a bridge builder. When her department head took a chance on her to spearhead the new BGLife app at Bishop Gadsden, the senior communications specialist found positives in her fresh perspective and … Read more

Women in Health: Taylor Wilson
By Jim Rada Taylor Wilson is a South Carolina girl, born and bred, who thought she would wind up in business and marketing. However, life, as it does, threw her a twist, and she followed her passion. It led her to become the director of government affairs for the South Carolina chapter of the Alzheimer’s … Read more

Women in Health: Cindi Day
By Lisa Breslin Cindi Day, clinical exercise program coordinator at the Medical University of South Carolina Wellness Center, has always loved helping people. For Day, not serving others is an unacceptable waste. “One of the biggest things is that I have this knowledge base and experience that I worked hard to gain. It is just … Read more

Women in Health: Beth Newton
By Jenny Peterson Broken bones, bone infections, bone lesions, blood clots, vascular flow abnormalities, cancer, heart problems, brain abnormalities, lung problems, kidney disease/kidney stones, abdominal and pelvic abnormalities, spine problems, tendon/ligament damage – all of these issues, and more, can be diagnosed by imaging and radiologic specialties. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians (PPCP) has offered comprehensive imaging services for nearly … Read more

Women in Health: Michelle Chandler
For more than 20 years, Michelle Chandler has worked with founder and physician Dr. Edmund Rhett to grow Rhett Women’s Center to its current multiprovider, comprehensive women’s hub. Chandler is the proud manager of the center, a place “where women learn to ask the right questions about their health as well as a place where … Read more

Women in Health: Heidi Collins, CEO
By Anne Toole Heidi Collins, CEO of Palmetto Orthotics & Prosthetics, has dedicated nearly 30 years to carving out a respected place for herself in the traditionally male-dominated field of orthotics and prosthetics. “I’ve had to work harder to establish my reputation, demonstrate my expertise and earn the respect of my male colleagues,” she explained. … Read more

Women In Health: Cindy Sommers
By Lisa Breslin Cindy Sommers has walked the walk when it comes to beating cancer and caring for others who want to face their own death with dignity and a keen sense of what is happening. Sommers beat breast cancer and is now a member of a growing number of other survivors and fighters. Her … Read more

Women in Health: Dr. Megan Baker, COO
By Lisa Breslin At the heart of Dr. Megan Baker’s trajectory to becoming the COO of Roper St. Francis Health system are good mentors, collaborative and talented teams, optimism and her lifelong passion to ensure that each patient has access to the best, most equitable health care possible. The inequities and the optimism in health … Read more

Women in Health: Dr. Julia Saylors, Dr. Shelly Shand, and Dr. Ashley Jeter
Battling cancer is often an uphill fight, and as oncologists, Dr. Julia Saylors, Dr. Shelly Shand, and Dr. Ashley Jeter walk alongside their patients, tailoring the battle plans to their patients’ needs and helping them navigate the ups and downs along the way. For many, it is a years-long journey. But Drs. Saylors, Shand and … Read more

Women in Health: Angela Farr, Kayley Manini & Kari Yocum
By Sarah Rose When Dr. Chris Michaelis opened Charleston Wound Care in February 2020, Angela Farr joined the practice as nurse manager. With nearly 16 years of experience in wound care, Farr said her new role was a natural progression because she’d enjoyed working alongside Dr. Michaelis at a hospital before he launched the business. … Read more

Women in Health: Lisa Westerman, RN
As a registered nurse for more than 30 years, Lisa Westerman has worked in wide-ranging settings, including sales and marketing. It didn’t take her long to realize that Alice’s Clubhouse was her true “happy place.” The Clubhouse, located in Mount Pleasant, provides private care for those affected by memory loss. Westerman fell in love with … Read more

Women in Health: Abbey Borich, MC
By Linda Esterson Dr. Abbey Borich has been fascinated by the brain most of her life; that insatiable curiosity led her to a career in psychiatry. “It’s one of the few specialties that really considers the whole person, that gives you enough time in the appointments to talk about physical health, talk about mental health … Read more

Women in Health: Erin Straughan, CRNA, MSN
One hundred percent of Erin Straughan’s heart beats to serve. As the owner of Tidewater Pharmacy, it is no surprise that her mission is to keep the family-owned business as a place where people feel “heard and supported” and where “they can make informed, holistic decisions about their health.” “Our patrons are like family,” she … Read more

Women in Health: Kristen Dollason
By Jim Rada Kristen Dollason’s life changed in 2010. That year, she moved from New England to South Carolina, and she also changed professions and got involved with senior care. “My background was in sales, but I wanted to serve more in a customer service role and be able to help people,” said Dollason, executive … Read more

Women in Health: Morgan Lancaster
Women’s health is a cornerstone for East Cooper Medical Center, which has provided generations of women with personalized and comprehensive care for every stage of their life. “We’re proud to offer breast care, gynecology, obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, pelvic health, urogynecology and a level II nursery, providing infant care as early as 32 weeks gestation,” … Read more

Women in Health: Melody Carithers
By Jim Rada Melody Carithers has spent most of her career helping seniors, working in marketing and sales in senior communities and the medical industry. Her husband, Shannon, is a registered nurse who worked at the Medical University of South Carolina. However, 11 years ago, they decided they wanted to work for themselves rather than … Read more

Women in Health: Dorothy Baker, DMD
By Anne Toole The road that led to being a successful business owner and pediatric dentist was not always clear or easy for Ladson native Dorothy Baker, DMD. She faced challenges like graduating dental school during a recession, coping with tragic loss and being a single mom, but her determination and positive outlook helped steer … Read more

Women in Health: Nicole Dahlkemper, DMD
By Linda Esterson Nicole Dahlkemper, DMD, owner of Water’s Edge Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Mount Pleasant, credits her practice’s success to building trusted relationships with her patients and within the community. “Seeing patients return for routine care and knowing that they trust you for their dental needs can be incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Dahlkemper, … Read more

Women in Health: Kimberly Farfone Borts
After 17 years with Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community, Kimberly Farfone Borts is moving on to what she described as “a really amazing opportunity” with a nearby community that is affiliated with her current employer. Farfone Borts, Bishop Gadsden’s vice president for mission and communications, was named in November as executive director of a senior … Read more

Women in Health: Jane Ellis
As both a chief financial officer and chief operating officer, Jane Ellis works hard every day at Lowcountry Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine – not only because she loves her job, but because she wants to set a strong example for her three daughters. With a background in manufacturing accounting and wealth management, Ellis started at … Read more

Women in Health: Kay Durst, MD
By Anne Toole For Dr. Kay Durst, MD, family and the medical community are true passions in her life, and throughout her career she has always strived to help others such as like Thailand, Chicago, France, Puerto Rico, Atlanta and Florida, though she has been happily settled back in Charleston for nearly 20 years. She … Read more

Women in Health: Lissa Lara, CEO
By Brian Sherman Lissa Lara is on a decades-long journey to free physicians from the everyday constraints of running a business so they can spend their time providing their patients with top-of-the-line medical care. Along the way, she hopes to finish the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care reimbursement that will lower health care costs … Read more

Women in Health: Jennifer Donahue, COO
By Anne Toole Charleston ENT & Allergy has become a household name in the Lowcountry, and while Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Donahue is not keen on being in the spotlight herself, her work behind the scenes in this leadership position has helped propel the company to be the community mainstay that it is today. When … Read more