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 sports science and soon found herself gaining valuable experience for her future career by working as a certified nursing assistant in a nursing home, participating in a medical mission trip in Peru and volunteering in a hospital. “I got to see a lot of situations through these experiences that solidified that I wanted to be on the medical side,” she said. She worked as a medical assistant in urology before moving to Delaware for PA school, where she served as the vice president of the Student Association of the American Association of Physician Assistants.
After graduating in 2020, she moved to Charleston and now enjoys working and living in the Lowcountry. Though females dominate the generalized profession of physician assistants in South Carolina, Greenwood has found that in her specific area of medical expertise, women are in the minority.
“There are not as many women in the vascular field in general. When I worked in urology, it was the same thing. But as a woman, I can offer a unique perspective,” Greenwood smiled. “I have met a lot of women who specifically want to see a female provider. There are some pelvic conditions I treat in vascular now, and, as a woman, I can relate on a biological level, and that can make a big difference for those patients.”
Greenwood doesn’t mind being in the female minority. “In our office, we have three female PAs, and all of the vascular surgeons are male, but the work we do together is life-changing,” she explained.
The world of vascular health has rapidly changed due to recent advancements in technology and technique, and Greenwood is excited to be on the cutting edge of this progress as successful treatments continue to grow and improve. “Just to give an example, there is a huge prevalence of diabetes here, and it causes a lot of health issues like ulcers. Not long ago, people would wind up with an amputation as a result, but now we can capture it and treat it,” she explained. “Everyone I work with is very passionate about saving lives and saving limbs, and it is amazing to see our patients’ quality of life improving thanks to advancements like that.”
One of the most satisfying parts of Greenwood’s job is helping people who overcome obstacles with the desire to get the best medical help. “I think about my family, some who grew up in a town where the nearest doctor was an hour away,” she recalled. “We have a lot of patients that travel far distances – even over an hour – to see us. I just want to make sure I’m doing everything possible to help everyone who comes to see us.”
Jesse Greenwood
Coastal Vascular & Vein Center
1327 Ashley River Road, Charleston
843-577-4551
coastalvvc.com
