Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2018

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BARBRA LEAHY, PA-C
Why do you enjoy what you do? I love my career as a dermatology physician assistant because it’s very rewarding for me and my patients. It’s so diverse in the sense that there is a medical, cosmetic and surgical aspect of dermatology. Also, I work with wonderful people and for an amazing dermatologist, which makes my job very gratifying.
Fun Fact: I am a physician assistant in the Alabama Army National Guard. I supervise about ten medics and provide medical care to more than 400 soldiers in a field artillery battalion. For one weekend a month for six to eight months
of the year, I run the battalion aid station out of a tent with limited supplies and medications while conducting field training exercises. I have gotten to pull the lanyard on an M777A2 155mm howitzer, along with shoot an M203 grenade launcher, 50 caliber machine gun, M249 machine gun, 240B machine gun and M16 rifle and also qualified on an M9 pistol range. This has been a challenging but rewarding experience.
ANGELA WINGFIELD, MD
Number of years you’ve practiced: 15
Why do you enjoy what you do? My job is never boring. I see all age groups and a wide variety of clinical issues from skin cancer to rashes, moles and acne. Additionally, I do a lot of cosmetic procedures such as wrinkle filers and botulinum toxins. I like fixing things, and in dermatology many of the things we treat can be controlled or cured.
What advice do you have for South Mississippians to improve their skin health? WEAR SUNSCREEN! Most skin cancers
can be prevented with careful sun protection. UV damage is cumulative; once you collect enough of it, you will start getting pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers.
Fun Fact: I enjoy teaching the dermatology residents at the University Medical Center in Jackson. I volunteer there every six weeks. It’s fun to tap into their enthusiasm and provide a different perspective for them.
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