Mandy Strickland, AGACNP-BC, Hilton Head Primary Care, 25 Hospital Center Blvd, Suite 105, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29926, (843) 682-2004, hhprimarycare.com
What is your specialty? My specialty is primary care for adults 18 and older.
Why did you become a practicing provider? My career started as a nurse at Hilton Head Hospital in 2009. While I have always had a passion for nursing, it wasn’t until I went on a mission trip in 2017 that I realized I wanted to, and could, do more to help patients in an even better way as a nurse practitioner. Upon graduation, I initially desired to do hospitalist work. However, the birth of my daughter, which occurred shortly after my graduation, caused me to reevaluate everything, and I ultimately found primary care was the place I wanted to be.
What inspires you to practice? Helping people reach their goals is my inspiration.
What is one aspect of the job that you find rewarding? One of the most rewarding experiences is when a patient comes back and tells me that I made a difference in their life.
What is exciting about your field right now? The most exciting thing in my field right now would probably have to be GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy). These drugs have helped so many of my diabetic patients get good control, which reduces risk of diabetic complications and increases quality of life. I’ve also had good results with non-diabetics on these medications (that meet coverage qualifications) to help them lose weight, improve blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, and improve their overall quality of life as well.
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time? I probably pass this time scrolling on my phone or any type of mindless entertainment, as I use my brain too much throughout the day between work and being a mom.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine? I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my family. We love going on walks, going to the park, and, over the holidays, we love looking at all the Christmas decorations.
What advice would you give to someone who just started their career? My advice would be to keep going! I was very intimidated when I first started out, but you become more comfortable every day. Ask questions all the time–it’s how you learn! Never stop learning or looking for answers.
Christopher Culpepper, MD, Hilton Head General & Laparoscopic Surgery, 25 Hospital Center Commons, Suite 100, Hilton Head, SC 29926, (843) 681-9489 www.HHISurgeons.com
What is your specialty? My specialty is general surgery. I operate specifically on pathology of the GI tract, gallbladder, hernias, skin pathology, vascular access, and complex wounds.
Why did you become a physician? I became a physician to help patients of any age get back into their regular daily lives as happy and healthy as possible.
What inspires you to practice? The smiles on my patients and their family members’ faces inspire me the most in my practice.
What is one aspect of the job that you find rewarding? What I find most rewarding is making new relationships with patients and helping to manage them through their general surgical illness.
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time? When I have 30 minutes of free time, I like to pass the time by spending it with my wife and children listening to music, watching the Tennessee Vols play college football, or walking on the beach together.
What advice would you give to someone who just started their career? The biggest piece of advice to give someone who just started their career in medicine is to see as many patients as possible, build collegial relationships, and to treat patients the way you or your loved ones would want to be treated.
Bethany Gaultney, AGNP-C, GS-C, HALO Primary Care, LLC, 40 Okatie Center Blvd. Suite 215, Okatie, SC 29909, (843) 603-4800, www.halo-primarycare.com
With a mother and sister who are both in nursing, it’s clear that Bethany Gaultney was born for the job. But her road to HALO Primary Care truly began while working as a nursing assistant during nursing school on a geriatric unit.
“That really sparked my love for geriatric medicine,” Gaultney said. That spark grew as she completed an adult-gerontology master’s program and got into her work with seniors after graduation.
Fast forward to the present, in which Gaultney heads up a primary care practice dedicated to the unique medical needs of the aging population. “As a primary care provider, my role is first and foremost prevention, catching the hypertension and treating it before it results in kidney disease, for example. As a geriatric provider, I am not hyper-focused on one illness but am balancing and managing multiple chronic illnesses.”
With a dedicated staff by her side, she is bringing together her acumen for medicine and her passion for working with seniors to deliver outstanding care for Beaufort County’s aging population. And while the name HALO serves as an acronym for Healthy Aging of the Lowcountry, the angelic connotations speak deep to her faith.
“When I graduated grad school, I remember telling my husband that I would never open my own practice,” she said. “I’m sure heaven laughed that day. God has paved the way for me and continues to do so.”
Shelby Griffith, DO, Riverside Women’s Care, 75 Baylor Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910, (843) 540-5857, riversidewomenscare.com
What is your specialty? My specialty is obstetrics and gynecology.
Why did you become a physician? I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a physician. It has always been a passion of mine to learn, educate, and care for people. As a physician, I get to do all three.
What inspires you to practice? My patients! Their desire to take charge of their own health and be an active participant constantly inspires me to be and do better for them. I can best do that by staying up to date on the latest research within my field.
What is one aspect of the job that you find rewarding? There are so many rewarding parts to my field! I love caring for women at every stage of their life, but my absolute favorite is being able to hand a new mom her baby for the first time. Being a part of that moment is so incredibly special.
What is exciting about your field right now? In general, medicine is exciting because it is ever-changing and new research is constantly being published. Obstetrics and gynecology is no exception. The efforts that are being made to correct the rise in maternal mortality and the technological advances being developed for minimally invasive surgeries are just a few exciting new topics.
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time? Anytime I can be outside, I try to be! If I have a small break at the office, hospital, or home, I try to walk outside and enjoy the weather. Coming from Ohio, where this time of year is very gray, I try to take advantage of the sunshine whenever possible.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine? The best part of my day is being able to spend time with my husband. Our favorite things are to enjoy a dinner out, trying new food, or to spend time on the beach.
What advice would you give to someone who just started their career? As someone who has just started her career, something I learned quickly is that it is OK to feel as though you don’t have all the answers. Surrounding yourself with supportive partners you can collaborate with and knowing how to navigate through many resources will help alleviate the anxiety of not knowing it all.
Dr. William Durrett and Dr. Grant Evans, NOVO Regenerative, 15 Moss Creek Village Suite 101, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, (843) 836-5800, novoregenerative.com
For those experiencing the chronic pain that comes from degenerative joint or tissue damage, options were generally scarce in years past. There was the temporary relief with the use of physical therapy, Chiropractic Care and use of multiple steroidal based therapies.
If these were ineffective, often the last resort would involve the drastic step of joint replacement and/or spinal surgery. Or there was the unthinkable possibility of just living with it.
But with the advent of Regenerative Medicine, particularly mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSC), there is finally a long-term treatment option that has been proven to be highly effective at not just eliminating pain.
“We’ve had amazing positive results,” said Dr. Grant Evans, co-founder of NOVO Regenerative with Dr. William Durrett. Evans, an experienced Chiropractor, and Durrett, a board-certified Anesthesiologist and interventional pain management physician, have combined their wealth of expertise and knowledge to form a pain treatment center that does more than simply offer temporary relief.
“We’re really trying to increase the overall quality of life, while helping patients avoid some of the less-ideal alternatives,” Evans said. “With MSC, it’s typically a one-time treatment involving an injection similar to a cortisone shot. Patients are then followed up with a couple of weeks later to include MLS laser and/or other therapies to ensure a successful outcome.”
“And with success rates at 90% or higher, our unique blend of skills and advanced technology are helping more people than ever in living a higher quality, active life,” Durrett said.
Maggie Silver, Savage Skin Aesthetics, 2 Marshland Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, (843) 368-9629,
After spending more than 12 years in the aesthetics industry, Maggie Silver has solidified herself as one of the top laser specialists and aestheticians in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. With that recognition, Savage Skin was born.
Savage Skin and Dr. Wayne Johnson have joined forces to offer the Lowcountry some new laser, light, and plasma skin-rejuvenating treatments with a Reveal Laser Partnership. Silver’s knowledge and expertise have made her one of the most sought-after aestheticians when it comes to non-surgical treatments for face, body, and skin rejuvenation.
Silver’s extensive aesthetic and product knowledge have led her to win Bluffton Today and Sun Select Best Medical Aesthetician selection for 2020-2022. She prides herself on taking the time to get to know her patients and their history to tailor a personalized treatment plan that delivers results.
When she is not changing the aesthetic lives of others, Silver is the ultimate dog mom to Lilly, Lady, and Ye.
