For the past month, two new doctors have been preparing to see patients of the Highlands-Cashiers Plataeu and the moment is here.
Ann Davis, MD and Kristy Fincher, DO began seeing patients at the Blue Ridge Health Clinic at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital on the second floor of the Jane Woodruff Clinic on June 28, 2021.
Since Fincher was a young child, she said she has always enjoyed taking care of people and animals.
“When I was young, my family always helped out by going to nursing homes and taking food,” Fincher said. “If somebody needed help, my family was always involved. I definitely found joy in that. When I was younger, I really liked animals. So, at first, I thought that I wanted to become a vet. I always came back to the thought of taking care of people. I want to walk that path with my patients.”
After getting guidance from her family medicine physician, Fincher said she knew the path to take.
“My grandfather was actually the first patient of Dr. Paul Comb,” Fincher said. “My grandparents saw him, then my parents and finally me. He always showed everyone kindness and it was just a really unique experience to take care of everyone in the family. With me, I always came back to being able forge a relationship with these families.”
Dr. Fincher is a graduate of Erskine College, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, SC. She completed her residency at AnMed Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Anderson, SC.
Fincher said the most rewarding part of her job is her patients.
“I care about my patients, and I care about people,” Fincher said. “With that being said, I think the hardest part of my job is when I get a diagnosis for a patient that I know is going to change their life. It doesn’t have to be a diagnosis; it can also be a sudden loss of a family member or a sudden change in family dynamics. When people hurt, I hurt. The specific choice to go into family medicine was to walk that journey with patients.”
On getting the chance to move to the Highlands-Cashiers area, Fincher said it was a dream come true.
“I have always loved this area,” Fincher said. “The population is interesting, and you get to meet so many diverse people. I always wanted to move back to Western North Carolina and as I was starting my medical career, I was constantly searching to see if there were openings in this area. After talking with a lot of my mentors and telling them about wanting to move back, I was able to talk to the people at Blue Ridge Health and they told me about this opportunity. I knew that I wanted to be a part of an organization that was passionate about the things that I’m passionate about and that is what I found here.”
Fincher said she is excited to jump into the Highlands-Cashiers community with open arms.
“I bring compassionate care to the table,” Fincher said. “I love building a unique relationship with my patients. So, if that is what they are looking for, then they should come and see me. I want to treat people like they are my own family members and partner with them to find the answers that they seek. That’s what medicine is all about. I am excited to live among them in the community and to slowly but surely learn the small things that makes them, them.”
Davis’ medical journey began in engineering, but she said after realizing that she liked people too much, she started her journey to become a doctor.
“I studied engineering in undergrad, and I honestly thought that I would become an engineer,” Davis said. “Then I realized that the day-to-day life of an engineer was a little too boring for me. I like people way too much to do that. The good thing about medicine is that it is very science oriented, but it is also people oriented.”
Davis said she decided on coming to the Highlands-Cashiers area because it is the prettiest place in the world.
“I started reading about the town, the organization and the area and got increasingly interested in the position,” Davis said. “This is a place where I get to raise my child in the natural world and also getting to know different kinds of people. I think it gives him a pretty unique perspective.”
Getting to hear her patients’ stories, Davis said, is the best part of her job.
“I get to hear about where they came from and where they are going,” Davis said. “I also get to help them with those stories and become a part of their story. Getting to know people in such a privileged and intimate way and become part of their story is such a privilege for me.”
Davis said she is a big believer in primary care.
“Someone needs to have your health history in their minds,” Davis said. “I can help you understand your body and how you can be as well as you can be. You can be healthy even though you are not in mint condition. So, how can we figure out how you can be as healthy as possible and live a healthy life?”
Davis is a graduate of Duke University, and the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. She completed her residency at Hinsdale Family Medicine Residency in Hinsdale, Illinois in November 2011. As a Board-Certified Family medicine physician, Dr. Davis brings ten years’ experience in outpatient family medicine, comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages, and chronic disease management. She has held several teaching preceptor positions including an adjunct professorship at Midwestern University. Most recently she practiced family medicine at Novant Health in High Point, NC as Chair of City Family Medicine.