Head shot of female physician

Ashe Women & Children’s Health physician draws inspiration from patients’ medical success

Dr. Leah Anderson views each day as an opportunity.

It’s a chance to serve her community while cultivating heartfelt relationships along the way.

The best relationships are those built on a solid foundation. Trust, understanding, communication and connection are a few of the fundamental building blocks of any successful relationship. For Dr. Anderson, the ability to connect with her patients on a personal level is something that she doesn’t take for granted.

From sharing family recipes and vacation stories to holding a patient’s hand while they peacefully slip away, Dr. Anderson has built her medical career based on trust.

“I enjoy the relationships I am privileged to have with my patients,” Dr. Anderson said. “Their medical successes are my success too. I support them in every possible way. The patients and their good health are what bring me joy. Building a trusting relationship between me and my patients is the most enjoyable part of my job.”

Dr. Anderson has developed many meaningful relationships throughout her medical career thus far, but there are a select few patients whom are forever etched in her memory. Mrs. Annie is one of those patients.

Mrs. Annie first came to see Dr. Anderson as a vibrant 85-year-old woman full of energy. Over time, she developed heart failure and the two formed a close bond. Dr. Anderson soon became Mrs. Annie’s sixth daughter, and the two share wonderful moments and stories together up until Mrs. Annie’s final day in the hospital.

“She passed away peacefully, and I was privileged to be with her, along with all of her family, and the love that I felt in that hospital room that night changed me forever, as Mrs. Annie’s legacy had touched the lives of everyone she knew.”

Dr. Anderson solidified her career path early on. While visiting her beloved physician and getting an X-ray for a routine sinus infection, the then 7-year-old, decided in that moment to become a doctor. At the time, Dr. Anderson wanted to take care of children, but ultimately during her medical training she decided that she wanted to do more. Family medicine with obstetrics afforded her the opportunity to care for patients of all ages.

“Family medicine is ‘cradle to the grave’ medicine,” Dr. Anderson said. “It’s the field where I can serve the most people, and give the most patients the care that they deserve. I can be there for all my patients no matter what age they are. I became a doctor to give back to my community, to serve others and for me it is not a job, it is a calling.”

On February 1, Dr. Anderson joined the team at Ashe Women & Children’s Health. In her new role, Dr. Anderson will focus on providing high-quality, easily accessible obstetrical care for mothers and their babies. In addition, she also will provide additional aspects of care related to family medicine, including preventative health, pediatrics and geriatrics, among others.

As a family medicine physician, Dr. Anderson is able to serve all patients and their families. In addition to preventative health visits, Medicare wellness visits and well child visits, Dr. Anderson also works with specialists, pharmacists and other providers to ensure her patients receive the highest level of care.

“I want to bring better access to care along with new ideas for better healthcare for Ashe County,” Dr. Anderson said. “I strive to provide high-quality healthcare to all patients, all ages. I especially will be focusing on obstetrical care for pregnant patients, as this is a very specific area of need in Ashe County. Women should be able to have easy access to pregnancy care and delivery, right here at Ashe Memorial Hospital. My goal is to make that happen.”

Dr. Anderson earned her Bachelor’s degree in biology from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., in 2008. She then went on to pursue a Master’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, also in Jackson, Miss., in 2010. Dr. Anderson earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2014. She completed a Residency in family medicine at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla., in 2017 followed by a surgical obstetrics fellowship at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in 2018.

Prior to joining the team at Ashe Women & Children’s Health, Dr. Anderson was an emergency room physician at Calhoun Liberty Hospital in Blountstown, Fla. and Grady General Hospital in Cairo, Ga. Most recently, Dr. Anderson spent five years working as a family medicine physician with surgical obstetrics for Wayne General Hospital & Clinic in Waynesboro, Miss.

When she’s not busy working, Dr. Anderson enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys, ages 13, 9 and 4. She also loves to traveling, cooking, reading, cycling, practicing yoga and spending time outdoors camping and swimming with her family and watching her boys play soccer and football.