<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2t5u1B_15EFovsS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2t5u1B_15EFovsS00" width="730" height="411" ></figure>Photography by Brandi Stage Portraiture | Makeup/hair touch-ups: Bria Fowler, Elle Louise, LLCMeet four standout physicians — Dr. Lynsey Cox, Dr. Kinyatta Bennett, Dr. Summer Allen and Dr. George T. Salloum — who embody the very best of Coast care. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2P4zVH_15EFovsS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2P4zVH_15EFovsS00" width="725" height="651" ></figure>Guided by faith, grounded in care Dr. Lynsey Cox puts prayer, gratitude at the center of her work as she serves women across the Coast. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2LnT7T_15EFovsS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2LnT7T_15EFovsS00" width="665" height="1000" ><figcaption>Dr. Lynsey J. Cox</figcaption></figure>Lynsey J. Cox knew in fifth grade that she wanted to be a surgeon – even if it meant taking a different career path than her relatives. “Most of the people in my family are engineers or accountants,” says the board-certified OB-GYN with Ochsner Women’s Health. “We are all very good at math.” Originally from Alabama, the budding doctor was so fascinated by her future specialty that she started shadowing surgeons and OB/GYNs in 10th grade. “I remember having a date drop me off at the hospital so I could watch a delivery,” she recalls. Since then, Cox estimates that she has helped bring several hundred babies into the world. While she no longer provides obstetrical care, as the hours proved too demanding for her family, her enthusiasm for her work hasn’t waned. “I absolutely love my job,” the doctor says. “I love providing gynecologist care to the women of the Gulf Coast.” CALLED TO HELP WOMEN While attending medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Cox enjoyed all aspects of medicine — including primary care, surgery, and mental health — and she felt a special affinity with her female patients. “All these aspects are very important to care for people as a whole,” she says. “I truly believe God called me to do this work to help women.” <blockquote>“I truly believe God called me to do this work to help women.” </blockquote>Cox and her husband, orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Joe Cox, both graduated from UAB in 2011 and were married a week later. They moved to Dayton, Ohio, to complete their residencies, and in 2015, she was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. For the following few years, Cox and her spouse lived separately while he completed his orthopedic spine training. “He visited the coast monthly to see me and our daughter,” she says. “We both fell in love with the Coast and decided to make it our home.” The family has since settled in Ocean Springs, including Cox’s mother — who moved in with her at Keesler and still helps the couple juggle two demanding careers while caring for their two children. ‘LISTEN AND LOVE’ Cox’s busy days begin by helping her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son get ready for school and dropping them off. She then heads to Bay St. Louis to start clinic and see patients until lunch. “I usually perform a short surgery over lunch, then see afternoon clinic (patients),” Cox says. “I try to leave to office by 4 p.m. to get home in time to take my kids to their many activities.” Thursdays are reserved for longer surgeries, performed at Singing River in Gulfport. Through all her patient interactions, Cox takes the same approach: “Listen and love.” “I treat them how I would treat my mom, daughter or best friend,” she says. ANCHORED IN HER FAITH While Cox is very available to her patients, she also makes a point of scheduling time to recharge with her family and friends. As a fellow physician, her husband can empathize with the challenges and demands of her work. “He completely understands, and I am there for him during his more emotional cases as well,” Cox says. “We support each other.” That support, along with her commitment to God, family and community, keeps Cox steady in her mission. As a doctor anchored in her faith, she consistently prays for her patients — especially before she operates. Prayer and gratitude, she insists, are the key aspects to her success. “I feel like God called me to perform this job,” Cox says. “I feel closer to Him when I care for my patients.” ‘My journey is truly a miracle’ From struggle to success, Dr. Summer Allen proves that persistence — and faith — can change lives <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4e2zgZ_15EFovsS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4e2zgZ_15EFovsS00" width="635" height="954" ><figcaption>Dr. Summer Allen</figcaption></figure>Dr. Summer Allen derives her greatest satisfaction from her toughest cases. “I love trying to diagnose patients when they haven’t been able to get an answer anywhere else,” says the pulmonary and critical care physician with Memorial Health System. Case in point: One 70-year-old patient who suffered from shortness of breath so acute that he struggled to sleep. By the time he sought a third opinion from Allen, he was desperate and doubtful that he’d ever get answers. After turning her trained eye on years’ worth of the patient’s X-rays, Allen had a diagnosis for him at last: bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis. He underwent surgery for the rare condition and is now back to breathing easy and restoring vintage cars. This patient is just one beneficiary of Allen’s grit in a career defined by persistence and compassion. “I picked my specialty because I loved the intensive-care unit,” Allen explains. “I loved taking care of the sickest patients and trying to make a difference.” ‘THOSE STRUGGLES MADE ME WHO I AM’ Raised in Dallas, Texas, Allen came from humble beginnings. “Neither of my parents went to college,” she recalls. “We never even owned a home when I was a kid; I grew up in apartments or rentals.” Although she’d always wanted to be a doctor, Allen was a high school geometry teacher for four years before deciding to go to medical school. When her grandfather became ill, she found the courage to pursue her dream. “I was so frustrated because I couldn’t understand what was wrong with him, and I wanted to know,” Allen recalls. “And it was in that hospital room that the desire to be a physician was reignited.” When she made the leap to medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, she did so alone. The aspiring doctor took out student loans to pay for her education and barely scraped by. It wasn’t uncommon for her to bring home free food from the hospital and split it with her dog. “I had my electricity turned off during the winter,” she says. “I ran out of gas and had to leave my car on the side of the road because I didn’t have a single dollar for gas; I walked all the way home.” <blockquote>“Those struggles made me who I am today, and I’m a better doctor for it.” </blockquote>THANKFUL TO BE CHOSEN Her resilience paid off, and Allen has worked for Memorial Health System since 2016. In her role there, she splits her time as an ICU doctor and a pulmonologist. She’s also a faculty member for the residency program at Memorial, teaching Internal-medicine residents and family-medicine residents. One of her professional passions is using robotic bronchoscopy to perform lung biopsies. The technique allows for greater reach and precision, giving doctors like Allen a clearer, more accurate view of potential issues. “My goal is to diagnose cancer at an early stage, when it is very small and treatable,” she says. Due to her expertise, Allen has been invited to present before the American Thoracic Society and the American Academy of Chest Physicians. She also received the 2023 Early Career Achievement honor awarded to exceptional UMMC alumni. “The Bible says the last shall be first and the first shall be last …,” Allen said during her award ceremony speech. “There was a lot of my life where I was last, but I am very thankful I was chosen for this.” LED BY FAITH Despite her demanding career, Allen is an equally devoted mom to two daughters and two Humane Society rescue dogs. On a typical day, the doctor shuttles her kids to school, then heads to the hospital for clinic, procedures or to see ICU patients. Allen also loves sports and enjoys coaching her daughters’ basketball and volleyball teams. For all her personal and professional success, she credits a higher power. “I love my church, and my faith in God brought me to where I am,” Allen says. “My journey is truly a miracle.” Following the golden rule Dr. George T. Salloum blends skill, compassion and innovation to get patients back on their feet <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3q8HjC_15EFovsS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3q8HjC_15EFovsS00" width="675" height="987" ><figcaption>Dr. George T. Salloum</figcaption></figure>Dr. George T. Salloum describes his approach to medicine as very simple. “I follow the golden rule and treat others as I would expect to be treated,” says the board-certified orthopedic surgeon, who has spent 24 years caring for Coast patients. <blockquote>“I follow the golden rule and treat others as I would expect to be treated.” </blockquote>Since 2001, Salloum has practiced with Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists, where he brings adavanced knowledge in sports medicine and reconstructive surgery of the knee and shoulder. Patient reviews online praise his exceptional patient care, deep expertise and compassionate demeanor. For his part, Salloum feels indebted to the “excellent mentors” he’s had throughout his life, including relatives, educators, teaching physicians in residency — and especially, his dad. “My father had an outstanding work ethic, and I attempt to model him,” the doctor says. “He told me on a daily basis to have a good attitude and take pride in my work.” A LIFELONG CALLING A native of Long Beach, Salloum recognized his destiny at a young age. “I have always wanted to be a physician as far back as I can remember,” he recalls. Salloum went on to complete his undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi, then he attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson for both his medical degree and residency training in orthopedic surgery. “I chose orthopedic surgery because it felt to be very natural fit for me,” he says. “The bio-mechanics involved in what I do are quite interesting.” ON THE CUTTING EDGE In his more than two decades in medicine, Salloum has witnessed drastic changes in his field. For instance, technological improvements in implants and methods have been dramatic. “Twenty-five years ago, we had to travel to meetings to stay up to date, but fortunately with the Internet and websites, it’s much easier to stay on the cutting edge,” he says. “Our professional societies do a very good job of disseminating new information.” At Bienville, Salloum has been at the forefront of advancements in knee replacement — including consulting with implant companies on both techniques and devices, as well as teaching and lecturing other surgeons on the newest balancing techniques. He has extensive experience in robotic knee replacements and especially enjoys treating multi-ligament knee injuries. “I’ve had some of these patients return to their athletic careers,” he says, “and that has always been very rewarding.” JOYS AND CHALLENGES Typical days for Salloum include long hours of caring for patients, followed by many hours of computer data entry. The most common complaints he hears involve wait times, and he concedes that time constraints can make it hard to give every patient the attention he or she is due. “Unfortunately, each patient encounter is not predictable as far as time consumption,” the doctor says. “We’re honestly doing the best we can.” Clearing up a misconception, Salloum adds that the life of a physician “is not glamorous by any means.” “It’s long hours and hard work and high stress,” he says. “Unfortunately, every patient does not have a perfect outcome, and the poor outcomes and complications that occur despite our best efforts can take a toll on you mentally and emotionally.” GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES To stay grounded, Salloum relies heavily on his family — namely his spouse, Meloney, to whom he has been married for 11 years. “My wife has always been a great sounding board to deal with the emotionally taxing parts of my job,” he says. After 24 years in orthopedics, Dr. Salloum remains as committed as ever to his work on behalf of the Coast community. Guided by strong principles and the mentors who shaped his path, he continues to embody the values they instilled in him: hard work, a positive mindset and pride in doing the best possible job for his patients. Celebrating a decade of healthy smiles After 10 years in business, Dr. Kinyatta Bennett reflects on legacy of compassion, cutting-edge dentistry and community trust <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1U07Ew_15EFovsS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1U07Ew_15EFovsS00" width="650" height="977" ><figcaption>Dr. Kinyatta Bennett</figcaption></figure>Every day, Dr. Kinyatta Bennett is reminded of why she chose a career in dentistry. “It spans from helping to relieve someone of pain, all the way to being the reason someone smiles,” says the Gulfport native and owner of Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. As the business marks its 10th anniversary, Bennett reflects on a legacy that has extended far beyond fillings and crowns. The joy she finds in performing her craft, she explains, is reflected in the way she treats those in her care. “I have so many patients who come to me for advice — not just related to dentistry, but life,” she adds. “I value the trust that my patients have in me.” ‘HE WOULD WANT ME TO CONTINUE OUR DREAM’ Bennett has earned that trust over the course of 15 years of practicing on the Coast. From an early age, she knew what she wanted to do with her life. “As long as I can remember, I have desired to be a doctor,” Bennett says. After earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry in 2010, she started working as an associate dentist with another Coast practice. In 2014, she and her late husband, Dr. Christopher Bennett, began building their own office. His death tempted Bennett to give up, but she persisted. “The reason that I kept going was that I had to think about what he would want. I know that he would want me to continue our dream …,” she says. “This is what motivated me to continue with our plans after he passed away.” Bennett launched the Gulfport location of Healthy Smiles in 2015, and the practice later expanded with a Pascagoula office, which opened in 2022 and is run by Dr. Courtney Jones. WARM SMILE, FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE As dentistry is constantly evolving, Bennett strives to stay on the cutting edge of her field. “We have a dental imaging machine that allows us to take 3D radiography,” she says. “I am constantly studying my craft to find more efficient ways to practice dentistry.” Despite these advances, the dentist continues to dispense tried-and-true advice: Brush at least twice a day, and floss daily. See your dentist every six months. She also points to research proving that poor oral health is connected to an increased risk of heart disease. Many people associate going to the dentist with pain, so they avoid making an appointment. But Bennett says this is the wrong approach. “By seeing your dentist more regularly for preventative treatments, one can avoid needing the more nerve-racking procedures,” she says. “This, in turn, creates more comfortable appointments.” Most of Bennett’s standout cases involve crown and bridge work, and she gets special satisfaction from seeing someone go from covering her smile to showing it off with pride. <blockquote>“I treat my patients the way that I would want someone to treat myself and my family,” she says. “I understand that going to the dentist can be stressful for most people; therefore, I greet all my patients with a warm smile and friendly atmosphere.”</blockquote>COMPASSION AND CARE Bennett credits her faith with helping her stay grounded, and she begins each day in prayer. Outside the office, she’s a mom of three children — Laura-Jae’, Briana and CJ — and her youngest keeps her on her toes with his plethora of activities. “Between football, four-wheeler riding and fishing, there is never a dull moment at home,” she says. Through busy days, personal loss and professional growth, Bennett has continued to honor the dream she once shared with her husband while inspiring trust in every person she treats. The main components to everything she does, whether professional or personal, are compassion and care. “I believe these attributes go a long way with making our patients feel more comfortable,” she adds, “and willing to return for all their treatment needs.” </div></body>

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Photography by Brandi Stage Portraiture | Makeup/hair touch-ups: Bria Fowler, Elle Louise, LLC. Meet four standout physicians — Dr. Lynsey Cox, Dr. Kinyatta Bennett, Dr. Summer Allen and Dr. George T. Salloum — who embody the very best of Coast care. Guided by faith, grounded in care. Dr....

Doctors Spotlight: Physicians who embody Coast care

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Photography by Brandi Stage Portraiture | Makeup/hair touch-ups: Bria Fowler, Elle Louise, LLC. Meet four standout physicians — Dr. Lynsey Cox, Dr. Kinyatt

Doctors Spotlight: Physicians who embody Coast care

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