Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

When summer rolls around, people often look at their overall wellness more carefully. Of course, taking care of yourself is about a lot more than your beach body. The Jackson Free Press recently put out a pop-up ballot to let Jacksonians vote for the doctors, dentists, surgeons and more that help them stay healthy. Here are the results.

Best Dentist; Best Pediatric Dentist: LaMonica Davis Taylor

Credit: LaMonica Davis Taylor

(Smiles on Broadway Dental Care, 5442 Watkins Drive, 601.665.4996)

Best Dentist finalists:April Watson-Stringfellow (Watson Family Dental, 2181 Henry Hill Drive, 601-922-1171, watsonfamilydental.com) / Matthew Harris (Mississippi Smiles Dentistry, 1189 E. County Line Road, Suite 1010, 601-308-2022, mississippismilesdentistry.com) / Peter Boswell (Boswell Family Dental Care, 1513 Lakeland Drive, Suite 201, 601-366-1242) / Terrance Ware (Terrance Ware Family Dental, 5800 Ridgewood Road, Suite 104, 769-251-5909)

Best Pediatric Dentist finalists:Emily Dasinger Heitzman (Magnolia Family Dental Care, 112 S. Maple St., Ridgeland, 601-707-5585, magnoliafdc.com) / Henry Cook (Pediatric Dentistry of Brandon, 142 Gateway Dr., Brandon, 601.824.1950, pediatricdentistryofbrandon.com) / Jerrick Rose (The Pediatric Dental Studio, 201 Riverwind Drive, Pearl, 601-965-9549, thepediatricdentalstudio.com) / Tiffany Green (Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, 101 Luckney Station, Flowood, 601-992-8000, yoursouthernsmile.com)

Best Doctor: Justin Turner

Justin Turner Credit: Delreco Harris

(TurnerCare LLC, 2135 Henry Hill Drive, 601-398-2335, turnercarems.com)

FinalistsD’Ellia McKinney-Evans (Odom’s Eye Care-Optical, 1461 Canton Mart Road, Suite A, 601-977-0272, odomseyecare.com) / Carrie Nash (Baptist Medical Clinic, 1490 W. Government St., Suite 10, 601-825-1936, mbhs.org) / Kimberly Smash (Prolific Health and Wellness, 2675 River Ridge Drive, 601-718-0308) / Patrick Boler (Magnolia Dermatology, 815 Highway 80 E., Clinton, 601-910-3004, magnoliaderm.org) / Timothy Quinn (Quinn Healthcare, PLLC, 768 N. Avery Blvd., Ridgeland, 601-487-6482, quinntotalhealth.com)

Best Nurse Practitioner: Alisha McArthur Wilkes

Alisha McArthur Wilkes Credit: Delreco Harris

(Quinn Healthcare, PLLC, 768 Avery Blvd. N., Ridgeland, 601-487-6482)

FinalistsBethany Edwards (TrustCare Express Medical Clinics, 4880 Interstate 55 N., 601-487-9199, feelbetterfester.com) / Kelly Engelmann (Enhanced Wellness Living, 115 W. Jackson St., Suite 1E, Ridgeland, 601-202-5978; 1855 Lakeland Drive, Suite M10, 601-202-5978; enhancedwellness.com) / Rochelle Sandifer (Family Health Care Clinic, 1307 Airport Road, Building 2, Flowood, 601-936-3485) / Skye Gray (Mississippi Medical Aesthetics, 111 Fountains Blvd., Madison, 601-790-9427, msnewyou.com) / Tracy Rhinewalt (TrustCare Express Medical Clinics, 768 Lake Harbour Drive, Ridgeland, 601-499-0022)

Best Cosmetic Surgeon: Scott Runnels

Credit: Scott Runnels

(Runnels Center, 1055 River Oaks Drive, Flowood, 601-398-9903, runnelscenter.com)

FinalistsDev ManiSundaram (The Face & Body Center, 2550 Flowood Drive, Flowood, 601-202-4294, faceandbodycenter.com) / Jep Cole (Cole Facial Clinic & Skin Care, 1030 N. Flowood Drive, Flowood, 601.933.2004) / Shelby Brantley (The Face & Body Center, 2550 Flowood Drive, Flowood, 601.202.4294, faceandbodycenter.com) / Stephen Davidson (The Face & Body Center, 2550 Flowood Drive, Flowood, 601.202.4294)

Best Chiropractor: Laura Stubbs

Laura Stubbs Credit: Delreco Harris

(Body in Balance Healthcare, 5472 Watkins Drive, Suite C, 601-376-5636)

FinalistsBillie King (Armstrong-King Chiropractic, 2014 Raymond Road, Suite A, 601-373-1310, Armstrong-king.com) / Clayton Pitts (Norville Chiropractic Clinic, 1000 Lakeland Square, Suite 400, Flowood, 601-398-9412, flowoodchiropracticcare.com) / Daniel Garvey (Garvey Back & Neck Clinic, 766 Lakeland Drive, Suite B, 601-982-2916, betterdisc.com) / R.A. Foxworth (Foxworth Chiropractic, 2470 Flowood Drive, Suite 125, Flowood, 601.932.9201, foxworth.com)

Best Urgent Care: Baptist Medical Clinic

Credit: Baptist Medical Clinic

(multiple locations, baptistmedicalclinics.org)

FinalistsCorner Clinic Urgent Care (132 Lakeland Heights Blvd., Suite A, Flowood, 601.992.0004, cornerclinicurgentcare.com) / MEA Medical Clinics (multiple locations, meamedicalclinics.com) / TrustCare Express Medical Clinics (multiple locations, feelbetterfaster.com)

Best Specialty Clinic: TrustCare Heart Clinic

Credit: TrustCare Heart Clinic

(1067 Highland Colony Pkwy., Suite G, Ridgeland, 601.707.3490)

FinalistsArmstrong-King Chiropractic (2014 Raymond Road, Suite A, 601-373-1310, Armstrong-king.com) / Magnolia Dermatology (815 Highway 80 E., Clinton, 601-910-3004, magnoliaderm.org) / Specialized Physical Therapy (533B Keyway Drive, Flowood; 113 W. Jackson St., Ridgeland; specializedptms.com, 601-420-0717) / The Headache Center (1000 Highland Colony Pkwy., Suite 7205, Ridgeland, 601-366-0855, mississippimigrainecenter.com) / The Strength Center Physical Therapy (4435 Mangum Dr., Suite A, Flowood, 601-932-0305, thestrengthcenter.org)

Best Hospital: St Dominic Hospital

Credit: File Photo

(969 Lakeland Drive, 601-200-2000, stdom.com)

FinalistsBaptist Health Systems (multiple locations, mbhs.org) Batson Children’s Hospital (2500 N. State St., 601-815-8010) Batson Children’s Hospital (2500 N. State St., 601-815-8010) / Merit Health Central (1850 Chadwick Drive, 601-376-1000) / University of Mississippi Medical Center (2500 N. State St., 601-984-1000)

Best Physical Therapy: Paul Jerome Foster

Credit: Paul Jerome Foster

(Specialized Physical Therapy, 533B Keyway Drive, Flowood;113 W. Jackson St., Suite 1A, 601-420-0717, specializedptms.com)

FinalistsAngela Cason (The Strength Center Physical Therapy, 4435 Mangum Drive, Suite A, Flowood, 601-932-0305, thestrengthcenter.org) / Candias Davis (Medicomp Physical Therapy, 1129 Highway 35 S. Suite 2, Forest, 601-469-3320) / Kathy McColumn (McColumn Physical Therapy, 5225 Highway 18 W., Suite C, 601-487-8456) / Mark Ware (The Strength Center Physical Therapy, 4435 Mangum Drive, Flowood, 601-932-0360, thestrengthcenter.org)

Best Cosmetic Dentist: Deirdra Jones-Snell

Deirdra Jones-Snell Credit: Delreco Harris

(Ridgewood Smiles Dentistry, 5800 Ridgewood Road, Suite 105, 601-398-2934, ridgewoodsmilesdentistry.com)

FinalistsBrock Westover (Westover Dental Associates, 2550 Flowood Drive, Suite 401, Flowood, 601-936-2144, westoverdentalassociates.com) / Clayton Grubbs (Clinton Dental Care, 736 Clinton Pkwy., Clinton, 601-488-4086, clintondentalcarems.com) / Gary Keeler (Gary Keeler DDS, 1000 Lakeland Square Ext., Suite 700, Flowood, 601-936-3555) / Stewart Strange (Mississippi Dental Center, 4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 235, 601-987-8722, paulastewartdmd.com)

Best Orthodontist: Chandra Minor

(Smile Design Orthodontics, 201 Riverwind Drive, 601-965-9561, smiledesignorthoms.com)

FinalistsEugene Brown (Smiles By Design, 5800 Ridgewood Road, Suite 103, 601-957-1711; 125 Jones St., Madison, 601-853-0303) / G. Dodd Brister Jr. (Brister Orthodontics, 3007 Greenfield Road, Pearl, 601-824-5878, bristerothodontics.com) / Priscilla Jolly (Jolly Orthodontics, 1000 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, 601-605-2400) / William P. Edgar (Dr. William Edgar, 101 Avalon Court, Brandon, 601-919-1990)

Best Women’s Clinic: Jackson Healthcare for Women

Credit: Jackson Healthcare for Women

(291 E. Layfair Drive, 601-936-9190, jhcfw.com)

FinalistsEast Lakeland OB/GYN Associates, PA (1020 River Oaks Drive, Suite 320, 601-936-1400, eastlakelandobgyn.com) / Southern Women’s Health (1020 River Oaks Drive, Suite 310, 601-932-5006, swhealth.net) / The Woman’s Clinic (501 Marshall St., Suite 400; 401 Baptist Drive, Suite 402; 601-354-0869, twc-ms.com) / Women’s Health Associates PLLC (1050 River Oaks Drive, Flowood, 601-420-0134)

Best Optometrist/Ophthalmologist: Tonyatta Hairston

Tonyatta Hairston Credit: Delreco Harris

(EnVision Eye Care & Optical Boutique, 1316 N. State St., 601-987-3937, 987eyes.com)

FinalistsChristopher Bullin (Mississippi EyeCare Associates, 404 Riverwind Drive, Suite B1, Pearl, 601-398-3000; 310 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Suite 300, 601-366-9020; 7118 Siwell Road, Suite B, Byram, 601-373-0354, mseyecare.org) / Curtis Whittington (Jackson Eye Associates, PLLC, 1200 N. State St., Suite 330, 601-353-2020) / D’Ellia McKinney-Evans (Odom’s Eye Care-Optical, 1461 Canton Mart Road, Suite A, 601-977-0272, odomseyecare.com) / Marjorie McLin Lenoir (Reflections Vision Center, 101-C Lexington Drive, Madison, 601-605-4423, reflectionsvisioncenter.com) / Leslie Bear (Leslie H. Bear MD, 1815 Hospital Drive, Suite 462, 601-373-0594, merithealthcentral.com)

Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.