Read Full Article HerePITTSBURG, Kan.– The beginning of November marked the opening of a new location for U.S. Dermatology Partners in Pittsburg.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Derek Towery, along with Certified Physician Assistants Lindsay Kloer and Angela Vediz will see patients at the new office located at 2401 S Tucker St. Suite 6. The team will treat various dermatologic conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea and skin cancer.
U.S. Dermatology Partners said it has been focusing on opening locations in rural areas and small towns to expand access to health care. This year alone, U.S. Dermatology Partners has opened more than 30 locations across eight states.
Towery’s primary practice is in Joplin, but, he said, it became obvious in recent years that there was a need in Pittsburg. He said he had many patients who lived in Pittsburg and commuted to their appointments.
Having an accessible clinic in this area will help prevent or treat skin issues in a timely manner, Towery said.
“By being able to have access earlier, we’re going to be able to catch the disease states earlier whether its cancer or a rash that we can help and we won’t have to be as aggressive with our treatments because we’re going to help them and we’re going to catch them earlier.”
For now, the clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays. At the beginning of January, it will also be open on Mondays. If those days begin to fill up with appointments, they plan to have availability on Wednesdays as well.
Towery and his team currently share a space with Laferla Wilson Ortho, but he said if the team is busy enough, they may look for their own building.
Towery graduated from the St. Louis University School of Medicine, completed an internship in internal medicine at St. Louis University Hospital, and completed a residency in dermatology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, serving as chief resident in his final year.
During his time at St. Louis University Hospital, Towery said, he was unsure what field of medicine he wanted to go into until he did a specialty rotation with a dermatologist. He said the dermatologist was the happiest doctor he encountered and decided to follow that path. He said he likes the fact that he can help people of all ages. Towery started his practice in 1997, and in 2017 merged with U.S. Dermatology Partners.
Kloer practiced family medicine at Labette Health in Parsons and has been treating dermatological conditions since 2010. Vediz has a total of 21 years of experience in dermatology. She received her bachelor of science degree in Nursing from Pittsburg State University and worked as an emergency room nurse for eight years before returning to school to pursue her master’s in physician assistant studies at Southwest Missouri State University.
“The patients are all very thankful we’re here,” Towery said. “That’s always what you like to hear, that you’re meeting a need, providing a service and people are thankful for it. So, we’re glad to be here.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment call (417) 624-0440.
