About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2019)
Page 8A,The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, May 22, 2019 Phoebe Opens Dermatology Clinic and Welcomes Area’s Only Mohs Surgeon Submitted Photo Congratulations to Grade Ramsey, who placed first in the District Kiwanis Art Fair. Gracie is in the 6th Grade. Special to the Ledger Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon Stephen Plumb, DO, began see ing patients Monday at Phoebe’s new der matology clinic. “I’m extremely excited to be in southwest Georgia and to be building a new practice from the ground up,” Dr. Plumb said. “I am definitely passionate about skin cancer treat ment and prevention, but I understand there are many dermatological needs in the community, and we’ll be doing a little bit of everything.” Dr. Plumb is the only fulltime Albany-based dermatologist currently offering Mohs surgery, a highly-effective treat ment for skin cancer. “Mohs surgery is a surgical technique to remove skin cancers primarily from the neck up. After the patient is anesthetized, the cancer is removed, and while the patient is still in the building, the tissue is frozen. I cut extremely thin sections and ex amine them through a microscope and verify that the cancer is gone from all of the margins,” Dr. Plumb explained. “It has the highest cure rate of any skin cancer surgi cal procedure, and it also spares the most tissue, so the results are more aesthetically pleasing.” Dr. Plumb earned his undergraduate degree from the Uni versity of Wisconsin before graduating from medical school at Nova Southeastern Univer sity in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and completing his residency in anatomical and clinical pathology at the University of Iowa. He then pursued a skin pathology fellowship at the University of Wash ington before completing a dermatology residency. Most recently, while practicing as a dermatol ogist in central Florida, he completed a fellow ship in dermatologic surgery. “I really enjoy learning. That’s why I’ve done so much training. I find it fascinating. My biggest influence was my mother. She’s a nurse, and she continued her schooling into her middle adult years and got a master’s in nursing and became a We salute your hard work and determination, which ensures your future success. 307 Grand Island, Suite 5 ALBANY 229-888-1928 www.lffc.com n@n /I stFranklinFinancial nurse practitioner,” Dr. Plumb said. “I became a physician because I wanted to help people and have a positive im pact on people’s lives.” Dr. Plumb has four board certifications (anatomic pathol ogy, clinical pathology, dermatopathology and dermatology) with a fifth to come soon in Mohs surgery. “Dr. Plumb is one of the most highly- trained dermatologists in the country,” said Suresh Lakhanpal, MD, President of Phoebe Physicians. “There are probably no more than a dozen physicians in the United States who have his combination of skills and training as a pathologist, dermatolo gist and surgeon. We are extremely fortunate to have him in our com munity, and the people of southwest Georgia will benefit greatly from his expertise, particularly when it comes to treating skin cancer.” According to Dr. Plumb, more than five million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. That’s twice as many as will be diagnosed with all other forms of cancer combined. “One of the reasons I chose to come here is the limited access to Mohs surgery in the region,” Dr. Plumb said. “A lot of patients have to go out of state for the treatment. I want to bring those skills to the area. The earlier cancers are caught, the more ben eficial it is to the patient. Our treatments are less invasive and there is less scaring.” The University of Georgia • Cooperative Extension Service Tropical Soda Apple Doug Collins, Lee County Extension Coordinator Putting Knowledge toWorkf1 ^ Tropical soda apple has become a pest in pastures. This weed was being unintentionally introduced into Lee County about the time I came here in the mid-1990’s. The seeds were brought in on cattle shipped here from out of state. Deer eat the tropical soda apple fruit and thus spread the noxious weed. This weed has thorns on its leaves as well as stems. Tropical Soda Apple Tropical soda apple is an invasive exotic spe cies. Native to Argenti na and Brazil, this plant was first discovered in the United States in 1988. This is a perennial weed that can grow to a height of six feet, although plants three feet high and under are common. Plants have thorns on stems and leaves. They crowd out grass and reduce forage production in pastures. The leaves are not palat able to livestock. Plants produce fruits that are about one to one-and-a-half inches in diameter. When the fruit is immature, it is green, with a pattern of colors similar to those green colors of wa termelons. When the fruit is mature, it turns yellow. The germina tion rates of seeds from green fruits is often similar to that of seeds from yellow fruits. There is no seed dor mancy, and germination is usually better than seventy-five percent. Each fruit contains 200 to 400 seeds. A plant can produce 40,000 to 50,000 viable seed each year. Wildlife, includ ing feral hogs, raccoons, deer, and birds, as well as livestock, feed on the fruit and spread the seed through their manure. Some of the first tropical soda apple I saw in Lee County came in through cattle brought in from Florida. In addition to new plants emerging from seed, new plants can emerge from perennial roots. The root system can spread up to six feet from the crown of the plant and has buds from which new shoots can emerge. Tropical soda apple is in the genus Solanum. Other plants in this genus are tomatoes, po tatoes, and egg plants. Also in this genus is the weed horse nettle. There are chemical and biological controls of tropical soda apple. For more information, call the Lee County Extension Office at 759-6025 or email me at collinsd@uga.edu String Trimmers Blowers Hedge Trimmers Pole Saws Why Buy Maruyama? Superior products. A history of excellence. Service you can rely on. Wingfield Ag & Lawn Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-12 and 1:15-5 Closed For Lunch Open Saturday 9-12 366 US Hwy 19 South, Leesburg 759-9125 wingfieldag.com Like us on facebook facebook.com/wingfieldag Leesburg United Methodist Church AhnnaC SAle- Toi Missions Saturday, June 1st 7 AM until 12 Noon 117 Starksville Ave. N., Leesburg, GA Sale will be held upstairs in the Sanctuary building. All proceeds used for mission outreach projects. Hope to see you there! st Franklin Financial I Serving Our Neighbors Since 1941 Congratulations Class of 2019!
