When you have a great doctor, you know it. You’re treated like a person, not just a patient. At every appointment, your concerns are addressed, and your questions are answered; you leave feeling informed and hopeful. In your most vulnerable moments, this doctor can turn fear into comfort and confusion into clarity.
Judging by the number of nominations in this year’s Top Doctors contest, the Coast is brimming with talented physicians. We’ve tallied the votes, and we’re pleased to introduce GCW’s Top Doctors winners for 2025:
ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY
Dr. Paul Niolet
What others say: “Dr. Niolet is relentless and determined to provide the best care and medical solutions for patients.”
ANESTHESIOLOGY
Dr. Brian R. Dix
What others say: “Dr. Dix is one of the most compassionate physicians that I have ever met. He has a way of explaining care that helps ease anxiety and fear related to surgery. I want to recognize the amazing compassion he shows to his patients. He definitely raises the bar as an anesthesiologist!”
AUDIOLOGY
Dr. Karen Slater
What others say: “Dr. Slater has been a fixture on the Gulf Coast for 34 years. She has consistently provided unparalleled service with integrity, compassion and honesty to the Gulf Coast community with four locations from Bay St Louis to Pascagoula. She also has supervised over 150 doctoral students from The University of Southern Mississippi and The University of South Alabama for the last 30 years, meaning her influence is felt throughout the country.”
BARIATRIC MEDICINE/ WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
Dr. Jason Payne
What others say: “Dr. Jason Payne made history in Mississippi by performing the state’s first fully robotic sleeve gastrectomy — a milestone that helped earn him last year’s Top Doctor title in bariatrics. As medical director of the Pascagoula Wound Care Center, he’s also deeply committed to helping patients heal and improve their quality of life in every way.”
CARDIOLOGY
Dr. Ahmad Agha
What others say: “With two Gulf Coast Woman Top Doctor wins, Dr. Agha brings unmatched clinical skill and heartfelt bedside manner to cardiac care. His advanced training from Houston Methodist fuels his expertise in interventional procedures, helping Gulf Coast patients receive world-class cardiovascular treatment close to home.”
CARDIOVASCULAR/ CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Dr. Jason A. Williams
What others say: “Dr. Williams has championed minimally invasive valve treatments like TAVR and MitraClip at Singing River. A graduate of Harvard, with surgical training from Johns Hopkins and Duke, he brings top-tier expertise to patients across the Gulf Coast.”
CHIROPRACTOR
Dr. Genevieve Pitchford
What others say: “When you need someone to help relieve your pain and discomfort, she is the best. She reviews what ails you and offers solutions and a plan to get better — not a Band Aid, real care. I would recommend her to anyone. She improves my quality of life.”
COLON & RECTAL SURGERY
Dr. Ramon Brown
What others say: “Dr. Brown is fellowship trained and board-certified in colorectal surgery. His expertise in robotic and minimally invasive techniques allows him to treat even the most complex digestive issues with clarity, care and compassion.”
DENTISTRY
Dr. Tyler McCabe
What others say: “He took over for Dr. Peter Ackerman and hasn’t missed a beat; he takes great care of me and my husband.”
DERMATOLOGY
Dr. Angela Wingfield
What others say: “Dr. Wingfield is an incredible leader whose dedication and expertise have made a lasting impact on the Gulf Coast. She goes above and beyond to help her patients every day by consistently educating herself on new skin treatments or conditions. Dr. Wingfield is also an amazing boss. The love she has for employees is genuine, and she aims to create a workplace where everyone is seen, heard and valued.”
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Dr. David Eakes
What others say: “He is a caring, kind and passionate physician. He is the physician we all wish we had as our primary. Dr. Eakes is the best of the best of the best. Every emergency room needs a Dr. Eakes — just not ours!”
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Dr. Ellen Caswell
What others say: “Dr. Caswell took her time listening to all my issues and even read my three-page timeline of symptoms, which no doctor has done. She explained everything to me and seemed to sincerely care about everything I shared with her.”
FAMILY MEDICINE
Tana Cooper, DO
What others say: “Dr. Cooper has taken care of my whole family for the past 14 years. She is very knowledgeable and thorough, providing the best care for our family. Her staff is very professional and friendly.”
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Dr. Scott Gioe
What others say: “Dr. Gioe provides excellent care for his patients. He educates his patients in detail on their disease process, plan and expected outcome. He is an active listener, genuinely wanting to assist in facilitating the best outcome for the patient.”
GENERAL SURGERY
Dr. T “Paul” Mace
What others say: “He is the most caring, patient and meticulous surgeon.”
GYNECOLOGY ONCOLOGY
Dr. Michael Finan
What others say: “Dr. Finan is not only dedicated; he’s trustworthy, caring, compassionate and knowledgeable (and provides) quality care and excellent bedside manner.”
HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
Dr. Allison Wall
What others say: “She cares about every single patient and is always available when anything is needed.”
HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
Dr. Lisa Bond
What others say: “A Top Doctor winner last year in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr. Lisa Bond brings over two decades of experience in oncology, hematology and end-of-life care. A Biloxi native, she trained at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and has led numerous hospice organizations across Mississippi and Tennessee. Board certified in four specialties, Dr. Bond is known for her clinical excellence and deep compassion for patients and families navigating serious illness.”
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Dr. Okechukwu Ekenna
What others say: “A three-time Top Doctor, Dr. Ekenna has shaped infectious disease care along the Gulf Coast for decades. From complex infections to pandemic response, his expertise is trusted across the region.”
INPATIENT PHYSICIAN SERVICES
Dr. Tricia Aultman
What others say: “Dr. Aultman provides expert inpatient care as a board-certified internal medicine physician at Singing River. A Top Doctor winner last year, she is trusted by patients and peers alike for her attentiveness, clinical excellence and calm leadership on the hospital floor.”
INTERNAL MEDICINE
Dr. Bobby Swinney
What others say: “Dr. Swinney, a Mississippi native and graduate of William Carey University, focuses on preventive internal medicine for adult patients. Known for his approachable style and emphasis on education, he builds lasting relationships with patients while helping them stay healthy over the long term.”
NEUROLOGY
Dr. Paula Warren
What others say: “Doctor Paula Warren gives her all to her patients and makes sure they are completely comfortable in her office. She is the only doctor I know who gives an hour appointment to her first-time patients. This allows her to get to know the patient and help (him or her) with migraine pain needs to the best of her ability. She is nurturing and kind and listens to your pain issues. … Her bedside manner and character make her one of the best doctors on the coast!”
NEUROSURGERY
Dr. Miguel Melgar
What others say: “He’s a great surgeon and cares for his patients.”
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
Dr. Lynsey J. Cox
What others say: “Dr. Cox is amazing. She gets right down to the point and understands the problems a woman can have. She is very easy to talk with. I’m very grateful for her and excited for a pain-free future.”
OPTHALMOLOGY
Dr. Rainna Bahadur
What others say: “She makes great effort to stay in time, be professional and is so thorough with explaining info. She is personable, pleasant and very caring.
OPTOMETRY
Dr. Jessie Fawer
What others say: “Dr. Fawer is attentive and caring. She believes in not only providing high-quality eye care for the whole family, but Dr. Fawer is adamant about educating her patients on the necessities of visual health.”
ORTHODONTICS
Dr. Eun-Chee Lee
What others say: “I proudly nominate Dr. Lee and the team at Smile Doctors for best orthodontist in this year’s Best of the Best awards. Their dedication to patient care, community involvement and excellence in orthodontics is unmatched. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’re treated like family. Dr. Lee combines exceptional skill with genuine compassion, creating confident smiles while making every patient feel seen and valued.”
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Dr. Yekaterina Karpitskaya
What others say: “She respects and provides the best possible care for her patients in and out of the operating room. She and her team put my daughter, who has goals of being a professional dancer, back in a dance studio teaching and choreographing after a nearly career-ending injury. We are so grateful for the care and support she has given to not only my daughter, but to the dance community as well.”
OTOLARYNGOLOGY/ EAR NOSE THROAT
Dr. Clay Bratton
What others say: “He listens to the patient, addresses their concerns and offers options that are directed at adjusting the problem.”
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Dr. Charles Schlosser III
“Dr. Schlosser cares about every aspect of his specialty. Whether it’s his patients, employees or staff, (he treats others) with respect, compassion and a high regard for what is best for that person. He is extremely knowledgeable in his field and very skillful. He knows how to make everyone laugh with his goofy personality. He’s just an all-around amazing doctor.”
PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY
Dr. Angela Pressley-Wallace
What others say: “(She shows) awesome attention to minor details to solve the issue.”
PEDIATRICS
Dr. Tamara W. Harper, FAAP
What others say: “A three-time Top Doctor winner and Gulf Coast native, Dr. Harper is deeply rooted in community pediatrics. She is passionate about long-term patient relationships and has special interests in asthma and sickle cell disease.”
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Dr. Timothy Haffey
What others say: “A two-time Top Doctor and expert in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Haffey provides advanced techniques in cancer reconstruction and cosmetic enhancement, always with artistic precision and deep care.”
PODIATRY
Jeffrey Benzing, DPM
What others say: “(He has a) commitment to patient education, preventive care and innovative treatment.”
PRIMARY CARE
Tana Cooper, DO
What others say: “Dr. Cooper is the best at providing comprehensive, continuous and coordinated care. She has been managing my chronic conditions for a few years now and has kept me healthy through proper preventative care measures.”
PSYCHIATRY/ PSYCHOTHERAPY
Dr. Roger Ridgeway, Jr.
What others say: “Dr. Ridgeway exemplifies what it means to be a Top Doc — not only through his clinical excellence, but through his unwavering compassion, deep commitment and tireless dedication to improving mental health in our community. … What sets Dr. Ridgeway apart is not just his medical knowledge, but his ability to truly listen, connect and care. He treats each patient with dignity and empathy, creating a safe and supportive environment where healing can begin.”
PULMONOLOGY
Dr. Summer Allen
What others say: “She is persistent, diligent, curious and kind, (as well as) very thorough in her examinations and treatment. She identified the cause and treatment for my chronic cough, which three prior doctors could not. Her staff are attentive and friendly. (I have a ) great office experiences every visit.”
RADIATION ONCOLOGY
Dr. Brad Greenfield
What others say: “A pioneer of advanced techniques like adaptive and image-guided radiotherapy, Dr. Greenfield has led Singing River’s Radiation Oncology program since 2017. Trained at MD Anderson and Baylor, he brings cutting-edge care home to the Coast.”
RADIOLOGY
Dr. Eric D. Lawson
What others say: “He calls himself a jellyfish because he will say yes to anything anyone needs. He is kind to his patients, and he is so loved by his IR team!”
RHEUMATOLOGY
Nicole R. Walton, DO
What others say: “Dr. Walton is a very friendly, through and professional doctor. She has taken such good care of me. (She) really listens to what you have to say and is always ready to help in any way possible.”
UROLOGY
Dr. David Spencer Jr.
What others say: “Dr. Spencer is a board-certified urologist recognized as a surgeon of excellence in robotic surgery. He treats patients at multiple Singing River locations and serves in key leadership roles across the health system — bringing both expertise and influence to urologic care.”
VASCULAR/BLOOD VEIN HEALTH
Dr. Andrea Barker
What others say: “She takes care of her patients like her own family. She is compassionate and ethical — simply the best!”
VETERINARY MEDICINE
Matthew N. Roth, DVM
What others say: “(He shows) compassion for all animals (and is) friendly and attentive.”