25 of the Best Family Medicine Doctors Near Me in Chester, SC

"Dr. Samuel R. Stone has been practicing medicine at MUSC Health - Chester Medical Center since 1984. One might say being a physician in a small town is in his blood. His father, Dr. Halsted Stone, also practiced family medicine in the same town of Chester for 50 years. Just a few years after joining the medical staff at the Chester hospital, Dr. Stone opened his current practice, MUSC Health - Lowrys Primary Care - Chester in 1989. Dr. Stone was born in Spartanburg, SC, but was raised in Chester and graduated from the same high school where he is still very active. On Friday nights in the fall, you can find him on the sidelines of the Chester High School football field providing medical care (and really cheering) for the Chester Cyclone Football team. He has been serving in this capacity for 35 years.After high school, Dr. Stone received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University. He then completed medical school at The Medical University of South Carolina. Since the acquisition in March, it appears that Dr. Stone has now come full circle as he is now a part of the same academic center that prepared him to be the outstanding physician he is today. He completed his family practice residency at Anderson Family Practice Residency Program/Anderson Memorial Hospital. During his time on the medical staff in Chester, he has served as Chief of Staff five times. Dr. Stone went into the field of medicine because it is what he always wanted to do, even as a child. He states that if he wasn't a physician, he would probably have wanted to be a teacher and a coach. ""I am blessed to be a family doctor,"" said Dr. Stone. ""To be involved with families and to help the people of Chester is a great honor and I don't take it lightly.""If you can find Dr. Stone on the sidelines of the Chester High School stadium on Friday nights, you will definitely find him in Clemson on Saturdays. He has served as a stadium doctor there for over 40 years. He is also active with Tigers On Call. He is very passionate about both schools and the athletes of these schools. Dr. Stone is very community oriented and it's evidenced by the many ways in which he dedicates his time and energy. He is the Co-founder and medical doctor of The Good Samaritan Free Clinic; Board Chair of MidCarolina AHEC and a MUSC and VCOM student preceptor. This year, he is the SCAFP Student Educator of the Year and VCOM Preceptor of the Year. He is also a former president of SCAFP, where he is still active and he is also active with the SCMA. He serves on the MUSC School of Medicine Alumni Board and is a former president.". Dr. Stone is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, and Urinary Tract Infection in Children. Dr. Stone is currently accepting new patients.

Malik E. Ashe, M.D. is a board-certified family medicine provider who practices at MUSC Health - Lowry's Primary Care in Chester, SC. Dr. Ashe is a graduate of MoreHouse College and completed his medical degree at S.U.N.Y Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, NY. He completed his family medicine residency at UMDNJ at Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ. Dr. Ashe also did a sports medicine fellowship at Allegheny Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. He has been a team physician for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Wild Things Baseball team, as well as a Hampton High School team doctor.Dr. Ashe is a member of the following professional organizations: American Medical Association, American Medical Society of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians.When Dr. Ashe isn't busy taking care of his patients, he enjoys real estate and precious metals investing. Dr. Ashe is highly rated in 4 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Kearns-Sayre Syndrome, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Hypertension, and Familial Hypertension. Dr. Ashe is currently accepting new patients.

Courtney L. Wright, M.D. is a board-certified Family Medicine provider who practices at MUSC Health-Lowry's Primary Care in Chester, South Carolina. Dr. Wright graduated from the University of South Carolina Columbia with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences. She then earned her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, followed by completion of her family medicine residency at Prisma Health Midlands in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Wright is passionate about providing high-quality care to underserved populations. Throughout her training, she gained extensive experience in the diagnosis, treatment and management of acute and chronic conditions in patients of all ages in various settings, including clinics, hospitals and long-term care facilities Dr. Wright has certifications in basic life support, advanced cardiovascular, and pediatric advanced life support. Her clinical interest includes chronic disease management with a focus on obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Her involvement with clinical research and quality improvement initiatives highlights her dedication to optimize the health of patients through evidence -based medicine with a patient-centered approach. Dr. Wright is a member of the American Medical Association, South Carolina Medical Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Wright is currently accepting new patients.

Lindsey Crofford is a board-certified family nurse practitioner passionate about rural medicine and the underserved. She graduated with undergraduate degrees in Nursing and Spanish and International Health in December of 2016, where she began working with Clemson Rural Health, aiding in the planning and implementation of mobile health clinics. After moving to Charleston, she began working as a medical-surgical nurse at MUSC, specializing in neurology and neurosurgery. While working at MUSC, she was a part of shared governance, focusing on shared decision-making between nurses and leadership to improve work culture and patient outcomes. Wanting to focus her attention on prevention and a whole health model of care, she obtained her Master's in nursing from MUSC in August of 2022, with a Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis. Her special interests include pediatrics, women's health, and chronic disease management. She is dedicated to providing quality care across the lifespan while implementing evidence-based practice catered to the patient's individual needs. She is passionate about connecting with patients and their stories. Her clinical expertise encompasses Hypertension. Dr. Crofford is currently accepting new patients.

Julius Freeman is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Chester, South Carolina. His clinical expertise encompasses Swallowing Difficulty, Painful Swallowing, N-Acetylglutamate Synthase Deficiency, and Arginase Deficiency.

Dr. Swapna Paladugu, M.D., is a dedicated family medicine practitioner committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care to her patients. She currently practices at MUSC Health Primary Care Richburg. Dr. Paladugu embarked on her medical journey at Vinayaka Mission Medical College in Tamil Nadu, India, where she completed her undergraduate education. She then pursued residency training at Genesys Regional Medical Center/Michigan State University in Flint, Michigan, specializing in Family Medicine. Throughout her career, Dr. Paladugu has continuously pursued professional development and excellence. She holds certifications in ACLS, MRO DOT, and USCIS civil surgeon and is AAFP Board Certified. Since joining the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Family Medicine team in 2013, Dr. Paladugu has served as a dedicated faculty member and instructor for medical students at MUSC and Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). Her commitment to medical education extends back to her time at Michigan State University, where she also served as a faculty member. Dr. Paladugu's passion for advancing medical knowledge is evident in her Principal Investigator for Peak Research role. Additionally, she currently holds the position of Medical Director at Lancaster Hospice, overseeing end-of-life care for patients and their families. Throughout her career, Dr. Paladugu has sought opportunities to broaden her clinical experience through observer-ships at Ingalls Hospital in Chicago and the Allergy Immunology Clinic in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She completed her compulsory rotatory internship at Vinayaka Medical Hospital in India. Dr. Swapna Paladugu, M.D., is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care and contributing to the advancement of medical education and research in family medicine. Dr. Paladugu is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Premature Ovarian Failure, and Hypertension. Dr. Paladugu is currently accepting new patients.

Julie Bowers, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, brings over three decades of expertise in nursing and advanced practice nursing to her role as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at MUSC Health Primary Care in Richburg, SC. Her commitment to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care has been a consistent hallmark throughout her distinguished career.Before joining MUSC Health, Julie held pivotal positions at Catawba Family Medicine in Richburg and Palmetto Tri-County Internal Medicine in Lancaster, where she provided expert care and diagnostic services to a diverse patient population. Notably, Julie founded the Diabetes Education Center and served as a Certified Diabetes Instructor (CDE) during her tenure at Palmetto Tri-County Internal Medicine, underscoring her dedication to improving patient outcomes and community health initiatives.Julie's extensive nursing background includes roles at Springs Memorial Hospital, where she served as a Registered Nurse in various capacities, including Employee Health Nurse, General Rehabilitation Nursing Manager, and Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN). Additionally, she assumed leadership roles as Nursing Program Manager and Case Manager at Rebound Incorporation, where she oversaw the Head Injury Rehabilitation Unit.Throughout her career, Julie has remained committed to advancing her education and professional development. She earned a Diploma in Nursing/Registered Nurse from Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wingate University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Graceland University. Julie's academic achievements have been recognized with multiple awards, including the Academic Achievement Award and Service Award from Wingate University.Julie's outstanding contributions to the field have garnered prestigious accolades, including the Preceptor of the Year award from MUSC College of Health Professionals and the Nurse Practitioner of the Year award from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Julie continues to exemplify excellence in nursing practice, education, and leadership, making enduring contributions to health care delivery and patient advocacy. Dr. Bowers is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Vitamin D Deficiency, Menopause, Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), and Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Dr. Bowers is currently accepting new patients.

Meaghan Pedlow, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a passion for chronic disease management and preventive care. She focuses on building strong, lasting relationships with patients to support their long-term health and well-being. Meaghan earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2015 and later received her doctorate in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 2025. She is certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Before becoming a nurse practitioner, Meaghan worked for several years as a medical-surgical float nurse, caring for patients across a wide range of hospital units. This experience strengthened her clinical skills and deepened her commitment to patient-centered care. She completed her nurse practitioner training with MUSC Health Primary Care clinics in Great Falls and Richburg, where she developed a strong connection to the community. Meaghan is excited to continue working with patients in the same setting where she trained and looks forward to providing accessible, quality care. Meaghan's approach is warm and collaborative. She values shared decision-making and believes in the power of prevention to create meaningful health outcomes. Her goal is to empower patients with knowledge and support them in making choices that fit their lives. Dr. Pedlow is currently accepting new patients.