“Helping people.” That’s what Family Nurse Practitioner Mary Kathryn Dossett, FNP, replies instantly when asked what she likes about her job. “Especially in our area, where there are so many people that don’t have access to great healthcare.” Dossett’s patients fill a special place in her heart. She’s a Covington County native. When she provides family care at CCH Clinic Family Medical in Collins, she’s treating neighbors and friends. Walking Alongside “I think being from Covington County gives me a benefit because I know a lot of the dynamics here,” she said. “I know a lot of the things that people face. I feel like it’s easy for me to step into someone’s shoes and help walk alongside them when you know where they’re coming from.” CCH Clinic Family Medical, a Covington County Hospital clinic, is at 301 Hospital Boulevard, just off U.S. 49 and across from the Collins Civic Center. Dossett, Dr. Andrea Bruce, DO, and the staff provide primary care, preventive care, annual exams, wellness visits, and standard vaccinations and immunizations. They treat walk-ins as well as patients with appointments. Helping people can be challenging as well as rewarding. “I always remind myself to be empathetic,” Dossett said. “You never know what people have going on.” Problems Following Up It might seem frustrating, for example, when a patient doesn’t fill a prescription or doesn’t follow up with treatment from an out-of-town specialist. “You might think, well, they’re just noncompliant,” Dossett said. “But there’s always a reason behind it. There may be financial problems. I have a lot of people who say, ‘My car won’t make it to Hattiesburg or Laurel or Magee.’ “Just understanding where they’re coming from, where they’re at mentally, physically, and financially, is so important in healthcare.” Living Her Dream It helps that Dossett is living her dream career. “My mom was a nurse,” she said, “and I think I always knew I wanted to go into healthcare.” She earned an associate degree in nursing from Jones College and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Mississippi University for Women, and became a registered nurse. “I ended up in labor and delivery, and I loved it,” she said. “But I knew I wanted to do more.” She went back to school and earned a Master of Science in the family nurse practitioner program at the University of South Alabama. COVINGTON COUNTY NATIVE FEELS SPECIAL BOND WITH PATIENTS 2026 Spring/Summer 20
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