Dr. Vinod Jona is a pulmonologist at McLeod Health in Florence, SC. He received his medical degree from Kakatiya Medical College in India. He has done his residency in Bronx, NY, fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care in Philadelphia, PA, and has been in practice for 25 years. He specializes in critical care medicine and interventional pulmonology and is experienced in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and bronchial cancer.

Dr. Brinda Chokshi is a dedicated primary care internist at Hope Health, a leading healthcare organization. Dr. Chokshi holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.; residency training in Internal Medicine at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans, LA; and an undergraduate degree from India.

Dr. Tripp Hines  graduated from East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine. He completed his Neurosurgery residency and an enfolded Deep Brain Stimulation fellowship at the University of Kentucky before coming to work at McLeod Health.  He is married to Abby Hines, an ambulatory care pharmacist. They have two children and two dogs and enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Palmer Morgan Kirkpatrick, M.D. has been a FCMS member since 1985, and has been working as FCMS treasurer since 2018. Dr. Kirkpatrick is a retired gastroenterologist after 36 years of practice in Florence. He is a graduate of MUSC ’70. He is married to wife, Mary, and has two children who are also in the medical field. He is currently enjoying his retirement with Mary, grandchildren, travel, and playing tennis.

Dr. Farrah Thompson serves at McLeod Health as a critical care specialist.  She completed her residency and fellowship at PRISMA in Columbia, and medical school in Suwanee GA at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Her husband also serves at McLeod Health as a hospitalist.

There are two residency programs in Florence

Dr. Rodney Alan is an orthopedic surgeon who represents Florence County physicians, along with those of Cheraw, Darlington, and Marlboro counties, to the Board of Trustees of the South Carolina Medical Association.

Dr. Allison Foster attended the University of South Carolina - Greenville and then completed a general surgery residency at East Tennessee State University.

Dr. Charles Stonerock, MD is a Vascular Surgery Specialist in Florence, SC and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field.  Dr. Stonerock has more experience with Carotid Artery Disease or Carotid Endarterectomy, Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection than other specialists in his area.  He is affiliated with Musc Health Florence Medical Center.

Ron and his wife Terri (Gastroenterology), have three daughters and 6 grandchildren.  In his professional life before retiring in 2015, Ron was an ordained minister, an accountant, a hospital administrator and a medical group administrator. He also serves on the Florence Regional Arts Alliance and the Windsor Forest V-VI Association (Secretary). He is currently the national alliance president-elect.

Courtney Paison has been working since 2019 in recruiting new members to the Alliance.  Her husband is an orthopedic surgeon at MUSC Florence.

​Debbie Hyler is married to former society president Danny Hyler, MD, a family physician at HopeHealth Inc.  She serves the Florence community in many roles, particularly through the School Foundation.  

Kathleen Smith has lived in Florence since 1999 with her husband, Pete, an anesthesiologist at Carolina Pines, and their three children.  She has worked in nursing and education.  

Sue Jona has been a member of FCMS Alliance for over 15 years. She has been the treasurer of the Alliance for the past 3 years. Sue Jona has a masters degree in Mathematics and enjoys teaching calculus and algebra.  Her husband Vinod is the Society President.