One might assume that Dr. Whitney Parnell took the words of the Hippocratic Oath as her personal mantra when she recited them at graduation, but they would be wrong.  

Although they perfectly articulate her approach to the practice of medicine, she missed her graduation because she was in labor with her oldest son, Skyler.

It was not an outcome that seems to have ruffled the very practical Parnell; it seems that very little does. In fact, her mantra is, “If you walk into a dark room, don’t panic, just look for a light switch. Assess the situation and find a solution.”  

Parnell and her team at Grand Strand Surgical Specialists have been that solution for many area residents. She specializes in breast care and her passion for patient care has been the only bright spot for many. “It’s tough to gracefully navigate telling a perfect stranger that they have cancer. Ultimately, the goal is that we treat your cancer so that you become a survivor and have another 40 years. I see my job as someone who helps you navigate the process.”

She does more than help—she makes the unbearable more bearable. “She’s very caring and very dedicated to her patients. She is always up on the latest procedures,” said Christina Howell, Breast Care Navigator at the Breast Health Center at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. “We have had very positive feedback from patients.”

The only thing that surpasses Parnell’s passion for medicine is her love for her family. Her tone takes on a warmth when she talks about husband, Tim, who makes a paycheck as a property manager, but would love to make a living as an artist. Ever the realist, Parnell observes, “It’s not really great to be an artist in a recession.” Despite that belief, she’s supportive of her son, Skyler, who is looking into film school, and will cheer on sons Braxton, Ries and Drake in anything they choose to do.

Her approach to mothering and medicine seems to be synonymous—treat people how you would want to be treated—with caring and compassion. “I’m a big believer in positive thinking,” she said.

Dr. Whitney Parnell is as passionate as she is practical, which is not a bad balance at all.