Brookhaven is known for its medical community, in large part thanks to the talented personnel that take up residence in the city.

Dr. Michael Stewart and his wife, Leah Stewart, will open their own private general surgery practice called Southern Surgical Services, LLC on Tuesday.

The practice will be located at 747 Industrial Park Road NE in the same building as Dr. James Hall’s Anointed Nephrology & HTN, PLLC practice. Michael will still be affiliated with King’s Daughters Medical Center and conduct all operations in the hospital.

“He felt compelled to do this because people have to have general surgeries, appendectomies, gallbladders and hernias done,” Leah said. “He’s on staff at King’s Daughters Medical Center already — that won’t change.”

Leah said her husband felt the need to open his own clinic to serve their previous patients. She said they are looking forward to serving the community in Brookhaven during this next step in their careers.

Michael will see patients at Southern Surgical Services on Mondays, will conduct operations on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will see patients at the KDMC Vein Center on Wednesdays.

“He heads up the Vein Center at KDMC,” Leah said. “He’s the only physician in there who takes care of varicosities. They do sclerotherapy and oblations for unsightly veins or just people who have pain in their legs. He gets a lot of referrals from other clinics to the vein center here to take care of those.”

Leah and Michael are originally from Greenville. Michael is a board-certified surgeon and has worked for a surgery practice in Brookhaven for six years.

Leah received her registered nursing degree from Mississippi Delta Community College. She is a trained surgical nurse and will serve in that position at the new practice.

“We love Brookhaven,” Leah said. “We want to raise our family here. That’s why we decided to stay here and open a clinic. We think this town is full of wonderful people, and we want to raise our children here. That’s why we decided to do this.”

Michael is currently taking referrals for his practice.