M.D. PhD, Flower Photographer
by Melissa LaScaleia
Introduce me to your family.
I have a son, Boris, and two grandchildren: Daniel is twelve years old and Ken is fifteen. Then there’s Sugarglitter, my small, Australian opossum.
Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home?
I moved to Michigan from Siberia more than twenty years ago. Twelve years ago I moved to Murrells Inlet. I recently purchased a live-work space in the Market Common from which I run my boutique medicine business, MD4 Vitality, and now I split my time between both locations.
Why did you move here?
For the ocean, it is a huge healing body.
What is your favorite place in this area?
The entire Market Common and what it has to offer. It’s very health and wellness oriented which I appreciate. I walk around the lake every morning. I love the small coffee shops and restaurants; and my hairdresser, nail salon and massage therapist are here. I only opened my office here last year, but I was already firmly entrenched in the area.
What are your favorite things to do here?
Dog watch from my window. I see people in my office all the time, so I prefer to watch dogs.
I have a deep connection with flowers, and in my free time I photograph them. Some of my work is in the Seacoast Artist Gallery, and last year it was featured on the front cover of Market Common Neighborhood magazine.
What do you like the most about living here?
I like how clean it is and that everything is within walking distance. The population here is looking to be healthy. And the people and animals are so friendly and always smiling. My neighbors feel like a family.
What business do you own in the Market Common?
I am board certified in lifestyle medicine. I do personalized protocols for every patient, and train and teach people how to be healthy and strong. I do healthy gut protocols; post Covid recovery treatment; family practice; and skin wellness. I also conduct lymphatic drainage massage. People love it— it improves the immune system.
What’s one thing your neighbors don’t know about you?
I’m a retired major in the U.S. Army where I served as a medical doctor. I was a family physician in Murrells Inlet and won the Readers Choice award in 2018 for Best Family Physician in Myrtle Beach.
How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here?
I walk more, and make my own schedule.
Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach?
Grocery stores that sell healthy foods.