Soul of 78: Scott Dixon
Physician, Premier Health Center
Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill and courtesy of Scott Dixon
There was no extraordinary moment in Scott Dixon's life that inspired or solidified his career choice. At age 16, he simply decided he would become a doctor.
"As a teenager, I was good at science and math, and became interested in the medical field. Nobody in my family was a doctor; I just decided that's what I wanted to do," he recalls.
Dixon was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in the central Florida city of Winter Haven. When his college years arrived, he made his way north, attending Birmingham-Southern College for undergraduate studies. Deciding that Alabama felt like home, he attended medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and completed his residency at the now-defunct Carraway Methodist Medical Center.
Drawn to the dynamic world of emergency medicine, he dedicated the initial two decades of his career to various hospitals in Birmingham. He even met his wife, Becky - a registered nurse - on the job.
However, after working in emergency medicine for years, Dixon was "getting burned out, as most ER physicians do." After moving away from the city, he found the opportunity to establish his own practice in Walker County.
"We decided to buy a house in Dora because Becky's mother had developed breast cancer, and she wanted to be closer to home.The mayor of Dora found out that I was living in town, and he had clinic building sitting empty, so he talked me into opening a clinic here," Dixon recalls.
Now, Premier Health Center has been in business for 17 years. The clinic offers a range of services, including urgent care, primary care, and opiate addiction treatment and counseling. Dixon says he enjoys each aspect of the business.
"I like having variety within each day. I enjoy the business aspect of the clinic, dealing with insurance companies, and managing financials," Dixon continues. "Plus, when you own a clinic, you develop relationships with your patients. I'm their doctor, and they want my opinion. It's rewarding that I can become friends with them and build a legacy."
Dr. Dixon and Becky run the clinic alongside their nephew, Dr. Wesley Minor. Dr. Dixon plans to continue working for a few more years before retiring and passing the torch to Dr. Minor.
Dixon emphasizes, "We're proud to be in the community serving people, and we want everyone to know that we're going to continue to be here and provide quality medical care for this area." 78