Andalusia native and local physicians assistant Larry Norris said he’s been in the healthcare field for 25 years because he feels obligated to give back to the community that reared him.

After working in several places, Norris is opening his own family care practice in Opp.

“Covington County is my home,” Norris said. “I have a lot of friends and relatives here. I tried for 20 years to get back home after I graduated from Andalusia High School and I finally got a chance to come home with Dr. (Roger) Boyington and I have been here ever since.”

Boyington’s practice was acquired by Main Street Family Care in 2017.

Norris said that he is excited to get back doing what he loves to do for the community that he loves.

“I love taking care of people and I felt a responsibility to help the people of our community,” he said.

For the month of December 2018, Norris has been filling in for Dr. Kenneth Crowe in Opp while he is on a mission trip and he is excited to stay in Opp for his new practice.

“I still feel like it’s home,” Norris said. “So I’m excited to take care of the people here.”

Even though he is moving down the highway, Norris expects to keep several of his old patients.

“I have already seen some of my old patients from Andalusia with Dr. Crowe,” Norris said. “And I have had others call starting today [Thursday] to make appointments, so I am excited about it.”

The practice will be labeled as a family care clinic, but Norris said that he will gladly see patients for whatever reason.

“It is a family care practice, but it will include primary care and urgent care,” Norris said. “But I will do everything from physicals to urgent care. I have over 10 years in orthopedic experience as well. I will be accompanied by two people that I have worked with for nine years, Wendy Cottle and Courtney Lassiter and my collaborating physician will be Dr. Robert Williams.”

Norris has been in the healthcare field for 25 years, starting out as a profusion assistant in 1996.

“I truly have a compassion and an obligation to my community to give back. That is why I got into healthcare,” he said.

Norris said that the response from the community was better than he imagined.

“The response has been a lot better than I hoped,” Norris said. “I put it on Facebook and I have already gotten close to 100 replies on it, so it is very encouraging. We have already made over 10 appointments from calls today.”

Mizell Medical Clinic will open on Mon., Jan. 14. They will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m., until 6 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m., until noon.

They are located at 103 Memorial Avenue Suite A, in Opp.