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Stephynia Limongello, FNP
Family Medicine | Still Waters Family Health | Yancey County
1. What is a quote that has had a significant influence on your life, and why?
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson
I think that most people want to fit in even if that means dumbing themselves down to do it. I would say one of the biggest hurdles in my life has been learning to be ok with not fitting in, and being ok if my success made other people feel uncomfortable. I believe everyone has unique gifts and purpose for being here, but I think we often are afraid of rejection, so we will not let the light that is within us shine in a way that is impactful to our communities.
2. Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in Yancey County, in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Though I have lived in other places, I am a mountain girl through and through!
3. How did you decide to become a physician?
My dream as a little girl was always to heal people. I originally wanted to do medical missions work, but as I have matured, I have seen what a mission field was right in front of me in my hometown.
4. What do you like about practicing in an underserved area?
I came back to my hometown, Burnsville, NC, because as a child I didn’t have access to adequate healthcare. I wanted to make sure people had not only access to care, but care that empowered them as unique patients, not just making them another number.
5. Is your practice using any tools to address social determinates of health for patients?
Through partnership with local ministries, including the one that my husband and I run, Charis Children’s Foundation, we provide both not only medical services, but food, clothing, utilities payments sometimes housing to local at-risk families. Sometimes the best way to address disparities in social determinants of health is not more government, but to remind people that we are all human, and when your neighbor suffers ultimately you suffer. That is the heart of rural medicine in my opinion.
6. How has Medicaid Transformation/Expansion affected your practice?
Unfortunately, I am not a huge fan of the expansion of Medicaid. I believe the heart to provide care to more people should be applauded, but I am not sure the way we are going forward with that is the best solution. Medicaid, I feel, made it harder to operate my practice in the earlier years. We will see what the future holds.
7. Do you have any hobbies or activities for self-care?
I am involved in the praise team and choir in my church. I read, sing and play piano, but most of all, just getting in the sunshine and making sure that I spend time with my husband and young boys keeps me healthy and relatively sane! I try to be purposeful about watching my rest and taking time off when I need to recharge. I have learned I can’t save anyone if I can’t function myself. And we can truly only give our patients the truth that we have lived, not what we read in a book.
8. Is there anything that CPP can do to help you and your practice?
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of the CPP program. Franklin has been a tremendous encouragement to me over the years as I have had some very unusual and challenging situations arise. I have always felt extremely supported and appreciated.
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