March Issue Welcome to the
arch feels like a turning point.
In the Foothills, winter doesn’t disappear overnight—it loosens its grip slowly. But there’s a shift you can feel. Mornings grow brighter. Afternoons linger a little longer. And suddenly, we’re all looking for excuses to step outside.
Outdoor living takes on a special meaning in this part of North Carolina. It’s less about spectacle and more about presence—coffee on the porch, time spent in the garden, walks through familiar neighborhoods, evenings gathered around a fire as the air begins to soften. These moments may seem simple, but they’re the rhythms that shape our days and ground us in place.
As spring approaches, I hope this issue inspires you to open the door, take a deep breath, and spend a little more time under open skies. Not to rush the season, but to ease into it. To notice what’s blooming, what’s changing, and what feels newly possible.
Here’s to longer days, fresh air, and the quiet joy of living well.
Warmly, Lauren
Lauren Platts Editor, Hickory Living Magazine CurrentsLauren@gmail.com
Celebrating the Ringing of the Journey Bell - a meaningful milestone in a patient’s cancer journey.
Bringing Personalized Medical Care to Hickory
By Allison Futterman | Photographers: Shane Greene and Seth Snider
“Your Care ... Our Calling”
Anyone who has ever been impacted by cancer knows that finding the right medical care is of the utmost importance. It can be an overwhelming and scary time when dealing with a suspected or confirmed cancer diagnosis—and time is of the essence.
Having the right oncology team makes an enormous difference. Beginning in early April, Hickory residents will be able to obtain personalized, skilled, and compassionate care at Southern Oncology Specialists.
Hickory will mark the sixth location for the medical group, which was started in 2010 by Dr. William Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell isn’t just the founder; he’s also one of the providers—along with six other oncologists/hematologists and six advanced practice providers.
Their guiding principle is “Your care is our calling.” These are not just words; it is their ethos—and it is reflected in the way patients are treated. It starts with that first phone call. Whether a patient is calling directly or is referred, Southern Oncology Specialists works to get new patients seen as quickly as possible, expediting new patient appointments.
As a community-based independent practice, Southern Oncology Specialists prioritizes building trust in the communities they serve. They are passionate about providing exceptional care within local communities, offering a different experience from large hospitals. Private practice allows physicians to have a level of autonomy that is not always possible in a large bureaucratic system. Everyone is treated as an individual—not just a number.
Right: Dr. Jack Burton shares his expertise and knowledge with team member Chyna
Above: Dr. Moses Raj is committed to patient-centered care and strong partnerships with patients and their families.
Right: Katie, NP and Laura, RN Clinical Manager, collaborating to ensure exceptional patient care.
on the cover
They do this by offering on-site CT scanning, a specialty pharmacy, infusion suites, laboratory services, and bone marrow biopsies. They are also connected with clinical trials, and patients can undergo genetic and molecular testing when needed. Having so many services in-house allows physicians to receive reports more quickly, review scans with patients in the exam room, and deliver therapies in a faster and more effective way, according to Dr. Mitchell.
Being able to see an oncologist locally means patients do not have to travel long distances, incur additional expenses, or deal with long wait times to see a specialist. And although most care can be given in a private medical setting, there are occasional situations that require hospital care. When that
happens, doctors at Southern Oncology Specialists work closely with hospitals in the community.
One unique advantage of a private oncology practice is its ability to deliver care at a lower cost, helping to reduce financial toxicity—the financial stress patients often face during cancer treatment. Financial toxicity can negatively impact both health and quality of life, while lower financial burden is associated with improved survival and better overall outcomes. Patients benefit from a practice that not only provides high-quality medical care but also offers support with insurance navigation and financial concerns, addressing the full scope of challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Willliam Mitchell’s philosophy “Treat every patient like they are family”.
“Southern Oncology Specialists provides cancer navigators to guide and support patients, ensuring they have someone to walk alongside them every step of the way.
Everyone connected with Southern Oncology Specialists shares a patient-centered mindset—something they are mindful of during the hiring process. While staff can be trained in procedures and protocols, compassion cannot be taught. Sharing a like-minded mission of serving patients may explain why many employees have remained with the group for years.
Dr. Mitchell describes oncology as a “mixture of acute care, chronic care, psychology, and faith.” He finds the field rewarding because oncology is continually evolving with new and improved technologies. He recalls a time when there were far fewer options for patients with cancer, but today, there are many ways to fight, manage, and control the disease.
Another important differentiator of Southern Oncology Specialists is their ability to seek co-pay assistance and external funding sources to help patients with financial need— something not all oncology practices offer.
Navigating the cancer care process can be stressful and confusing. That is why Southern Oncology Specialists provides cancer navigators to guide and support patients, ensuring they have someone to walk alongside them every step of the way.
At Southern Oncology Specialists, physicians do not limit their focus to a single specialty; instead, they treat all types of cancer and blood disorders. Patients can be assured that delivering high-quality compassionate care remains their ultimate goal.
Pictured, top to bottom: Dr. Moses Raj and Katie, NP collaborating on patient care.
Katie Brown, NP is excited to join our team and is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care to the Hickory community.
By offering on-site CT scanning, we navigate care and diagnose conditions more quickly.
Stacy, our New Patient Coordinator, is dedicated to making every patient feel welcomed, well-informed and cared for from the very first call.
Weekend Getaway
Raleigh Restaurants Powered by Women
Women chefs and restaurant owners in Raleigh lead with heart and
by Vanessa Infanzon
When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the stability of restaurants in Raleigh, many women chefs supported one another, eventually forming a bond they’ve continued six years later. Chef Cheetie Kumar, co-owner of Ajja, feels fortunate to be part of this group of women. They dream together and push one another to be their best, she says.
“I realize, every day—and I am not exaggerating—how lucky we are to be in this community,” says Kumar, a two-time finalist for Best Chef in the Southeast. “We have each other to work through issues or just vent. Because we are all business owners and chefs, we’re all competitive by nature, but it’s not a competition. We’re all rooting for each other.”
hospitality.
Kumar opened Ajja in 2023 in a stand-alone building with a view of downtown from Raleigh’s historic Five Points neighborhood. Although the menu changes based on the season and what local farms are producing, dishes focus on lesser-known Middle Eastern flavors. Whipped feta and braised lamb tagine are guest favorites. Flatbreads, including a gluten-free option, are homemade. Ajja was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant in 2024.
209 Bickett Blvd., Raleigh | ajjaeats.com
Plan a weekend in Raleigh — less than a three-hour drive from Hickory — to celebrate restaurants with women at the helm. Together, they’re raising the bar on dining and hospitality in our state’s capital. Meet some of the women making headlines in Raleigh.
Citrus Salad at Ajja, photo credit: Jessica Todd Marrone
Cheetie Kumar of Ajja, photo credit: Baxter Miller
Coleen Speaks owns Hummingbird in Raleigh, photo credit: Jamie Robbins
Bittersweet
Chef Chun Shi leads the team at Brewery Bhavana, photo credit: Molly Dubois
Entrepreneur Kim Hammer features coffee cocktails, crafted cocktails with nonalcoholic options, and delectable desserts at Bittersweet, a 2024 James Beard Foundation semifinalist. Order the derby pie—a chocolate-bourbon pecan pie with salted caramel sauce—served with vanilla ice cream. Check out Hammer’s other concept, Bitter Social, for special events such as dance parties and film screenings.
16 E. Martin Street, Raleigh | bittersweetraleigh.com
Brewery Bhavana
Executive Chef Chun Shi leads the team at Brewery Bhavana, a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Spend an afternoon choosing from 40 beers on tap, highlighting flavors from Belgium and Southeast Asia. From 2 to 4 p.m., share dim sum plates with handmade bao, dumplings, and rolls. Read a book from the extensive library or buy one from the small bookshop inside. 218 S. Blount Street, Raleigh | brewerybhavana.com
Fiction Kitchen
Chef Caroline Morrison and her wife, Siobhan Southern, operate Fiction Kitchen, a vegan-vegetarian restaurant specializing in classic Southern fare. Enjoy homemade meatloaf, an Eastern North Carolina BBQ sandwich, and chicken and waffles—meat-free and locally sourced.
Gateway Plaza, 2431 Crabtree Blvd., Suite 103, Raleigh | thefictionkitchen.com
Hummingbird
Chef and owner Coleen Speaks, a celebrated chef in Raleigh, opened Hummingbird in 2017. Diners enjoy whimsical décor alongside fresh salads and sandwiches plated on vintage dishes. Craft beverages and desserts are served inside or on the covered patio. Speaks also operates PoshNosh Catering, offering gourmet experiences for corporate and private events. 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 111, Raleigh | hummingbirdraleigh.com
Ashley Christensen plates a salad at Poole’s Diner, photo credit: Paul Mehaffey
La Farm Bakery
Tina Vora, Co-owner of Tamasha Modern Indian, photo credit: Harsha Sapini
Missy Vatinet and her husband, Lionel, launched La Farm Bakery in 1999. Pick up fresh bread, jams, and pastries. Order the prosciutto, mozzarella, and pesto on a baguette for a picnic lunch with the Thomas Dambo Trolls—five larger-than-life recycled wood sculptures—at Dorothea Dix Park.
122 Glenwood Avenue and 404 E. Six Forks Road, Suite 171, Raleigh | lafarmbakery.com
Mala Pata
Chef Angela Salamanca co-owns Mala Pata, a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient. The art and menu are carefully curated, both reflecting Latin American traditions. Colombian buñuelos, a signature starter, are tasty bites made with cassava and corn fritters, cotija, chili oil, and agave butter. Visit Peyote, a minibar in back, for specialty cocktails such as the agave old fashioned, banana painkiller, and cactus flower.
Gateway Plaza, 2431 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh | malapatanc.com
Poole’s Diner
James Beard Award–winning Chef Ashley Christensen, known as the matriarch of Raleigh’s culinary world, is behind the Michelinrecommended Poole’s Diner. Reserve a seat at the Double Horseshoe Counter—a nod to the 1950s diner experience—or in the main dining area. Dishes such as the braised short rib pot pie and crispy airline chicken contribute to the restaurant’s “reimagined comfort food.”
428 S. McDowell Street, Raleigh | ac-restaurants.com/pooles
Tamasha Modern Indian
Restaurateurs Tina Vora and her husband, Mike Kathrani, envisioned serving exquisite Indian dishes in a beautiful space when they opened Tamasha, a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Vora took the lead in blending fabrics, metals, and bold artwork to create an elegant vibe. The four-cheese truffle kulcha is a fan-favorite appetizer; mild and sharp cheddar, brie, asiago, chili, truffle, and shishito pepper form perfect bites.
4200 Six Forks Road, #130, Raleigh | tamashanc.com
