ROCKINGHAM — Physician assistant Diedre Bass can’t pinpoint an actual time when she decided to make a career out of medicine, but believes that it was something she always wanted to do.
She can be more specific about the timing on her decision to become a physician assistant.
“I first learned about the physician assistant profession my sophomore year in college,” she said. “After doing some research and shadowing, that’s when I realized it would be a good fit for me.”
Bass has joined FirstHealth Convenient Care in Richmond County as a physician assistant. The office is located at 921 Long Drive, Suite 104, in Rockingham, next to FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital, and Bass said she is happy to be joining the service.
“My background is in emergency room medicine, seeing mostly urgent care-type patients, so Convenient Care was a natural fit,” she says.
A native of Missouri, Bass earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in human development and family studies from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She received her master’s in physician assistant studies from Missouri State University in Springfield.
Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, she comes to FirstHealth Convenient Care after four years as a physician assistant in the emergency department at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, Missouri. She has also worked in hospital emergency departments in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Branson, Missouri.
She relocated to the Sandhills area with her husband, who is in the military.
“I am excited and honored to be working in the convenient care office and to serve Richmond County patients,” Bass said. “Everyone has been very kind and welcoming, and I look forward to my future with FirstHealth.”
John Jackson, president of Richmond Memorial Hospital, welcomed Bass to Richmond County’s convenient care office.
“Ms. Bass’s background and experience makes her a great addition to FirstHealth’s convenient care program,” he said. “We are happy to have her in the community and as part of the FirstHealth team.”
FirstHealth Convenient Care-Richmond is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Sundays. Appointments are not necessary, and walk-ins are welcome.
Brenda Bouser works in marketing and communications for FirstHealth of the Carolinas.