Dr. Stephen Pershing has always believed in the power of medicine. These days he's including a higher power in his Vonore practice.

"I had always been a goal setter, but I'd never set happiness as a goal. I prayed about it and I realized that the most important things in my life were God, family, other people, then medicine. Money was nowhere on the list. I wish I'd learned it a long time ago."

A self-described workaholic, Pershing simply burned out. He worked part-time and eventually closed his practice. He's been back in business at his office in Kennedy Medical Center in Vonore for more than three years now but this time around; he's taking time for what most patients think of as "small stuff."

See full story in the Wednesday, Sept. 26, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.