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Dr. Annette “Pixie” Thomas of Palmetto Pediatrics of the Lowcountry has been an advocate for children’s health for almost 30 years. She has served as chief of pediatrics for Palmetto Health Richland Hospital and on the board of Coastal Carolina Hospital.
But contrary to what you might think, Thomas’ nickname — Pixie —did not come with her pediatric practice. “I was a premature baby,” she said. “When my dad saw me, he said, ‘Here’s our little pixie.’ It just stuck — probably because I never grew above five feet tall.”
Thomas put her medical knowledge to use early on. She was the first woman to have a child while in medical school at the University of South Carolina. “That’s my claim to fame,” she said. “At first I was petrified. But the dean was very understanding. I was lucky that my husband, family and friends were very supportive. With their help, we worked a schedule so that I was able to stay on track and graduate on time.” (Thomas’ daughter, Ashley, was born during her third year of medical school, and her son, Philip Jr., was born at the end of her residency.)“I’ve worked hard to separate myself as a pediatrician from my roles as a mother and grandmother,” Thomas said. “In terms of my wonderful twin grandbabies, I try to not give out advice without being asked. You should probably ask my daughter, though. It would be interesting to see what she thinks.”
“My mom is so much more than a pediatrician,” said that daughter, Ashley Seawell. “She’s a 50-something-year-old wife, mother and grandmother, as well as an avid knitter, gardener and gourmet chef wannabe. She makes everyone around her feel special; her patients have echoed this to me over the years. I think that she is an excellent example of how women can be doctors and mothers.”
Asked about how she manages it all, Thomas said simply, “I love what I do. I think if you really care about an activity, you find time for it. In terms of being a pediatrician, it’s an extremely good fit for me. I feel very blessed to be able to do something I love every day. I also have never really required a lot of sleep—I think that helps, too.”
