DEKALB MEDICAL GROUP - Key Persons

Andrew Hester, MD is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has been practicing in the south for over 7 years. He previously practiced in Gadsden, which allowed him to also work part-time in Fort Payne. "I've recently decided to dedicate my full attention to Fort Payne and DeKalb County to help service the community and patients who have welcomed me so openly." Dr. Hester specializes in sports medicine, joint replacement, fractures, non-operative pediatric deformities, hand surgery and tendon repairs. Dr. Hester graduated the Medical College of Georgia with honors and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Tennessee's Erlanger Baroness Hospital in Chattanooga. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a member of the American Medical Association and American College of Physicians. In his free time, Dr. Hester enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Daniel Mince, MD is board-certified in internal medicine. Dr. Mince graduated from Jacksonville State University with a bachelor's in Biology in 1978 and completed medical school in 1982 at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, UAB. He completed his residency in 1985 at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham. Dr. Mince has been with DeKalb Regional for 35 years. Dr. Mince has been married for 32 years, and has three children and one grandchild.

Job Titles:

• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Dr. Mathews is a 2007 graduate of Fort Payne High School, a magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University, and received her medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Dr. Mathews completed her residency as part of Brookwood Baptist Health's community-based residency program in Birmingham, where she received the Hugh Linder Award for "Chief Resident of the Year." She treats a wide variety of issues including gallbladder disease, appendicitis, hernias, obesity and cancer (thyroid, colon, breast, skin, etc.), and is skilled in such procedures as open, laparoscopic and robotic operations. She has a particular interest in women's health, including breast health screening and treatment. Dr. Mathews enjoys spending time with her husband Colby (also a Fort Payne native), daughter Katherine Alan, and goldendoodle Beau.

Jason Ham, MD, is a 1998 graduate of Fort Payne High School. Dr. Ham went on to study chemical engineering at Auburn University. He attended medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, UAB, and completed his residency at Tuscaloosa Family Medicine. Dr. Ham is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Marja Jones has lived in Fort Payne all her life and attended Fort Payne High School. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Jacksonville State University in 2006. In 2021, she earned her Master's Degree in Nursing in Acute Care Adults and Geriatrics Nurse Practitioner from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Most recently, Marja earned her Post Graduate Master's Certificate as a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner from Auburn University. Marja was fortunate to complete two rotations of clinicals with DOSM, where she developed her love for orthopedic care. What she loves most about her job is being able to help people and improve their quality of life. In Marja's spare time, she enjoys hunting, fishing, and caring for the cows and horses on the farm with her family. She also enjoys watching her kids participate in sports.

Ricky Deerman, MD, is a graduate of Pisgah High School, Northeast State Community College, UAH, and graduated from medical school at The University of South Alabama. He completed his residency at the University of Alabama Family Medicine Residency Program in Tuscaloosa in 1988. Dr. Deerman has been in Rainsville practicing medicine since 1988. He celebrated his 31st year in Rainsville on August 1, 2019.

Job Titles:

• Member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

Robert O. Boatwright, MD, is a board-certified general orthopedic surgeon who has been in practice for four years. He is a graduate of Mercer University Medical School and completed his residency at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he also worked as the attending orthopedic surgeon in the level 3 Trauma Center for the last few years. Additionally, Dr. Boatwright was a commander in the U.S. Navy for 13 years. Dr. Boatwright specializes in musculoskeletal system maladies, most commonly treating broken bones, ligament tears and cartilage loss, among other things, but he has a special interest in working with and treating sports-related injuries. "The most rewarding part of my job is helping patients return to a high functioning level following acute musculoskeletal injuries. I love learning about my patients, listening to their concerns and working hard to ease tensions and calm fears/anxieties." Dr. Boatwright is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Southern Orthopaedic Association. Dr. Boatwright, his wife and son have made their home in Rainsville, where they enjoy all things outdoors such as hunting, camping and hiking.

Scott Argo, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Scott Argo, MD, is a 1997 graduate of Collinsville High School. Dr. Argo went on to attend medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, UAB. He completed his residency at Tuscaloosa Family Medicine. In his free time, Dr. Argo enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Steven Isbell, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). He has been practicing all aspects of general, laparoscopic, vascular and bariatric surgery in the Fort Payne area for more than 40 years, all of which was at the former clinic Walker-Isbell Surgeons. Dr. Isbell is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his General Surgery Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Isbell renders service to some 6,000 patients per year and is known within the community as a caring and compassionate medical professional. Dr. Isbell is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Isbell is a graduate of Fort Payne High School and hails from a well-known local family of physicians - his father, uncle, cousin and brother were all doctors. Continuing the family legacy, Dr. Isbell's daughter, Dr. Eleanor Isbell Mathews, works alongside her father in general surgery at DeKalb General Surgery and Bariatrics.