Family Medicine
Pinner Clinic
Born in 1945 in Charleston, S.C., Pinner was raised in Peak, S.C., where his family established a remarkable legacy in medicine. In 1950, his parents joined his grandfather’s medical practice, originally founded in 1915, marking the beginning of over a century of continuous service to the same community. His mother was among the few women in medical school during the 1940s, exemplifying the determination and pioneering spirit that would shape the family’s enduring commitment to patient care.
Pinner graduated third in his class from The Citadel in 1967 before pursuing his medical degree at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, now Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed his family practice residency at the Greenville Hospital System, where he served as chief resident and was elected by his peers to represent them on the hospital system’s board. During this time, he also received national recognition as one of 10 residents awarded a scholarship from Mead Johnson.
In 1974, Pinner was appointed assistant professor of medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 1975, he returned to Peak to join his parents in family practice, continuing a tradition of compassionate, community-centered care. This legacy expanded to four generations when his son joined the practice in 2014, with the family serving the same community in the same location for over 110 years.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Pinner has been the recipient of numerous honors, including Doctor of the Year by Wellspring in 1999, various recognitions as a top family physician and the Paul Harris Fellow Award for his service to the Chapin community. In 2001, he was honored with the South Carolina Rural Health Pioneer Award, and in 2025, he was named Top Doctor and Top Practice in Newberry County.
Beyond his clinical work, Pinner has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to community service. He has served as president of the Newberry Medical Society and has been an active leader in his church, including service on the church council and as chairman of Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church. His dedication to improving access to care is reflected in his long-standing work with the Newberry County Free Clinic.
In recognition of the family’s extraordinary and enduring contributions to medicine and community service, the South Carolina House and Senate formally honored their legacy with a resolution commemorating more than a century of dedicated care.
Pinner has been married for 50 years to his wife, Dinah Keesee, a 1968 graduate of the nursing school at N. C. Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Together, they have three children.
Family Medicine
West is a physician whose career reflects a multigenerational commitment to service and community-based medicine. She comes from a family with deep roots in medical practice, beginning with her grandfather, Carroll Pinner Sr., MD, who established a practice in Peak, S.C., in 1915. Her parents, Harriett Ellen Pinner, MD, and Carroll Pinner Jr., MD, later continued this tradition, providing rural medical care to the same community. Growing up, West was exposed early to the principles of patient-centered care, professionalism and respect that would shape her career.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Clemson University in 1977, graduating with highest honors and receiving the Zoology Award. She completed her medical education at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, formerly Bowman Gray School of Medicine, receiving her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1981. During medical school, she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and received the Veidenhof Family Practice Award in recognition of her commitment to primary care. She completed her residency training at N. C. Baptist Hospital, now known as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
Following residency, West entered private practice in Atlanta, Ga., where she developed long-standing relationships with patients across diverse clinical settings. She later served at the Good Samaritan Health Center in Atlanta, providing care to homeless and uninsured individuals while precepting medical students and emphasizing the fundamentals of physical diagnosis and compassionate care. West subsequently practiced rural medicine in Rabun County, Ga., where access to health care is limited and continuity of care is essential, serving as a trusted physician within the community.
In retirement, West has remained actively engaged in service as the volunteer medical director for Victory Home, a faith-based residential recovery program for men with substance use disorders. She continues to apply a patient-centered approach to caring for underserved and marginalized populations.
West’s service also extends beyond clinical medicine. She has served on the board of directors of the Foxfire organization, including two terms as chair, supporting the preservation of Appalachian history and culture. She is active in Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church, where she serves on the church session, and participates in regional environmental and horticultural organizations, including the Georgia Native Plant Society and Headwaters Master Gardeners. Through community gardening initiatives and the Victory Home greenhouse plant sale, she supports local educational initiatives, including 4-H scholarships.
Her career spans rural, urban and underserved settings and reflects a lifelong dedication to service, professional integrity, and respect for patients and communities. West is married to Thomas B. West, MD ’81, and they have three adult children and seven grandchildren.