We first introduced readers to Carol Ansley last fall when we highlighted the business she brought to Lake Highlands – Doctors Express.

Upon meeting her, one quickly realizes she is driven and passionate about providing quality health care and educating the public on important health care topics.

That is precisely why we are so excited to announce that Carol and her staff will be providing LH Today readers important health information through our new Health Care Series, which will launch in July.

In the meantime, we hope you'll enjoy this Q&A with Carol and watch the homepage for her health care articles coming soon.

Tell us about your professional background:

I have a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University and an MBA from SMU.

I worked twenty years in telecommunications with AT&T and Nortel Networks, in addition to working internationally for 10 years – four years living in Mexico. I transitioned to health care in 2002 as the Vice President of Strategic Development at Medical City Dallas Hospital.

Why the Doctors Express brand/franchise?

Two reasons, really. I wanted to own my own business, and I wanted it to be a business that was an asset to the community. I chose Doctors Express because the model was in place, and it allowed me a quicker start-up.

What about the Lake Highlands community attracted you to open your business here?

Right after l completed my undergraduate degree, I lived in an apartment on Fair Oaks and always said to myself, "I want to own a house in Lake Highlands!"

My career took me out of Dallas, but I saw Lake Highlands as a traditionally solid and stable community with a strong spirit, and I liked the diversity. I also realized it wasn't served by urgent care.

What should our readers know about Doctors Express?

We are different than many urgent care centers in that our doctors are board-certified and our staff treats people well – just as we would want to be treated ourselves.

We’re open seven days a week and offer a state-of-the-art on-site lab, digital X-Ray and electronic medical records.

We’re in network with all major insurance plans and Medicare, and we have a discounted rate plan for patients without insurance, which will soon be replaced by an even better membership plan.

Why do you view the need for urgent care as so critical?

It fills a significant gap that exists between primary care and the Emergency Room.

Doctors Express is open when you can't get an appointment with your primary care physician, and we are open when your primary care physician's office isn't.

Doctors Express will also treat non-life threatening illnesses and injuries at a significantly lower cost to patients. We're also much faster than the ER.

What do you hope to accomplish with the LH Today Health Care Series?

I'd like to provide health information of note that will be useful and valuable to the Lake Highlands community.

I serve on the advisory board of the North Texas Enterprise Center for Medical Technology, as well as the associate board of the Cox School of Business at SMU, and I look forward to providing helpful information that readers can incorporate and act on.

And what about your free time?

I've been researching Genealogy since 1978, and I enjoy hiking and golf. On a typical weekend you'll find me at Doctors Express, but I really do want to get back to playing golf regularly!