A well-respected family doctor in Middlebrook is now tackling an issue many face as we age: skincare.
Dr. John Otho “Rob” Marsh has a distinguished military background and has worked for decades to give back to his rural hometown after his retirement from the Army in the mid-90s. As with most rural doctors, Marsh has treated his patients for a wide variety of ailments.
His wife, Barbara, saw a need beyond offering care for a cold or the flu or other health issues in the rural county. As she grew older and looked in the mirror, she noticed sunspots, wrinkles and changes in her complexion.
Recognizing a need, together, the husband-and-wife team opened an aesthetics practice in Rockbridge County, Harmony Aesthetics, where where they hope to help others who are also dealing with skin issues related to aging or sun damage.
Nurse practitioner Victoria Tomlin has joined the clinic at 36 Cherry Grove Road in Middlebrook, mastering both neurotoxin treatments and laser skin resurfacing.
The medical spa is offering an open house this month for people curious about improving their own skin. The open house will be held on Jan. 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. where anyone may ask questions about skincare.
While the business was the brainchild of his wife, Dr. Marsh serves as the medical director for the Shenandoah Valley practice ensuring the safety and integrity of the clinic.
His commitment to patients in rural Virginia stems from his time spent in the Army – and a desire to repay church members who prayed for him when he was gravely injured.
Marsh was a physician with the U.S. Army’s Delta Force where he led a medical team that saved 73 lives after a battle in Mogadishu. Days later, he was wounded in a mortar attack in Somalia. In the aftermath, his Middlebrook church held a 24-hour vigil, and he credits those in his church with saving his life, according to reporting in USA Today.
“I’m never going to give up my roots, treating the local community,” he told the newspaper.
More than a decade ago, Marsh was named the Country Doctor of the Year by Staff Care, an award given to extraordinary physicians practicing in communities of 30,000 or less. Middlebrook, in the 2020 census, has a population of 184.
He was nominated for the award by Augusta Health CEO Mary Mannix for his level of commitment to patients in the hospital.
“His level of commitment to his patients is so high,” Mannix told USA Today. “It’s well-known that Rob prefers not to talk about it, but he is a hero.”
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Crystal Graham
