THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994              TAG: 9412160270
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN              PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY CAROLE O'KEEFFE, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   61 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Also last Sunday, a story about Dr. Wyatt M. Ruffin Jr., who has opened Nansemond Suffolk Oral Care in Suffolk, contained two errors: Ruffin said he previously worked as a contract dentist for a Newport News shipyard, but not Newport News Shipbuilding, which could have been inferred from the article; and although he was born in Franklin, he grew up in Courtland in Southampton County. The Sun apologizes. Correction published in the Suffolk Sun, Thursday, December 22, 1994, on page 8. ***************************************************************** 2 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OPEN OFFICES IN SUFFOLK

The city's medical community has gained a dentist and a chiropractor, both Chesapeake residents who decided to bring their practices to western Tidewater.

For Wyatt M. Ruffin, setting up his family dentistry practice in Suffolk is a way to return to his rural roots - he grew up in Franklin - and take advantage of what he considers a growing area.

He has opened Nansemond-Suffolk Oral Care at 149 W. Washington St.

Ruffin has been practicing for about 10 years, a graduate of Meharry Medical College. He began in private practice in Hampton then worked as a dentist for Newport News Shipyard for about four years before deciding to get back into private dentistry.

``I looked all around,'' he said recently. ``I wanted to stay in the area. To tell the truth, things seemed to have slowed down in Hampton. But Suffolk seemed up and coming.''

Ruffin said he has been seeing customers mostly from Waverly, Hampton, Newport News and Norfolk. Potential Suffolk patients seem to be waiting until they get to know him, he said - so he has been traveling around town introducing himself.

A. Marshall Leavitt moved to Hampton Roads more than a year ago as a present for his bride, Yugonda, who had grown up in Virginia Beach.

Just recently, he expanded his chiropractic business to Suffolk after hearing from other health professionals that his services were needed here. The practice is Physical Health & Rehab Clinics/Chiropractic Care Center.

He treats people who have damaged their spines in automobile accidents, in falls and on the job.

He has had a chiropractic office in Virginia Beach for about a year and a half. Before that, he lived and practiced in central Virginia, where he met his wife, and they now live in Chesapeake.

Leavitt's Suffolk office is at 1238 Holland Road, No. 110, in Holland Plaza. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II

A. Marshall Leavitt, a chiropractor, has opened an office at 1238

Holland Road, No. 110, in Holland Plaza.

by CNB