By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Born and raised in Lafayette, La., Gregory Peter Bourgeois grew up with older brother Brad and younger sister Becca taking road trips around the Southeast to LSU football games.

His favorite school activities and interests were tennis, roller hockey, basketball and movies (especially the classics).

Bourgeois’ family consists of wife, Hannah, and children Jackson, age 4, Mauree, age 2, and Aimee age 4 months. The family attends Trinity Presbyterian Church in Cahaba Heights.

When asked his favorite activities for relaxation, Bourgeois listed playing with his kids, reading, movies, traveling and visiting hamburger, pizza and steak establishments.

After he graduated with honors with a degree in biological science from LSU, Bourgeois attended UAB Medical School, did his internship with Baptist Health Systems and then went back to Louisiana for his dermalogical residency at LSU Health Science Center, where he served as Chief Resident.

In July, Dr. Bourgeois became “the other man” at Shelby Dermatology. Already many people are finding a helpful, knowledgeable, down-to-earth listener and doctor in Dr. Bourgeois.

One of his patients told me, “I just call him Dr. Greg because I can’t remember how to pronounce that last name.”

“My long-term goal at Shelby Dermatology is to make our practice the place to go in Shelby County for medical, surgical and cosmetic surgery,” he said. “With a variety of services offered and cutting-edge technology, we want to be doing rewarding work for our family of patients every day.”

Bourgeois admits to loving the architecture, foods and people of New Orleans, still one of his favorite places to visit although he would love a trip along Highway 1 in California, cruising the beautiful coastline. Indie rock music is his favorite and is found on Birmingham Mountain Radio.

When asked his “take on life” or how the world is doing, he recited this quote from Abraham Kuyper: “There is not a square inch of the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Soverign over all, does not cry, mine!”