As a Carolina girl, Dr. Alexandra Cox completed her undergraduate degree in health science at Clemson University in 2009, graduating with honors. She subsequently attended the Medical University of South Carolina in sunny Charleston, earning a master’s degree as a physician assistant.
An Air Force assignment brought Alexandra and her husband to Delaware in 2012, where she began working as a PA in general surgery. A few subsequent moves—including a temporary assignment in Germany—have given Alexandra professional experiences in several medical fields, including military medicine and urgent care.
Settling in Lewes in 2017, Alexandra began her pursuit of a Doctor of Health Science, which she completed in December 2020. During her doctorate study she focused her research on the incorporation of exercise in the treatment of postpartum depression. The topic brought together her loves of wellness and women’s care, and she is excited to become a resource for pregnant women and moms-to-be for physical and emotional well-being.
I am thrilled to bring perinatal wellness to Atracare!
As a physician assistant I have practiced in several medical specialties, gaining skills and knowledge over the last 8 years. My husband is an Air Force pilot and we have had the opportunity to live in a number of regions since we met in Charleston in 2009. Along the way in my practice I discovered my interest in wellness and fitness, as well as the mental health benefits of exercise. I have always used exercise as stress relief and can feel its positive effects on my emotional health. There is nothing better than a walk or a run outside to reset!
My interest in the benefits of physical activity was deepened when I worked in the medical clinic at Dover Air Force Base and witnessed the advantages regular activity had for my patients, both physically and mentally. From that interest I pursued a Doctor of Health Science to study the mental health benefits of exercise. In focusing my research I drew upon my experiences as a new mother, understanding the challenges of motherhood and the stress relief I felt from physical activity. During and after my two pregnancies, I particularly appreciated the improvement in my mood I felt from being active. I experienced mild postpartum depression after my second child, which reared its ugly head more as agitation and anger than sadness. Early motherhood is so emotionally taxing, and I found taking the baby for a walk or going for a run on my own was an instant pick-me-up. It made me feel more like myself again. I channeled these experiences to develop my research on exercise in the treatment of postpartum depression. Over three years, I conducted extensive research on postpartum depression and the mental health benefits of exercise, earning my Doctorate in late 2020.
With the skills and knowledge I gained from my doctoral pursuit, a specialty certificate in perinatal psychopharmacology, and an acute interest in the overall well-being of new mothers, I hope to improve the support and care for women in the Lewes-Rehoboth area. I am here for the new moms who are looking for guidance with physical activity planning, are interested in improving their overall well-being, or aren’t sure where they fit in between their Ob/Gyn and primary care provider.
Babies welcome!
