Florence, South Carolina – A West Florence High School diploma became the starting point for a healthcare career that now reaches tens of thousands of patients across the country. More than 25 years after graduating, Dr. Sarah Leatherman Allen is returning to the spotlight in her hometown.
Allen, a member of West Florence High School’s Class of 2000, will be recognized as The School Foundation’s Distinguished Graduate during the organization’s 26th annual gala on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The honor reflects a professional path that has moved from Florence classrooms to the forefront of a new category in medical care. Allen founded Skin Clique, described as the nation’s first in-home, on-demand medical aesthetic practice. The company has served more than 80,000 patients across 42 states.
A board-certified internist, Allen is also a national speaker and educator whose work centers on aesthetic medicine, women’s health and healthspan optimization. Her career combines traditional medical training with a healthcare model designed to bring services directly to patients.
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After completing high school in Florence, Allen attended Wofford College and later earned her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She also served as Chief Resident at MUSC, adding a leadership role to her medical training before building her career as a physician and entrepreneur.
Allen is the youngest of six children born to the late Senator Hugh Leatherman and Jean Leatherman. She and her husband, Keels, live in Pawleys Island, where they are raising four daughters.
The gala will be held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, commonly known as SiMT. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude promptly at 9 p.m. A meal will be served, and guests are asked to wear business attire.
Tickets begin at $100 for Florence 1 Schools educators and $125 for individual attendees. Reserved tables for eight start at $1,000.
Tickets may be purchased by calling Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or emailing [email protected]. Registration is also available through The School Foundation’s website.
For Allen, the recognition connects a national healthcare career to the Florence school community where her journey began. For the foundation, it offers an opportunity to celebrate how a local graduate carried her education far beyond the classroom while maintaining ties to the region that helped shape her.
