Miller, Presiding Judge. After Laura Frances Smith left her employment with Lane Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery, LLC (“Lane Dermatology”), she became employed as a physician’s assistant with Skin Cancer Specialists, PC (“SCS”). Lane Dermatology brought the instant action against Smith and SCS, arguing that Smith’s employment with SCS violated the restrictive covenants in her employment contract. In Case No. A21A0582, Lane Dermatology seeks review of the trial court’s order denying its motion for an interlocutory injunction to enforce the covenants. In Case No. A21A0639, Smith cross-appeals from the trial court’s denial of her motion to dismiss Lane Dermatology’s complaint under the anti-SLAPP statute (OCGA § 91111.1). After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Lane Dermatology’s request for an interlocutory injunction, and we conclude that Smith has not made a threshold showing that the claims in this case arise from statements made “in connection with an issue of public concern” so as to fall within the ambit of the anti-SLAPP statute. We therefore affirm the trial court’s judgment in both cases. The record indicates that Smith was employed as a physician’s assistant with Lane Dermatology in its Columbus, Georgia office from 2013 until September 2019. As part of her employment contract, Smith agreed to various restrictive covenants, including a non-compete covenant which provided as follows: For the purposes of this Section, the term “Territory” shall mean the geographic area located within 15 miles from the primary business office of Employer located at 1210 Brookstone Centre Parkway, Columbus, Georgia. For and in consideration of the amounts being paid by Employer to Employee hereunder, Employee agrees that upon termination of Employee’s employment, Employee will not provide services as a Physician’s Assistant within the Territory for a period of two years following the termination of this Agreement. The agreement also contained a non-solicitation covenant, which provided: Employee agrees that, without Employer’s prior written consent, during the two year period commencing on the termination of Employee’s employment, Employee will not, on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other individual or entity, solicit any patient of Employer to see or obtain dermatology services from any provider other than Employer. This Section applies only to those patients to whom Employee provided medical services as a Physician’s Assistant during her employment with Employer.
