Statesboro-Magazine-May-June-2026

TTHIS ISSUE OF STATESBORO MAGAZINE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HELPING SHAPE HEALTHCARE IN OUR REGION RIGHT NOW.

One of the most exciting additions is Dr. Stephen R. Martin, the new Director of the Outpatient Wound Care Center at East Georgia Regional Medical Center. Wound care has become one of the fastest-growing specialties in medicine, and Dr. Martin is helping bring advanced treatment options to patients across Southeast Georgia.

Working alongside him is Travis Jeffers, who serves patients inside the hospital through the Physical Therapy Department, specializing in inpatient wound care and ostomy treatment. Travis recently completed his certification courses and is scheduled to sit for his board certification through the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy this month. His story reflects how specialized healthcare roles are continuing to grow inside regional hospitals like EGRMC.

This issue also features one of the most remarkable stories we have ever shared. Shirley Lipsey has spent 54 years caring for patients at the hospital. Fifty-four years. In today’s world, that kind of dedication is almost hard to imagine. Her story is not just about nursing. It is about loyalty to a community and a lifetime spent helping others during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

You will also find our special Provider Profiles section featuring healthcare professionals from across the region, along with the Official 2026 Physicians Guide from East Georgia Regional Medical Center. Whether you are searching for a provider, learning about a specialty or simply interested in the growth of healthcare in Statesboro, this guide has become one of the most useful resources we publish each year.

Healthcare may not always sound glamorous on the surface, but every family eventually has a moment when it becomes the most important thing in the world. That is why the people in these pages matter. They are building programs, treating patients and helping keep quality care close to home for all of us.

Enjoy the issue!

Jenny Starling Foss Editor, Statesboro Magazine

ABOUT THE COVER

Wound Care is an advanced specialty at EGRMC where the out patients are treated at the Wound Care Center by Dr. Stephen Martin, and in patient wound care is handled by nurse Travis Jeffers. Together, they work with the specialized wound care teams to bring the latest care and healing to patients. Captured by award winning photographer Frank Fortune. #TheFortuneImage.

ESTABLISHED MARCH 1, 2000

EDITOR

Jenny Starling Foss

SENIOR CREATIVE

DIRECTOR

Melanie Schmermund

DIRECTOR OF

SALES & MARKETING

Mindy Boyette

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHER

Frank Fortune & Jeremy Wilburn Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: mboyette@ StatesboroMagazine.com

FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@ StatesboroMagazine.com

MAILING ADDRESS: P. O. BOX 1084 Statesboro, GA 30459 p: 912.489.2181

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: One Herald Square, Statesboro, GA 30458 f: 912.489.8613

CIRCULATION & COPYRIGHT

Statesboro Magazine is published bi-monthly (six issues a year) at a $25.00 annual subscription rate by Morris Multimedia, P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA, 30459. Periodical postage paid at Statesboro, Georgia. Postmaster send address changes to Statesboro Magazine P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA 30459. The cover and contents are fully protected and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Statesboro Magazine. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials. They will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. Address letters and editorial contributions to Statesboro Magazine, P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA 30459. Copyright © 2026 by Morris Multimedia. All rights reserved.

DOY CAVE

From Eagle Nation is a column brought to you by Georgia Southern University, where we cherish our place in the larger Statesboro community. In each issue, we hope to bring interesting and informative stories to the readers of Statesboro Magazine Doy Cave is the Marketing Content Manager in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University, and resides with his family in Statesboro.

FRANK FORTUNE

Frank is the national award winning freelance photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 26 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He retired from Georgia Southern after having been responsible for capturing the University’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of Jack and Cate.

JAIME RIGGS

Jaime Riggs is the Director of Marketing for East Georgia Regional Medical Center, where she works to share the story of how the hospital provides quality, compassionate healthcare close to home. Jaime graduated from GSU with a BS in Recreation, OTC with a CIS diploma and has an MBA in Organizational Leadership from Ashford University. In addition to her professional career, Jaime is active in service and ministry. She is past president of the Rotary Club, and serves as a volunteer and youth leader at Metter Methodist Church. Jaime is passionate about promoting the incredible work of healthcare providers and serving her community.

LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY

Lazar Brown Oglesby is the owner of Honey Catering and Dolan’s BBQ both located in Statesboro. Lazar attended Ogeechee Technical College where she earned a Culinary Arts degree. In 2012 Lazar followed a lifelong dream and opened Honey Catering and Café. She enjoys cooking Southern food with an adventurous twist! Lazar is known for her famous cheesecakes of which she has over 100 flavors. Lazar recently started the Honey Blog to share her recipes and stories. Visit her at Dolan’s & Honey’s new location on South Main Street.

MELANIE SCHMERMUND

Melanie is Statesboro Magazine’s Senior Creative Director. Owner of Schmermund Design Studio, LLC, she is an experienced freelance graphic designer specializing in editorial design & branding. She is also a frequent contributing designer to Savannah Magazine. She holds a degree in Art from Auburn University and loves traveling & exploring the world, always looking for new places to visit. Her knowledge & passion are invaluable assets ensuring that each project she works on is of the highest quality.

BENJY THOMPSON

Benjy was born and raised in nearby Millen but spent much of his childhood visiting family in Brooklet. He is a Double Eagle graduate of Georgia Southern University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina. After spending 16 years in faculty and administration roles at Georgia Southern and Ogeechee Technical College, Benjy transitioned to economic development and his present role as CEO of the Development Authority of Bulloch County. Benjy and his wife Delaine have two children, Lucas and Sarah Kate. He is a longtime partner in the “Downright Brothers Band” with Frank Fortune and a member of the Dark Desert Highway Band.

VIRGINIA ANNE FRANKLIN WATERS

Virginia Anne Franklin Waters is a fourth generation Bulloch Countian and loves all things about her hometown of Statesboro. She graduated from UGA and is a CPA. She spent her career in the hospitality industry. Her passions include entertaining friends at home and working in her gardens. Virginia Anne enjoys everything Gardening—planting seeds, arranging flowers, using raised beds, protecting native plants, propagating camellias and even pulling weeds. She has been a member of the Sprig-N-Dig Federated Garden Club since 1985. Virginia Anne has served on numerous philanthropic boards in our community and is currently the Executive Director of the Bulloch County Historical Society.

REV. JOHN WATERS

Since 2005, John Waters has been the lead pastor of First Baptist Church Statesboro. Raised in a military family, he spent his childhood years in Tokyo, Japan, and Selma, Alabama. He earned a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. As a teenager, he once worked a weekend as a circus clown but now enjoys collecting fountain pens, reading across many genres, and visiting the great cathedrals of the world. His wife, Cynthia, is a retired elementary school teacher, and they have two married adult daughters and five grandchildren.

JEREMY WILBURN

Jeremy Wilburn, Business Development Director at the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce, blends over 15 years as a commercial photographer with expertise in marketing, communications, and public relations. He holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Illinois, combining creativity with strategic vision.

WRITTEN

PHOTOGRAPHED BY

FELLOWSHIP TRAINED SURGEONS

PATIENT FOCUSED CLINIC

EXCEPTIONALLY TRAINED

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

FRIDAYS –TUESDAYS @ 10:00 P.M.

STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO

Order the season’s freshest local fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, candies and relishes. You’ll also find locally sourced meat, seafood, spices, dairy and eggs. Home and garden items, honey and locally grown flower bouquets.

Shop online Friday – Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. @ https://statesboromarket2go.locallygrown.net. Pick-up on Thursday afternoons at the Statesboro Visitors Center, 222 South Main Street or in Sylvania at the Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street.

SATURDAYS THROUGH THANKSGIVING

STATESBORO MAIN STREET

FARMERS MARKET

9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!S

You’ll find the most delicious and fresh

food available at the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market! Produce, meat, cheese, and eggs are brought to you straight from local family farms. While you’re here, browse unique, handcrafted items while enjoying fresh coffee or homemade lemonade and live music. Family fun for everyone! If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Statesboro Farmers Market, please download an application here www.visitstatesboro.org/ farmers-market or stop by Visit Statesboro and pick up one in person. Email all potential applications to: marketmanager@ visitstatesboro.org or drop off at Visit Statesboro! See you Saturday at the Market!

SECOND SATURDAY

Visit Statesboro! & the Downtown Merchants Association invite you and your family to explore downtown Statesboro on Second Saturdays starting at the Main Street Farmers Market, where you will find the area’s freshest fruits & vegetables, homemade goods, artisans &craftsmen and food trucks! Take a stroll downtown, shop local boutiques, enjoy restaurants & cafes, and visit salons & service providers. Shop, stroll, sip & explore one of America’s Best Communities. www.VisitStatesboro.org.

MAY 10

KARLA HARRIS:

LOVE & LEGACY

MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT

4:00 P.M.

$23/PERSON

EMMA KELLY THEATER

AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Jazz vocalist Karla Harris is whipping up something special this Mother’s Day, a concert that tastes like home and grooves like a secret family recipe. From songs off her new album to timeless favorites, she’s got all the right ingredients for an afternoon filled with love, swing, and soulful spice. Alongside jazz standards you know and love, Karla folds in ’70s R&B and pop classics, blending them with jazz for an irresistible mix of songs to enjoy. Bring Mom, bring the family — and let the music be the icing on the day. For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org

MAY 14

DOWNTOWN LIVE

CONCERT SERIES:

ELIZABETH AS TAYLOR

7:00 P.M.

FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!

20 SIEBALD STREET

DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

The City of Statesboro will continue the 4th Annual Downtown Live Concert Series on May 14, 2026, in Historic Downtown Statesboro. Taking the stage is Elizabeth as Taylor, an era-spanning Taylor Swift tribute known for spot-on vocals, iconic looks, and nonstop sing-along moments. With a high-energy performance that fans instantly recognize and love, this crowdigniting show delivers hit after hit from across Taylor Swift’s legendary career. Swifties, grab your friendship bracelets, lawn chair, and your singing voice and join the fun in Downtown Statesboro as Downtown Live keeps the season rolling. Admission to the concerts is open to the public. Food trucks and vendors will open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the event, with several downtown restaurants also within walking distance of the concert stage. Downtown Live is a family-friendly event for all ages. For more information, visit www.DowntownLiveStatesboro.com.

MAY 16

4TH ANNUAL REGISTER PECAN FESTIVAL

10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT! DOWNTOWN REGISTER, GEORGIA

Join us for a day of family fun and entertainment! Local Vendors, Food Trucks, Kid Zone, 50/50 Raffle, Live Music, Car Show and more! Car Show registration link form.jotform.com/253060699432056 Purchase Festival Merchandise here form.jotform.com/260397076868170. Become a vendor by sending us a message with a few photos and we will send you the registration link. For more info you can email us at registerpecanfestival@yahoo.com

MAY 16

ANDY GROSS – MAGIC & MORE

7:00 P.M. | $29 - $39/PERSON EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Andy Gross is one of the hottest stand-up comics, magician and ventriloquist working today as evidenced by his sold out shows and devoted following! His videos have over 100 million views and counting on the internet! He performs over 150 shows a year at comedy clubs, Las Vegas, cruise ships, fortune 500 corporate events, colleges and performing arts theaters everywhere. He is considered one of the best by his peers in the entertainment industry and he will leave you spellbound. You may recognize him from his numerous TV appearances, including most recently

The Ellen show and an NBC television special featuring his talents. Andy is a multi-talented entertainer that currently combines stand-up comedy, magic and ventriloquism successfully together making him one of the most soughtafter corporate entertainers in the world. Audiences are absolutely unanimous in their praise of this amazing performer. His ad-libs during his stand-up are compared frequently to Don Rickles and Robin Williams. His voice throwing is amazing to hear and only a few people in the world can throw their voice, it is a must hear to believe! For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org

MAY 28

DOWNTOWN LIVE CONCERT SERIES: Y2K KIDS

7:00 P.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!

20 SIEBALD STREET

DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

The City of Statesboro will continue the 4th Annual Downtown Live Concert Series on May 28, 2026, in Historic Downtown Statesboro. Taking the stage is Y2K-Kids, a high-energy six-piece band bringing the iconic sounds of the 2000s to life. Featuring pop, rock, hiphop, and R&B hits from the era, Y2K-Kids delivers an ultra-fun throwback experience complete with crowd participation and nonstop nostalgia. Grab your lawn chair, bring your friends, and get ready to relive the 2000s as Downtown Live keeps the season rocking in Downtown Statesboro. Admission to the concerts is open to the public. Food trucks and vendors will open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the event, with several downtown restaurants

also within walking distance of the concert stage. Downtown Live is a family-friendly event for all ages. For more information, visit www.DowntownLliveStatesboro.com

JUNE 1 - 5

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL “ILLUMINATION STATION”

9:00 A.M. – 12 NOON AGES: 3-YEARS-OLD – 5TH/6TH GRADE FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT! 108 NORTH MAIN STREET

This year’s theme, Illumination Station, is all about shining a light on who Jesus really is. Our kids will have an absolute blast learning about Jesus through music, games, and activities, all while making new friends and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Join us for an unforgettable week of fun, friends, and faith! Sign-up at fbcboro.church/event/ vacation-bible-school/.

JUNE 7 – 10

CONNECTION CHURCH VACATION

BIBLE SCHOOL “KINGDOM QUEST”

6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

AGES: 4-YEARS-OLD – 5TH GRADE FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT! 1342 CAWANA ROAD | STATESBORO

The theme for Vacation Bible School this year is “Kingdom Quest.” It is an epic journey to discover God’s Kingdom. Our focus this summer is to help kids discover how following Jesus brings light, purpose, and unshakeable hope. The kids will see that life in God’s kingdom is filled with purpose, hope and the power of the Holy Spirit. To register visit ccstatesboro.churchcenter.com/registrations/ events/3480853t.

JUNE

8 – 11

STATESBORO FURST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL “RAINFOREST FALLS”

9:00 A.M. – 12 NOON AGES: RISING PREK – RISING 6TH GRADE FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT! 101 SOUTH MAIN STREET

During Summer break, we spend an action packed week learning lessons from the Bible, singing (and dancing) to awesome songs, running around outside, creating amazing crafts, and enjoying some sublime snacks.

This year, step through the mist into Rainforest Falls, overflowing with wild waterfalls, towering trees, and colorful creatures. Beneath a canopy of chattering birds and howling monkeys, kids plunge into a lifelong adventure of discovering the nature of God. They’ll explore what it means to be rooted in relationship with God, their creator, a safe place in life’s storms. Sign up here! statesborofirst.com/vacation-bible-school.

JUNE 11

DOWNTOWN LIVE CONCERT SERIES: THE TAMS!

7:00 P.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT! 20 SIEBALD STREET

DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

The City of Statesboro will present another exciting night of live music during the Downtown Live Concert Series on June 11 in Historic Downtown Statesboro. Taking the stage is The Tams, an Atlanta-based group that has thrilled audiences for more than 50 years. Known for their 60s and 70s charttopping hits like “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” and “What Kind of Fool,” The Tams bring a timeless blend of beach music and smooth soul that audiences of all ages love. Grab your dancing shoes and lawn chair and join the fun in Downtown Statesboro for a night of classic hits and great vibes. Admission to the concerts is open to the public. Food trucks and vendors will open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the event, with several downtown restaurants also within walking distance of the concert stage. Downtown Live is a family-friendly event for all ages. For more information, visit www.DowntownLiveStatesboro.com

JUNE 20

WATERSVILLE STATION

TOMATO FESTIVAL

9:00 A.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!

1888 BELL ROAD | BROOKLET

Come join us for our First Annual Tomato Festival at Watersville Station! We will have vendors, food trucks, live music and contests! We will have a wide variety of vegetables for sale with emphasis on that delicious home grown tomato! Do you think you have the biggest or tastiest tomato? Sign up for our tomato contests and win money and prizes during the day! The festival also coincides with

the opening of the Pick your own Produce Garden at Strickland Farms. Bring a 5-gallon bucket and spend some time picking your own tomatoes for an amazing by-the-bucket price. (There will be lots of other veggies as well to choose from!) This will be a fun filled day for Adults and youth as well! Come join us!

JUNE 25

DOWNTOWN LIVE CONCERT SERIES: PAPA SOL

7:00 P.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!

20 SIEBALD STREET

DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

The City of Statesboro continues the Downtown Live Concert Series on June 25 in Historic Downtown Statesboro. Taking the stage is Papa Sol, a dynamic seven-piece band delivering an electrifying mix of pop, soul, funk, reggae, beach music, and rock & roll. Featuring three lead vocalists and a rich, full sound, Papa Sol’s high-energy performance and genre-spanning setlist make for a night of nonstop entertainment. Grab your dancing shoes and lawn chair and join the fun in Downtown Statesboro for another great night of live music. Admission to the concerts is open to the public. Food trucks and vendors will open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the event, with several downtown restaurants also within walking distance of the concert stage. Downtown Live is a family-friendly event for all ages. For more information, visit www.downtownlivestatesboro.com.

JUNE 28

SOUNDS OF SIMON & GARFUNKEL

3:00 P.M.

$29 - $39/PERSON

EMMA KELLY THEATER

AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel is a truly authentic tribute band celebrating the best-selling duo of all time. With accurate musical renditions and precise vocal harmonies, award-winning musicians Jeff Jablonski and Jeff Radi take the audience on a musical journey performing Simon and Garfunkel’s celebrated hits, including selections from Paul Simon’s solo career. Don’t miss this unforgettable stage performance that is sure to transport you to a simpler place in time, where heartfelt lyrics harmonize with the emotional music of this beloved duo. As a premier Simon & Garfunkel tribute band, Jablonski & Radi recreate their magical stage performance, bridging the gap from then and now with their own personal dynamic and passionate music. For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org.

SEND US YOUR EVENTS!

Email your event, with one image, to editor@statesboromagazine.com for possible inclusion in next month's calendar.

SIX SENIORS WILL RECEIVE $60K IN SCHOLARSHIPS

BULLOCH’S REACH GEORGIA SCHOLARS HONORED FOR COMPLETION OF FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM

Six seniors will now receive $60,000 in college scholarships after successfully completing Bulloch County Schools’ fiveyear REACH Georgia Scholarship program. The Class of 2026 marks the ninth cohort of REACH scholars to graduate from high school.

The Bulloch County Board of Education and the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education officially honored the seniors and their families at a reception on April 23, 2026, and recognized them during the Board’s public work session immediately afterward.

The scholars, originally selected in the eighth grade during the 2021 - 2022 school year, have successfully completed the rigorous commitment to academic excellence, regular school attendance, proper behavior, mentorship, and volunteerism. Each student will receive a $10,000 scholarship to use at any Georgia-participating university, college, or technical college.

“These students have worked hard to reach a goal,” said Richard Smith, interim superintendent of schools, before asking Katie Denmark, a social worker for the district and a REACH Georgia program mentor, to introduce the scholars, all of whom are on track to be named honor graduates.

“I’ve watched these children grow into fantastic people,” Denmark said.

Each scholar was presented with official cords to be worn with their graduation regalia by Dawn Tysinger, Ph.D., executive director of the district’s Student Wellness & Support Department.

THE 2026 REACH GEORGIA SCHOLAR COHORT INCLUDES:

• Carmen Tillman (Portal Middle High School): The granddaughter of Sandra Roziar, Carmen plans to attend Georgia Southern University to major in film

production. She’s served as a videographer for three years for her school’s athletics programs and was selected as an intern with Georgia Southern Athletics. She has been dual-enrolled at Ogeechee Technical College for the past two years.

• Gabriella Lopez (William James Middle School; Statesboro High School): The daughter of Angie and Humberto Lopez, Gabriella plans to attend Augusta University and major in pre-medicine or dentistry.

• Ava Rooker (Langston Chapel Middle School; Statesboro High School): Ava is the daughter of Rusty and Summer Rooker. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University and pursue a double major in animation and computer science with a minor in psychology.

• Jazmine Lopez (Long County; Statesboro High School): Jazmine, originally selected as a REACH Scholar in Long County, transferred into Bulloch County’s program when she relocated to the district. She is the granddaughter of Bayardo and Sandra Lopez. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University and major in Psychology.

• Amelia Sander (Southeast Bulloch Middle; Southeast Bulloch High School): Amelia is the daughter of Jamie Jennings and Mathew Sander. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University and major in criminology with a minor in psychology. While she dual-enrolled at GA Southern this year taking online courses, she looks forward to being on campus this fall.

• Alexis Morton (Southeast Bulloch Middle; Southeast Bulloch High School): Alexis is the daughter of Sonya and William Morton. She plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and major in animal science.

The 2026 REACH Georgia Scholars graduates after the Bulloch County Board of Education and the Foundation for Public School Education honored them with a gift and regalia for graduation.

ABOUT THE REACH GEORGIA PROGRAM

Launched in 2012, REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Georgia is a state initiative supporting academically promising students with financial need. Bulloch County Schools was one of the original five pilot systems for the program. Since its inception locally in 2013, the school district has awarded $670,000 in scholarships to 67 local students.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND FUNDING

The program is a partnership between the state and local sponsors. The Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education serves as the sole local sponsor. They annually provide the required seed capital for each student’s scholarship. Since 2013 the Foundation has invested more than $90,000 to make these scholarships possible through its annual fundraising efforts, such as the Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot, payroll deductions by Bulloch County Schools employees, and corporate donations. For more information on how to support the REACH Georgia program or to make a donation, please visit the Bulloch County Schools website at BullochSchools.org/reach.

SPLASH IN THE BORO SEASON OPENING

Splash In The Boro is excited to announce the completion of a major refurbishment project, bringing a fresh and enhanced experience to guests with newly updated water slides, luxury cabanas, and a new Walking Taco Stand. Just in time to kick-off this season’s Grand Opening, on May 2, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 3, from 12 noon until 6:00 p.m. The Park will soon be open seven days a week

LUETTA MOORE POOL SEASON OPENING

The 2026 Season at Luetta Moore Pool is almost here! The management and staff couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone back! They’re kicking off the season with a Grand Opening Weekend beginning Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 3, from 12:00 noon –5:00 p.m. After that, the pool will be open seven days a week beginning Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 23.

This summer, they’re thrilled to continue

starting Saturday, May 23.

During the offseason, the park invested in comprehensive upgrades to its attractions, focusing on safety, comfort, and the overall guest experience. Each slide has been carefully resurfaced, repainted, and improved to ensure a smoother, faster, and more thrilling ride adventure for visitors of all ages.

In addition, Splash in the Boro is introducing luxury cabanas, offering shaded

offering private rentals at Luetta Moore Pool. Full details of all pool information can be found on the website. You can follow them on social media as well, where you’ll find updates, including any weather-related closures, so you never miss a thing happening at the pool. Whether you’re planning a day visit or want to enjoy the pool all summer long, you can purchase day tickets or season passes online at the website. BullochRec.com/LuettaMoorePool/ “We can’t wait to open the gates and dive into another amazing season at Luetta Moore Pool! Our team has been buzzing with energy getting everything ready, and

relaxation areas with premium seating, personal service, and a comfortable retreat for families and groups. Guests can also enjoy the Park’s new Walking Taco Stand, serving a convenient and delicious snack option throughout the day.

“These upgrades reflect our commitment to providing a high-quality, safe, and fun environment for our community and guests,” said Alex Estrada, Aquatics Division Manager of Splash in the Boro Waterpark. “From revitalized slides to luxury cabanas and tasty new food options, there’s something new for everyone this season.”

For more information, including hours of operation, ticket pricing, and special events, please visit www.SplashInTheBoro. com or follow Splash in the Boro Waterpark on social media.

we’re counting down the days until we can welcome everyone back,” said Alex Estrada, Aquatics Division Manager.

Luetta Moore Pool is located in Luetta Moore Park and is part of the Bulloch County Recreation and Parks Department. The park received a full renovation in 2021—including the new pool and playground—thanks to a collaboration between the City of Statesboro and the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners. For more information about the Luetta Moore Pool and park, please visit the website, and for updates follow them on Facebook @luettamoorepool.

KACIE CRAIG IS GEORGIA FBLA’S NEW ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

SOUTHEAST BULLOCH TEACHER HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP & WORK WITH STUDENTS

Kacie Craig, a Bulloch County Schools’ educator has been named the Georgia Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) New Advisor of the Year. Craig, a business accounting teacher at Southeast Bulloch High School, received the honor during Georgia FBLA’s 2026 High School State Leadership Conference held March 13-14, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta.

“Mrs. Craig has been an excellent addition to our College & Career Program,” said Bethany Gilliam, the school district’s director of Career Technical & Agricultural Education. “She has worked tirelessly to strengthen her school’s FBLA chapter, and her background in the private sector allows her to bring

invaluable real-world expertise directly into the classroom.”

The New Advisor of the Year award is given to educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to student success within their first three years of FBLA advisement. Craig, who is only in her second year of teaching, is credited with transforming the FBLA experience for her students. Under her guidance, the chapter achieved a major milestone last year by having its first-ever students qualify to compete at the National Leadership Conference.

Craig transitioned into education after more than a decade in the banking and finance industry.

Her professional background includes roles as a mortgage loan originator and

mortgage operations specialist.

“She leverages this experience to provide students with hands-on, project-based learning that mirrors the expectations of the modern workforce,” Gilliam added.

Craig’s academic credentials further support her excellence in the classroom. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from Georgia Southern University and her master’s degree in secondary education—business education from Liberty University.

Learn more about Bulloch County Schools’ career pathways and the student technical organizations available to students at CareerReadyBulloch.org or follow the Career Ready Bulloch social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

OTC RECOGNIZES HONOR SOCIETY STUDENTS

The National Technical Honor Society at Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) recently hosted its annual induction ceremony in the Joseph E. Kennedy auditorium at the College. 42 new members who achieved and maintained at least a 3.25 grade point average, and who received recommendations from their instructors, were inducted into the organization and received their official NTHS portfolios.

Club advisor, Julia Cohen introduced the new officers and began the candle ceremony to symbolize the seven attributes of the NTHS: skill, responsibility, honesty, scholarship, leadership, service, and citizenship.

“NTHS is a commitment that members will take into their future as they invest their talents, skills, and knowledge into a career of their choosing while endeavoring to uphold their obligation as a citizen of their community and country, as the pledge states,” said Cohen. “I’m excited to work with Jamie Pearson, who I believe is going to be an innovative and attentive NTHS president. I know we both have big plans and high hopes for the upcoming year.”

The National Technical Honor Society is dedicated to recognizing excellence in career and technical education. Its mission is to honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence, award scholarships, and enhance career opportunities. Students inducted into NTHS must have completed 20 semester hours or more and have maintained a 3.25 cumulative

GEORGIA SOUTHERN

RECOGNIZED BY FORBES ON LIST OF AMERICA’S BEST EMPLOYERS FOR COMPANY CULTURE 2026

Georgia Southern University has received high honors from Forbes in recognition of its commitment to institutional culture with the recent announcement of the publication’s list of “America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2026.” Out of 600 companies on the list, Georgia Southern impressively landed in the top tier at #33.

“At Georgia Southern, we prioritize investing in our people, being accountable leaders, and fostering an environment of high performance, evidenced by results aligned with institutional goals and ultimately, student success. It is that alignment and

GPA or higher in addition to other criteria.

To date, NTHS has awarded $3 million in scholarships through its own Jon H. Poteat scholarship, through partnered career tech student organizations, and through an incredibly generous alumni association.

SPRING 2026 INDUCTEES:

Kayla Bell

Kaeleigh Bland

Taylor Brooklier

Thomas Brooks

Jody Bryant

Brittany Bryd

Precious Carswell

Joshua Coney

Delaney Davis

Leah Deal

Erika Douberly

Justin Doyle

Robert Flynn

Terri Ford

Tana Hagan

Kau Hazard

Prescott Hope

Nnenna Ike

commitment to continuous growth (growing ourselves to grow others) that creates a positive institutional culture at Georgia Southern University,” said Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero. “The successful implementation of our strategic plan and the achievement of our institutional goals, aligned with our strategic priorities, are only accomplished if each and every faculty and staff member is actively engaged.”

This is the second year Forbes has published the list, and the University was recognized this year for the first time. Representing the education industry, Georgia Southern was second on the list behind Columbia University (#10).

Marrero emphasized that persistent efforts to strengthen institutional culture must produce measurable results that

Alecia Johnson

Arden Johnson

Brittany Kennedy

Brayden Kersey

Abraham Keter

Cassidy Klass

Emma Mathis

Laysha McCoy

Kelly Peel

Kendall Pittman

Calli Price

Elizabeth Rector-Hager

Giovani Reyes-Gonzalez

Lauren Rhoney

Crystal Rice

Kimberly Roper

Layla Sanderson

Samuel Sheffield

Ann Sommer

Elizabeth Vasquez-Hernandez

Nayeli Ventura-Miguel

Gabriella Wallace

Abigail Willette

Cheyanne Williams

Hanna Williams

www.OgeecheeTech.edu

positively impact faculty and staff. To support this, the institution tracks its initiatives, evaluates them through ongoing feedback, and uses key performance indicators to assess their effectiveness.

“A positive culture is maintained through continuous communication and connecting to the ‘why’ and ‘how,’ empowering the collective intellect to help be part of solving the challenges (solve and evolve),” he added. “We are in this together, always focused on the ‘why’ of student success!”

Georgia Southern University has also been recently recognized on the Forbes lists for America’s Best Large Employers 2026 (#171), America’s Best Employers by State 2025 (#58 – Georgia), and America’s Top Colleges 2026 (#243 in Research Universities and #100 in the South). www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

She Helped Change Medicine. She Called Bulloch County Home.

LEILA DENMARK, M.D., FAAP, PORTAL, GEORGIA, NATIVE & LONGEST PRACTICING PEDIATRICIAN IN U.S. HISTORY.

DR. LEILA DENMARK helped develop the Pertussis vaccine, a breakthrough that protected children from whooping cough at a time when the disease was often deadly. Her work placed her among the early leaders in pediatric preventive medicine.

Born to Elerbee and Alice Cornelia Hendricks Daughtry in 1898, she was the third of their twelve children. A graduate of The First District Agricultural & Mechanical School, she earned her A.B. at Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia. She graduated in 1928 as the only woman in her class at the Medical College of Georgia. She went on to build a pediatric practice in Atlanta, where she treated generations of families and became known for her direct approach to child health and nutrition. She was the first resident of the Henrietta Egleston Hospital for Children (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta), admitting its first patient. Dr. Denmark practiced medicine for more than 70 years and retired at age 103. She died in Athens, Georgia on April 1, 2012, at the age of 114.

A legacy reaching far beyond her practice. A story that starts here in Bulloch County.

HEALING HANDS, Advanced Care

The Wound Care

Specialists at EGRMC

FOR MANY PATIENTS, HEALING BEGINS LONG BEFORE A WOUND CLOSES. IT BEGINS WITH EXPERTISE. IT BEGINS WITH TRUST. AND AT East Georgia Regional Medical Center, it begins with a highly collaborative team dedicated to helping patients recover at every stage of care.

The Comprehensive Wound Care Center at EGRMC provides specialized outpatient treatment for chronic and non-healing wounds, while the hospital’s inpatient wound care team works across every department to prevent complications, improve healing outcomes and restore quality of life for patients facing some of their most vulnerable moments. Together, these providers care for everything from diabetic foot ulcers and surgical wounds to pressure injuries, infections and wounds associated with radiation therapy. Advanced therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen treatment and negative pressure wound therapy, are helping patients heal faster and more effectively than ever before.

At the center of that mission are two providers whose paths into wound care were very different, yet whose philosophies about patient care are remarkably aligned: Dr. Stephen R. Martin and Travis Jeffers.

Together, they represent the seamless partnership between outpatient and inpatient wound care services at EGRMC, creating continuity for patients whose healing journeys often extend far beyond a hospital stay.

HEALING Beyond the Wound

DR. STEPHEN R. MARTIN

FOR DR. MARTIN, THE ROAD TO MEDICINE WAS ANYTHING BUT TRADITIONAL.

“I grew up with an Army Dad,” Martin said. “We moved from Pittsburgh to Syracuse, New York, then Albany, then to New Jersey.”

An accomplished student-athlete, Martin attended Cicero-North Syracuse High School where he excelled academically and served as quarterback of the football team. But a traumatic brain injury sustained during

football abruptly changed the course of his future.

“I felt a loss of identity,” he said. “I was headed to Penn State, but ended up at Onondaga Community College with no real sense of purpose.”

That uncertainty eventually led Martin into public policy and healthcare administration, working as a legislative aide in New York while also developing a strong background in information technology and

systems management. Yet despite professional success, he still felt drawn toward something more meaningful.

His defining moment came while working in an assisted living facility where he encountered elderly patients suffering from severe pressure wounds.

“I went home and typed into the computer, ‘How to become a doctor,’” Martin recalled. “I wanted to find a way to help people at their most vulnerable stage in life.”

Martin entered medical school at age 33, earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He initially pursued general surgery, but quickly realized the demanding schedule was unsustainable both personally and professionally.

“There were times I worked 36 hours straight,” he said. “I didn’t feel like I was operating at 100 percent. It placed a huge strain on my relationship with my wife.”

Martin ultimately transitioned into family medicine with a specialization in wound care, a field he says perfectly combines complex medicine with long-term patient relationships.

“I like that wound care is interdisciplinary,” he explained. “It touches every area of healthcare including infectious disease, plastic surgery, diabetes care, emergency medicine and rehabilitation. We treat patients from birth to end of life.”

Today, Martin serves as Director of the Comprehensive Wound Care Center at EGRMC, a position he began in June 2025 after relocating south following a difficult season of personal loss. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he lost his mother. His father passed away in 2024 following complications from a fall, and his brother died in 2025.

The move to Georgia offered both professional opportunity and personal renewal.

“Southern hospitality is real,” Martin said. “Up north we sometimes see it in movies and television and think it’s exaggerated, but there really is a difference in how people treat one another here.”

At EGRMC, Martin found a collaborative environment where wound care specialists, surgeons, nurses and rehabilitation teams work closely together to support patients through every stage of healing.

“I couldn’t do my job without the supportive staff around me,” Martin emphasized, crediting Director of Rehabilitation Services and Wound Care Jennifer Roberson and team members Brandee, Shelly, Jenny, Sabrina, Leo, Simone, and Kaya for helping create a strong culture of patient-centered care.

That philosophy extends far beyond treating wounds alone.

“I look at each patient’s mind, body and spirit,” Martin said. “Sometimes people need help being pushed in the right direction.”

I like that wound care is interdisciplinary, It touches every area of healthcare including infectious disease, plastic surgery, diabetes care, emergency medicine and rehabilitation. We treat patients from birth to end of life.”

- DR. STEPHEN R. MARTIN

I wanted to find a way to help people at their most vulnerable stage in life.”

- DR. STEPHEN R. MARTIN

For Martin, wound healing is rarely isolated to a single medical issue. Diabetes, poor circulation, nutrition, mobility limitations and emotional health all contribute to patient outcomes. His goal is to understand the entire patient while helping them achieve long-term wellness.

“Every patient, every time, always,” he said, describing the motto that guides his work.

The Comprehensive Wound Care Center offers advanced therapies designed to accelerate healing and improve quality of life. Among the most specialized is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which delivers concentrated oxygen inside a pressurized chamber to stimulate tissue repair and encourage new blood vessel growth. The treatment is approved for multiple diagnoses including radiation-related injuries, compromised grafts, diabetic wounds and conditions involving poor circulation that may otherwise lead to limb loss.

Martin also brings extensive experience in limb salvage and advanced wound technologies including bioengineered skin substitutes, negative pressure wound therapy and advanced dressings.

In many ways, Martin’s analytical mind and inventive spirit make him uniquely suited for wound care, a specialty that often requires creative problem solving.

Outside the hospital, he is known among friends and colleagues as something of a “Pinball Wizard.” Martin designs and builds elaborate custom pinball machines, including a nationally traveling “Nightmare Before Christmas” themed machine showcased at electronics and pinball exhibitions across the country. His collection became so extensive that he rented an entire duplex just to house his pinball machines.

The same precision and innovation that guide his hobby also influence his medical practice.

Martin additionally founded Ogeechee Wound Healing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to help patients who may struggle to afford advanced wound care therapies, travel expenses or specialized products not fully covered by insurance.

“Not everyone lives close to a wound care center,” Martin explained. “Sometimes patients just need help bridging the gap.”

Partners in HEALING

TRAVIS JEFFERS, LPN

WHILE MARTIN OVERSEES OUTPATIENT WOUND CARE SERVICES, Travis Jeffers, LPN, manages inpatient wound care throughout EGRMC, ensuring patients receive specialized treatment while hospitalized and continuing support after discharge.

A Screven County native and 2006 graduate of Bulloch Academy, Jeffers’ healthcare career began in emergency medical services before eventually leading him into nursing and wound care specialization.

After attending Georgia Southern University and earning his EMS certification through Ogeechee Technical College, Jeffers worked with EMS services in Sylvania and Baxley from 2013 through 2017. He later returned to Ogeechee Technical College to earn his Licensed Practical Nurse degree before joining the Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s/Candler in Savannah.

It was there that Jeffers discovered wound care through mentor Blair Faulk, RN.

“He worked in wound care at different

hospitals and agencies for almost 30 years,” Jeffers said. “He really sparked my interest in the specialty.”

That mentorship eventually led Jeffers to EGRMC in January 2024 as Clinical Coordinator for Inpatient Wound Care and Ostomy Services, a role created to centralize wound care management throughout the hospital and improve patient outcomes.

Jeffers quickly became involved not only in direct patient care, but also in system-wide prevention initiatives.

The wound therapy departments are very strong. In my opinion it’s one of the strongest areas of care at EGRMC.”

- TRAVIS JEFFERS, LPN

Advancing the Science of Healing

Working alongside Jennifer Roberson, Director of Rehabilitation and Wound Care Services, and Chief Nursing Officer Marie Burdette, Jeffers helped evaluate therapeutic mattresses designed to reduce pressure injuries and improve skin integrity for vulnerable patients. The specialized bedding systems circulate air beneath patients to reduce moisture and pressure, significantly lowering the risk of ulcer development.

“Our directors have done a great job leading the way on wound care treatment and prevention throughout the hospital,” Jeffers said.

Today, Jeffers works closely with colleague Kaye Parker, RN, within the Physical Therapy Department.

“We collaborate on patient treatment options,” Jeffers explained. “The wound therapy departments are very strong. In my opinion it’s one of the strongest areas of care at EGRMC.”

His work spans virtually every department within the hospital. Jeffers collaborates with surgeons, podiatrists, hospitalists, rehabilitation specialists and bedside nurses while managing everything from surgical wounds and pressure injuries to ostomy education and negative pressure wound therapy.

Negative pressure wound therapy, sometimes called wound vac therapy, uses specialized foam dressings and controlled suction to remove excess fluid, reduce swelling and stimulate blood flow to damaged tissue. Jeffers also helps patients understand the complex stages of wound healing, from hemostasis and inflammation to tissue proliferation and remodeling.

Equally important is educating patients and caregivers after discharge.

“The biggest challenge is helping patients and families continue wound care successfully at home,” Jeffers said. “We work with them as much as possible to prevent re-hospitalization.”

That continuity of care is one reason the partnership between Jeffers and Martin works so effectively. When inpatient cases require continued outpatient management, Martin and the Wound Care Center take over ongoing treatment. If outpatient volume becomes especially demanding, Jeffers assists the center directly.

“We all work together to make sure patients receive the best care possible,” Jeffers said.

Jeffers also specializes in ostomy education, helping patients learn to manage equipment, nutrition, skin protection and peristomal care following life-changing surgeries.

Despite the highly technical nature of the work, Jeffers says relationships remain the most rewarding part of his career.

Connected by Care

“From management to floor nurses, from surgery to podiatry, everybody works together to take care of patients at their most vulnerable for the best possible outcomes,” he said. “That dedication and camaraderie are what make EGRMC a great place to work.”

Quality patient care is deeply rooted within Jeffers’ own family as well. His wife, Chandler Jeffers, is also a registered nurse and recipient of the prestigious DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an international recognition honoring nurses who demonstrate exceptional compassion and clinical skill.

Together, the couple are raising three active boys: Brody, Banx and baby Davis, born earlier this year. Between wrestling, football and baseball, family life remains busy outside the hospital walls.

Professionally, Jeffers counts the reduction in hospital-acquired ulcerations at EGRMC among his greatest accomplishments. Prevention, he says, remains one of the most important components of wound care.

Later this month, Jeffers will sit for his national wound care certification examination through the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy. Once certified, he and Parker will become the hospital’s only In Patient board-certified wound care nurses.

For both Martin and Jeffers, wound care represents far more than treating injuries.

It is helping patients regain mobility. It is preserving independence. It is preventing complications before they begin. It is restoring dignity during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Together, their partnership reflects the evolving future of wound care at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, where advanced technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and compassionate patient-centered medicine are redefining what healing looks like for patients across the region. S

We all work together to make sure patients receive the best care possible.”

- TRAVIS JEFFERS, LPN

I saw a lot of changes over the years. In the early years we walked around with the doctors who gave us orders to write down. There were little cups in the cabinets for pills. Sinks were in each room for washing hands. We couldn’t read the doctors’ handwriting then either.”

- SHIRLEY LIPSEY, LPN

For more than five decades, Shirley Lipsey has walked the halls of what is now East Georgia Regional Medical Center caring for patients, mentoring young nurses, and witnessing the remarkable transformation of healthcare in Bulloch County. In 2027, Shirley will celebrate an incredible milestone — 55 years with the hospital she has called home since 1972. Where she is a highly regarded, senior nurse known for her long-term dedicated bedside care.

SHIRLEY

BEGAN HER CAREER AT THE FORMER BULLOCH MEMORIAL

Hospital as a Nursing Assistant, or Nurse’s Aide, working the night shift while learning the routines and responsibilities of patient care. At the time, healthcare looked very different from today. Nurses and aides wore white uniforms with a strict dress code.

“We had to wear pantyhose, a nurse’s cap, white leather shoes, with our white blouse and skirt with an apron,” said Shirley. “And definitely no pants!”

Back then, hospital employees worked traditional eight-hour shifts including 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. Today, Shirley works 12-hour shifts twice a week as part of her semi-retirement schedule.

“You get more days off with the 12-hour days,” she said with a smile.

Shirley attended nursing classes from 1975 until 1976 through a Licensed Practical Nursing program offered at the hospital in partnership with Swainsboro Technical College, years before Ogeechee Technical College was established in 1986. The hospital paid for participants’ education in exchange for a one-year work commitment after graduation. Shirley attended school Monday through Friday while continuing to work weekends.

“I’ve been paying them back ever since,” said Shirley. “I have never worked anywhere else.”

That loyalty became part of a life deeply rooted in Statesboro. Shirley was single when she first started working at Bulloch Memorial

Hospital. She lived near Willie Geiger, and the two soon began dating, before marrying in 1973. Together, they built a family with daughters Sonya and Tonya. Sonya now works for Georgia Southern University while Tonya worked for EGRMC for 17 years before transitioning into the IT field while continuing part-time work with the hospital. The beginning of a family legacy of excellence in healthcare.

Over the years, Shirley served in multiple departments including the nursery, Medical Surgery, ICU and pediatrics. She remembers a smaller hospital where teamwork and personal relationships shaped daily life.

“There was one ambulance, I think Barry Turner was an EMT,” Shirley recalled. “Dr. Emory Bohler was the only doctor making rounds back then. He came two times a day, morning and evening. When he got to the third floor, he’d always ask me for a cup of black coffee.”

Shirley worked alongside many respected local physicians including Dr. Steve White, Dr. Frank Glenn, Dr. Steve Jordan, Dr. Sam Tillman, Dr. Bob Richardson, Dr. Bill Kent, Dr. Bird Daniel, Dr. Paul Whitlock, Dr. Thad Riley, Dr. Robert Swint and Dr. Thurman Clemons, who at the time was the only African American provider on staff.

“We knew what each of them needed when they entered the hospital room,” said Shirley.

She also remembers the nurses who helped guide her early career.

“Ruth Scott was over the RNs then,” she said. “I remember Rene Bohler taught me how to do my first IV at Bulloch Memorial.”

Founded in 1937 with just 40 beds, Bulloch Memorial Hospital expanded to 158 beds before closing in 2000 when the new East Georgia Regional Medical Center facility opened. Shirley witnessed every stage of that growth and evolution.

“I saw a lot of changes over the years,” she said. “In the early years we walked around with the doctors who gave us orders to write down. There were little cups in the cabinets for pills. Sinks were in each room for washing hands. We couldn’t read the doctors’ handwriting then either.”

Healthcare today looks dramatically different from the early years of Shirley’s career. Patient charts are computerized. Medications are pre-packaged and scanned for accuracy. Federal privacy standards through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, commonly known as HIPAA, transformed the handling of patient information. Semi-private rooms disappeared and private patient rooms became standard throughout EGRMC.

Technology, however, was one of Shirley’s greatest challenges.

“When we started with computers, I didn’t have one at home,” said Shirley. “I didn’t know how to start. I thought I would never be able to do it.”

But like every challenge throughout her career, she adapted and learned.

Today, most employees affectionately call her “Miss Shirley,” a reflection of the respect and admiration she has earned through decades of service. One of the things she enjoys most is mentoring younger nurses entering the profession.

They’ll ask me about how I do things because I’m still old fashioned about how I care for my patients. I never go into a patient’s room with an attitude. I greet every patient and talk to them about what’s bothering them. I tell the young nurses to always have a positive attitude and handle things in a very professional manner.”

- SHIRLEY LIPSEY, LPN

“They’ll ask me about how I do things because I’m still old fashioned about how I care for my patients,” said Shirley. “I never go into a patient’s room with an attitude. I greet every patient and talk to them about what’s bothering them. I tell the young nurses to always have a positive attitude and handle things in a very professional manner.”

Her dedication has been recognized many times throughout her remarkable career. In 1991, Shirley received the Nursing Excellence of the Month award. In 1997, she was honored for 25 years of service. In 2002, she received both Nursing Excellence of the Quarter and Nursing Excellence of the Year honors. She celebrated her 50-year service award in 2023 and received another Nursing Excellence award in 2024.

Most recently, during the hospital’s 20th anniversary celebration of the new facility on April 17, Shirley was recognized for her 54 years of service.

Even now, Shirley’s passion for nursing remains strong. She continues caring for patients with the same compassion and professionalism that defined her first days at Bulloch Memorial Hospital more than half a century ago. Her late husband, Leroy, was able to see her receive her 50-year service award before his passing, a milestone that meant a great deal to their family.

And while many ask when she plans to retire, Shirley still has not set a date.

“Everybody always asks me, ‘When are you going to retire?’” she said. “I always tell them — ‘One day! You’ll be the first to know!’” S

PR OVIDER

T O P ROFILES

WRITTEN & EDITED BY JENNY STARLING FOSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE

THIS YEAR’S PROVIDER PROFILE SPECIAL SECTION BRINGS TOGETHER A GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS WHOSE WORK IS ROOTED in this community and shaped by the people they serve. Brandon Rowland, PA-C with Georgia Dermatology focuses on helping patients feel comfortable and confident in their skin. Len McCook, RPh marks a meaningful milestone as he and wife, Janie, celebrate over 20 years of owning and operating McCook’s Pharmacy, caring for Statesboro families with a personal, independent approach that has stood the test of time.

Liz Hutley, NP with Ogeechee Area Hospice well represents a level of care that meets patients and families in life’s most tender moments. Melody Shenker, FNP at JUVE Integrative Medicine and Wellness offers a whole-body approach that resonates with women looking for thoughtful, individualized care. Ralph E. Cowart, Jr., ALA-NBC, FACHCA continues to shape senior living through Southern Manor Retirement Inn in Statesboro and Lakeview Manor Community in Metter, creating environments centered on dignity and quality of life. While Taylor Kimbell, FNP-C at Statesboro Family Practice, a group clinic of East Georgia Regional Medical Center, reflects the strength of a practitioner who has come full circle.

Each of these providers brings a distinct perspective, but together they tell a very clear story about healthcare here at home, where experience, innovation, and personal connection come together to advance the health and wellness of our communities every day.

LIZ HUTLEY, NP

Ogeechee Area Hospice

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FIELD IN MEDICINE?

I started my career as a nurse because I loved being at the bedside caring for patients. But I found myself wanting to do more for them. I wanted to lead their care plans and advocate for their comfort on a deeper level. Hospice called to me because it is one of the few fields where you can truly focus on the person, not just the disease. Moving into my role as a nurse practitioner allowed me to combine my nurse’s heart with the advanced clinical skills needed to manage complex symptoms during a family's most difficult journey.

WHAT LED YOU TO PRACTICE IN STATESBORO?

I chose to practice in Statesboro because this community feels like family. In hospice, we are invited into people’s homes during their most vulnerable times. Being a part of the Statesboro community has given me a deeper connection to my patients and their families, allowing me to provide care that is not just clinical, but truly neighborly and personal.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR WORK EACH DAY?

I love the moments where I can see a family’s anxiety start to lift because they finally feel heard and supported. Much of my work involves normalizing the end-of-life process and advocating for my patients' specific wishes. When I can use my clinical expertise to manage a patient’s pain or symptoms so effectively that they can focus on being a spouse, a parent, or a friend again, that is the most satisfying part of my day.

WHAT IS ONE PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?

Beyond direct patient care, I am proud of the culture of advocacy we've built at Ogeechee Area Hospice. I’ve had the honor of mentoring multiple new nurses in my over 20 years here who were initially intimidated by end-of-life care. Helping them see hospice as a 'calling' rather than just a job has expanded our team's capacity to serve more families in Bulloch County with the compassion they deserve.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR PRACTICE, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME?

When I’m not working, I’m usually found at my sewing machine spending as much time as possible with my three young granddaughters. Healthcare careers require a lot of emotional energy, and sewing gives me a beautiful way to slow down and create something tangible. But truly, nothing recharges my soul more than the chaos and joy of being with my girls. They keep me on my toes and remind me every day why the work I do for families is so important.

BRANDON ROWLAND, PA-C

Georgia Dermatology

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FIELD OF MEDICINE?

Being able to make a difference in how someone feels about their skin and their appearance, is very rewarding. Helping others has always been extremely important to me, and that's why I chose medicine. Dermatology allows me to meet and interact with patients of all ages, and I enjoy the many different hands-on procedures. I also enjoy meeting the different challenges that skin conditions can bring and doing my best to provide caring and precise treatment for all of my patients.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY?

Our Southern region has high levels of UV exposure. This is due to our local agriculture, nearby coastlines, and to our climate, which allows for outside activities the majority of the year. I enjoy helping patients in the community as their risks of developing skin cancer is greater here. I'm blessed to be able to help people prevent or treat skin cancers which may enhance their quality of life and possibly give them extended time with their families.

I'm honored to be able to offer up-to-date, compassionate, dermatological care.

WHAT IS ONE PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?

I’m especially proud of the growth of our practice. Our office is now offering cosmetic and esthetician services. Our organization has 21 offices across Georgia, which have been serving patients for over 50 years. We treat and manage a wide variety of dermatological conditions and offer surgical procedures to remove both non-cancerous and cancerous growths.

WHAT LED YOU TO PRACTICE IN STATESBORO?

I am originally from Dublin, Georgia, and have resided in Statesboro for the past 12 years. I like that Statesboro is a college town. It feels like home here. I have been practicing medicine as a physician assistant for 16 years. I attended Middle Georgia College and the University of Georgia for undergraduate studies, and graduated with a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from the Medical College of Georgia in 2009. I am honored to be selected as a top provider and blessed to serve our growing community!

OUTSIDE OF YOUR PRACTICE HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME?

I attend First Baptist Church and have been married to my beautiful bride, Mary Lucy (Smith) for 11 years. We love traveling and experiencing unique restaurants and cultures; spoiling our four nieces and nephew, and enjoying nature and the outdoors with lots of sunscreen, of course! I love fishing, golfing, camping, and attending college football games on Saturdays in the fall. Go Dawgs and Go Eagles!

LEN MCCOOK,

RPH

Owner of McCook's Pharmacy

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FIELD IN MEDICINE?

As a high school student, I worked in my local hometown pharmacy in Dublin, Georgia. I was able to see how pharmacists are able to help people understand and take their medications, and how to live healthier. Pharmacy is a blend of things I enjoy - science, healthcare, technology, and especially direct patient contact. I thought this would be a great career. I graduated from UGA School of Pharmacy where I also met my wife, Janie.

WHAT LED YOU TO PRACTICE IN STATESBORO?

Janie and I chose to practice in Statesboro in 1982, initially due to family ties in the area. Once here we loved the strong sense of community in Statesboro and the fact that we could serve the patients here and build life-long relationships. We just celebrated our 20th year of business as an independent pharmacy in Statesboro, and we have always been thankful for this community where God planted us.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE?

If you are interested in a career in pharmacy, be prepared that it blends science, attention to detail, and patient care. It takes good communication skills too. It requires lifelong learning, as medications and guidelines are always changing. I would recommend working in the type of pharmacy in which you think you might like to practice to see for sure if it is the right career for you. We have had lots of student employees go on to become pharmacists,

and we are especially proud that our son Josh was one of those students that became a pharmacist. Josh has worked with us since graduating from pharmacy school in 2013.

WHAT IS ONE PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?

Janie and I took a leap of faith in 2005 opening our own independent retail pharmacy, McCook's Pharmacy. Working with her requires us to blend our personal and professional lives. In our case the pharmacy is much more than a workplace, it is part of

lives. It has been an honor and blessing to serve this great community every day.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR PRACTICE, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME?

I enjoy spending time outdoors, and I enjoy singing bass in the choir at First Baptist Church Statesboro. Outside of working in the pharmacy, I like to spend time with Janie traveling and seeing new places. We love to spend time with our two children, Josh and Laura, and their families. We have five wonderful grandchildren under the age of 11. They are very active and keep us very busy!

MELODY SHENKER, FNP

Juve Integrative Medicine & Wellness

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FIELD IN MEDICINE?

After years as a corporate pilot, I pursued the only other professional passion I’d ever hadto serve others through healthcare.

WHAT LED YOU TO PRACTICE IN STATESBORO?

A 20-year friendship with Charanne Pittman, FNP-C, the owner and founder of Juve Intergrative Medicine & Wellness. For years we had discussed what a privilege it would be to work alongside one another to impact the lives of others. We waited on the Lord’s timing and are loving every minute now!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY?

The opportunity to meet the fabulous people Charanne has always spoken of. The people of Statesboro have been very supportive of the work we do at Juve. They support the practice, they attend our special events, and they spread the word about our integrative approach to wellness. Our patients are like family. They are just as fabulous as she said!

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED IN A DEMANDING PROFESSION?

The next patient that needs help with their hormones, with their GI health, with their auto immune disease. The next patient we find the answer for after years of searching in primary and specialty care. The next patient you can reassure, “those symptoms are pointing to x, y, and z, and here is how we fix it!”

WHAT IS THE FAVORITE PART OF YOUR WORK DAY?

There are so many, but my most favorite is when a patient feels seen and heard for the

first time in a healthcare setting. Symptoms aren’t dismissed and no thought is belittled. Juve is a safe space for healing. It’s in those moments that trust begins, and real progress can finally take root.

WHAT IS ONE THING PATIENTS MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR APPROACH TO CARE?

We are not bound by the unfortunate cookie cutter approach in western medicine. Symptoms are not our body's malfunctions they are our body’s messages. Juve exists to help patients decipher those messages.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE?

If you view healthcare as a career, it will only ever be a job. If you view it as a calling, it will allow you to be the hands and feet of Jesus for people in the time of their greatest need.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR PRACTICE, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME? Outdoors with my family riding horses, ATV-ing, or just enjoying the stillness. Our favorite is being with our perfect first grandbaby who is 5-weeks-old!

TAYLOR KIMBRELL,

FNP-C

Statesboro Family Practice

An EGRMC Medical Group Clinic

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FIELD IN MEDICINE?

My connection to both the community and the practice is uniquely full circle. I began working at Statesboro Family Practice as a teenager filing and sorting charts, later returned as a Licensed Practical Nurse, advanced to a Registered Nurse, and now serve as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Inspired early on by my mother, also a nurse, I pursued a career in healthcare and advanced through each level of nursing building a strong clinical foundation rooted in compassion and continuity of care. Watching my mom care for others with compassion and dedication made a lasting impression on me. That experience led me to pursue nursing, and eventually become a nurse practitioner to expand my ability to provide comprehensive, patient-based care.

WHAT LED YOU TO PRACTICE IN STATESBORO?

Statesboro has always been home to me. Growing up here and now having the opportunity to serve this community as a provider is incredibly meaningful. It allows me to give back to the place that helped shape who I am. Being able to care for my hometown and build lasting relationships with patients is what makes practicing in Statesboro so special to me.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY?

I enjoy building lasting relationships with patients and their families. In a close-knit community, you have the opportunity to truly know the people you care for. As a new provider, I am committed to creating a welcoming environment where patients

feel heard, respected, and actively involved in their care. I take great pride in serving my hometown and I’m passionate about making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our community.

WHAT IS ONE PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?

Advancing from LPN to RN and ultimately becoming a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner is an accomplishment that I am especially proud of. Each step in that journey strengthened my clinical foundation and deepened my commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care.

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED IN A DEMANDING PROFESSION?

As a new provider, I am motivated by the opportunity to grow, learn, and make a meaningful impact on my patients’ lives. Each day brings a chance to build confidence while earning the trust of those who depend on me, and that responsibility keeps me focused and driven. It also reminds me why I chose this path, even on the most challenging days.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR PRACTICE, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME? Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three basset hounds, and we love to travel whenever we have the opportunity.

RALPH E. COWART, ALA-NBC

Southern Manor Senior Living Southern Manor at Candler

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR FIELD IN MEDICINE?

I was inspired to pursue caregiving after being raised by my grandparents and widowed aunts. Their love, wisdom and strength shaped my deep respect for the elderly and inspired me to serve older adults with compassion and dignity.

WHAT LED YOU TO PRACTICE IN STATESBORO?

My grandmother’s need for assisted living first connected our family to the community in Statesboro. When the opportunity arose to purchase the facility from Mrs. Kaye Wildes, we felt called to continue her legacy of compassionate care for local families.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY?

I enjoy helping older adults and their families navigate an important season of life while making residents’ golden years meaningful, dignified and fulfilling. Building lasting relationships with residents is especially rewarding.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR WORK EACH DAY?

My favorite part of each day is greeting our residents every morning. Over time, they truly become part of our extended family, and I value the conversations, smiles and friendships we share.

WHAT IS ONE THING PATIENTS MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR APPROACH TO CARE?

Families are often surprised by how personal and hands-on our approach is. Residents and their loved ones can walk through the door and speak directly with the owner, creating a strong sense of trust and connection.

WHAT IS ONE PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?

I am especially proud of earning National Board Certification as a Long-Term Care Administrator, a distinction held by only a small number of professionals in Georgia. It reflects my commitment to excellence in senior care.

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED IN A DEMANDING PROFESSION?

What keeps me motivated is seeing the positive difference compassionate care can make in the lives of residents and their families. Providing comfort, dignity, and reassurance makes the work deeply meaningful.

HOW DO YOU STAY CURRENT WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN YOUR FIELD?

I stay current through involvement with the Georgia Senior Living Association, continuing education programs and collaboration with professional care organizations throughout the senior living industry.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE?

If you truly have a heart for serving the elderly, follow that calling wholeheartedly. Compassion, patience and consistency are essential qualities for anyone hoping to make a lasting difference in healthcare.

The administration and staff at East Georgia Regional Medical Center are pleased to provide you with this physician directory.

We are proud of the physicians who practice at our facility, and have designed this directory to introduce you to our expanding medical staff. The listings will help you select the best doctor for you and your family.

In order to offer the high quality medical care you have come to expect from East Georgia Regional Medical Center, we continue to expand our experienced medical staff by recruiting some of the finest physicians across the nation. You can be confident that our physicians are fully committed to providing your family with medical care that is both personal and technologically advanced.

If you would like more information about a physician or the services provided by East Georgia Regional Medical Center, please call 912.486.1510.

Thank you for your continuing support of our medical center.

Built in July 2000, East Georgia Regional Medical Center is a four.level, 149 bed acute care hospital featuring a Women’s Pavilion and an adjacent medical office building. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a distinction awarded only to those healthcare facilities that maintain the highest standards of quality.

East Georgia Regional Medical Center’s healthcare team consists of approximately 1000 employees and over 100 physicians representing a wide range of specialties. The ongoing expansion of medical services and professionals, along with a major investment in technology, has firmly established East Georgia Regional‘s reputation for providing a higher medical standard.

East Georgia Regional Medical Center offers a 24.hour physician.staffed emergency department, a Level II neonatal center, outpatient services including endoscopy, same day surgery and ambulatory care, a pain management center, a wound care clinic, a cardiac catheterization lab, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and state.of.the.art diagnostic procedures including digital mammography, MRI, CT, PET/CT, nuclear medicine and interventional radiology.

The Women’s Pavilion provides dedicated services to women of all ages, and includes eight labor, delivery and recovery suites.

Our cardiology program allows patients needing angioplasty and/or stent placement to receive these services without leaving Statesboro. Electrophysiology services and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation services are also available. These services have dramatically increased the quality of care in our community. In 2019, the Hospital received Chest Pain Accreditation by the American College of Cardiology. Also, in 2020, the Hospital was awarded Stroke Accreditation by Joint Commission.

EGRMC is pleased to offer patients the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System which is a sophisticated robotic system that offers a state.of.the.art minimally invasive option for major surgery. Our expert surgeons can perform general surgery, bariatric, gynecological and colorectal procedures. This highly specialized tool allows for less scarring and faster recovery times for patients. The hospital

added another Da Vinci

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

ANESTHESIOLOGY

Alan Scott, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1898 f: 912.871.2383

An anesthesiologist manages the medical care and life functions of patients under stress for anesthetic and surgical procedures. An anesthesiologist is specially educated in the management of unconscious and critically ill patients, and in the problems of pain relief and respiratory therapy.

Thomas Blackwell, M.D.

Board Certified in Anesthesiology 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1150 | f: 912.871.2392

Albert Lee, M.D.

Board Certified in Anesthesiology 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1150 | f: 912.871.2392

Clay Stafford, M.D.

Board Certified in Anesthesiology 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1150 | f: 912.871.2392

BARIATRIC SURGERY

A surgical option for weight loss if dieting and exercise have failed.

Julie Fitzgerald, M.D.

Board Certified in Anesthesiology 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1150 | f: 912.871.2392

Tony James, M.D.

Board Certified in Anesthesiology 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1150 | f: 912.871.2392

John Allen, M.D.

Board Certified in General Surgery

Cedar Surgical Associates, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 200 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7100 | f: 912.871.7110

CARDIOLOGY

A medical specialty and a branch of internal medicine concerned with disorders of the heart. It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions as congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, electrophysiology, heart failure and valvular heart disease.

Anthony Chappell, M.D.

Southeastern Cardiovascular Associates, LLC

1076 Bermuda Run Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7810 | f: 912.871.7820

Kendall Griffith, M.D.

Board Certified in Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology

My Heart Doctor 1058 Bermuda Run Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.243.9274 | f: 912.341.6513

Ajay Jain, M.D.

Board Certified in Cardiology Cardiovascular Associates of Eastern Georgia 1497 Fair Road, Suite 305 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.2273 | f: 912.681.2278

David Lariscy, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

My Heart Doctor 1058 Bermuda Run Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.43.9274 | f: 912.341.6513

Abraham Lin, M.D.

Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology

Statesboro Cardiology

5 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

Julio Schwarz, M.D.

Board Certified in Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology

Statesboro Cardiology

5 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

Stanley Shin, M.D.

Board Certified in Cardiology

Statesboro Cardiology

5 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

The cardiology specialty that diagnoses and treats heart arrhythmias, or problems related to the heart’s electrical system, including syncope, ablations, pacemaker and implantable defibrillators.

David Nabert, M.D.

Statesboro Cardiology

5 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

Richard Petrella, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology

East Georgia Cardiology

1497 Fair Road, Suite 205

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.259.9881 | f: 912.259.9883

David Nabert, M.D.

Statesboro Cardiology

5 Grady Johnson Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY

Interventional Cardiology uses specialized imaging and other diagnostic techniques to evaluate blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries and chambers of the heart, as well as technical procedures and medications to treat abnormalities that impair the function of the cardiovascular system.

Kendall Griffith, M.D.

Board Certified in Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology

My Heart Doctor 1058 Bermuda Run Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.243.9274 | f: 912.341.6513

Abraham Lin, M.D.

Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology Statesboro Cardiology

5 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

Richard Petrella, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology East Georgia Cardiology 1497 Fair Road, Suite 205 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.259.9881 | f: 912.259.9883

Julio Schwarz, M.D.

Board Certified in Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology Statesboro Cardiology 5 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.6246 | f: 912.489.6346

COLORECTAL SURGERY

Colorectal Surgery manages cancer of the colon, rectum and and anus as well as the surgical management of diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, complex anorectal disease, endoscopic interventions and pelvic floor disorders.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Emergency medicine is the medical speciality concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Emergency physicians specialize in providing care for unscheduled and undifferentiated patients of all ages.

R. Tyler Cowart, M.D.

Board Certified in General Surgery

Board Certified in Colon & Rectal Surgery Cedar Surgical Associates, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 200 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7100 | f: 912.871.7110

Ruthie Crider, M.D.

Board Certified in Emergency Medicine 1499 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

Ian Munger, M.D.

Board Certified in Emergency Medicine 1499 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

Douglas Sommers, M.D.

Board Certified in Emergency Medicine 1499 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

Robert J. Wagner, M.D.

Board Certified in Emergency Medicine 1499 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

FAMILY MEDICINE

A family medicine physician is specially trained to care for the health and emotional problems of the family, including preventive medicine and individual family counseling.

Robert Benson, M.D.

East Georgia Primary Care & Internal Medicine

4451 Country Club Road, Suite 3A

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.2273 | f: 912.489.4762

Scott Bohlke, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Bohler Family Practice

128 North Parker Avenue Brooklet, Georgia 30415

o: 912.842.2101 | f: 912.842.2103

Aaron Clark, M.D.

Clark Medical Group

117 Hill Pond Lane

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.623.2155 | f: 912.623.2156

Iris Clark, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Clark Medical Group

117 Hill Pond Lane

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.623.2155 | f: 912.623.2156

Amy Clemons, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Clemons Family Practice

1555 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.480.9444 | f: 912.480.9588

Glen Dasher, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Southern Family Medicine 1140 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.2273 | f: 912.871.2274

Angela Davis, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Family Health Care Center, P.C. 23702 US Highway 80 East Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.4090 | f: 912.764.5028

Brian Deloach, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Statesboro Family Practice Clinic 658 Northside Drive East, Suite A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.9684 | f: 912.489.8676

Angie Gerguis, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine with subspecialty certification in Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Student Health Services

Georgia Southern University 984 Plant Drive | Statesboro, Georgia 30460

o: 912.478.5641 | f: 912.478.1893

John Gerguis, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine with subspecialty certification in Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Total Health Center for Family Medicine 1203 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7890 | f: 912.871.7897

Jason Hollis, DO

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Numi Wellness and Diabetes 1525 Fair Road, Suite 105A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.259.9509 | f: 912.785.2005

Luke Krautter, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Southern Family Medicine 1140 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.2273 | f: 912.871.2274

Zachary McGalliard, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Family Health Care Center, P.C. 23702 US Highway 80 East Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.4090 | f: 912.764.5028

Scott Mikell, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine with subspecialty certification in Geriatric Medicine

Statesboro Family Practice Clinic

658 Northside Drive East, Suite A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.9684 | f: 912.489.8676

T.J. Miller, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Southern Family Medicine

308 East Long Street Claxton, Georgia 30417

o: 912.290.5235 | f: 912.290.5236

Daniel Okungbowa, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Victoria Family Practice

23 Coach Lee Hill Boulevard Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.225.1836 | f: 912.225.0646

Matthew Phillips, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

Statesboro Family Practice Clinic

658 Northside Drive East, Suite A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.9684 | f: 912.489.8676

GASTROENTEROLOGY

A gastroenterologist is a practitioner who specializes in diseases of the stomach, intestines, and digestive tracts.

Patrick Dorvilus, M.D.

Board Certified in Gastroenterology

East Georgia Gastroenterology Institute 1497 Fair Road, Suite 104

o: 912.486.1600 | f: 912.871.3342

William Hallmon, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

East Georgia Gastroenterology Institute 1497 Fair Road, Suite 104 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1600 | f: 912.871.3342

Joseph Hathaway, M.D.

Board Certified in Gastroenterology

East Georgia Gastroenterology Institute 1497 Fair Road, Suite 104 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1600 | f: 912.871.3342

GENERAL SURGERY

A general surgeon is a doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that require surgery, or physically changing the human body.

John Allen, M.D.

Board Certified in General Surgery

Cedar Surgical Associates, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 200 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7100 | f: 912.871.7110

R. Tyler Cowart, M.D.

Board Certified in General Surgery

Board Certified in Colon & Rectal Surgery

Cedar Surgical Associates, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 200

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7100 | f: 912.871.7110

K. Brian Walton, M.D.

Board Certified in General Surgery

Board Certified in Thoracic Surgery

Cedar Surgical Associates, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 200 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7100 | f: 912.871.7110

HOSPITALIST

Hospitalists provide general medical care for a patients while in the hospital. Hospitalists will also develop treatment plans, teach patients about their conditions and consult with other physicians in various specialties to determine the best care for their patients.

W. Ross Bryan, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

William Cantrell, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Sherry Cline, D.O.

Board Certified in Family Medicine

1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Lacey Colvin, D.O.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Uche Ezeigwe, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Isaac Fordjour, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Dwayne Gard, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Dawn Mannings, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Daryl McCartney, M.D.

Board Certified in Family Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

(CONT.)

Patricia Morissette, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Anil Nair, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

Ijeoma Nnanabu, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1431 | f: 912.871.2261

INTENSIVISTS

An intensivist, also known as a critical care doctor, specializes in the care of critically ill patients.

Tarek Amoun, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine & Internal Medicine

East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

Basil Sohail Bangash, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine & Internal Medicine

East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C. 1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

Andrew V. Cichelli, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine & Sleep Medicine East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458 o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

L. Richard Lawoyin, M. D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine with subspecialty certification in Addiction Medicine 1499 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458 o: 912.486.1000 | f: 912.871.2489

Sarah Ellen Stephens, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C. 1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 Statesboro, GA 30458 o: 912.681.4911 f: 912.681.6911

INTERNAL MEDICINE

An internist specializes in the health problems of adults and is also an expert at diagnosing and treating more unusual, complicated illness.

Saraju Dalsania, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine Internal Medicine Associates of Statesboro

1601 Fair Road, Suite 700 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.8488 | f: 912.681.4337

Hamilton Emokpae, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Supreme Internal Medicine, P.C.

1207 Merchant Way Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.243.9080 | f: 912.243.9084

Ogechi Mbakwe, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Frontline Internal Medicine

6 Coach Lee Hill Boulevard Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.8999 | f: 912.681.8989

Brian Moogerfeld, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

1449 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.7111 | f: 912.871.7794

NEPHROLOGY

The branch of medicine that deals with the physiology and diseases of the kidneys.

Maria Moogerfeld, M.D.

1449 Brampton Avenue

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.7111 | f: 912.871.7794

Rani Reddy, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Candler Internal Medicine

106 Briarwood Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.5000 | f: 912.681.1444

Courage Atekha, M.D.

Board Certified in Nephrology

Atekha Nephrology Clinic

1030 Bermuda Run Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.8396 | f: 912.764.7188

Will Jackson, M.D.

Board Certified in Nephrology

East Georgia Nephrology

450 Georgia Avenue, Suite B Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.2200 | f: 912.871.2220

NEUROLOGIST

Specalizes in the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system.

Kashyap Patel, M.D.

Board Certified in Neurology & Internal Medicine with subspecialty certification in Clinical Neurophysiology East Georgia Neurology & Neurodiagnostics 114 Hill Pond Lane | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.486.1140 | f: 912.486.1908

Michael A. Taormina, M.D.

Board Certified in Neurology & subspecialty certified in Headache Medicine, Behavioral Neurology & Neurocritical Care The Neurological Center of East Georgia, P.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 400 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.871.8900 | f: 912.871.8901

NEUROSURGERY

A neurosurgeon specializes in surgery of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

Donald V. Graham, D.O.

Board Certified in Neurosurgery

Statesboro Neurosurgery

55 Granade Street

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7777 | f: 912.871.7172

OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY

A branch of medicine that specializes in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth, and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive organs.

James Hiller, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Southern OB/GYN

1094 Bermuda Run Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.3111 | f: 912.681.3461

Francis Lake, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Southern OB/GYN

1094 Bermuda Run Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.3111 | f: 912.681.3461

Chelsea Mikell, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Ogeechee OB/GYN, P.C.

1310 Brampton Avenue

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.6206 | f: 912.681.8558

Al Palmer, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

East Georgia Women’s Center, P.C. 1012 Bermuda Run Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.4800 | f: 912.871.4900

Lisa S. Rogers, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Statesboro Women’s Health Specialists 1523 Fair Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.2000 | f: 912.871.2500

James Small, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Ogeechee OB/GYN, P.C. 1310 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.6206 | f: 912.681.8558

Gary B. Sullivan, M.D.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Statesboro Women’s Health Specialists 1523 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458 o: 912.871.2000 | f: 912.871.2500

Barbara Williams, D.O.

Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Statesboro Women’s Health Specialists 1523 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458 o: 912.871.2000 | f: 912.871.2500

OPHTHALMOLOGY

An ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosi and medical and surgical treatment of diseases and defects of the eye and related structures.

Atys Cope, M.D.

Cope Eye Clinic

81 East Jones Avenue

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.8080 | f: 912.764.8083

Aaron H. Davidson, M.D.

Board Certified in Ophthalmology

911 East Inman Street

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.3678 | f: 912.489.3698

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Oral and maxillofacial surgery encompasses the art and science of diagnosis, surgical and related treatment of disease, injuries, defects, and esthetic aspects of the oral and maxillofacial area. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon treats patients with abnormalities of the face and mouth.

Troy Lawhorn, D.M.D.

Board Certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Statesboro Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgery & Dental Implant Center

4463 Country Club Road

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.4495 | f: 912.764.3650

Suketu Patel, D.M.D., M.D.

Board Certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

East Georgia Center for Oral & Facial Surgery

1222 Brampton Avenue

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.5435 | f: 912.764.9789

Brian Sellers, D.M.D.

Board Certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

East Georgia Center for Oral & Facial Surgery

1222 Brampton Avenue

Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.5435 | f: 912.764.9789

Rodrigo L. Uribe, D.M.D.

Board Certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

East Georgia Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 1222 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.5435 | f: 912.764.9789

ORTHOPAEDICS

An orthopaedic surgeon is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving bones, ligaments and tendons, and the preservation and restoration of the function of the skeletal system, its articulations and associated structures.

Don Aaron, M.D.

Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery

Optim Healthcare 16741 Highway 67 South, Suite A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.2500 | f: 912.681.2025

Delan Gaines, M.D.

Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery

Optim Healthcare

16741 Highway 67 South, Suite A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.2500 | f: 912.681.2025

Stephen Tankersley, M.D.

Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery

116915 US Hwy. 67 South Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.225.6499 | f: 844.785.1429

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

An otolaryngologist is a specialist trained to surgically treat problematic conditions involving the ear, nose, and throat.

Thomas M. Crews, M.D.

Board Certified in Otolaryngology

Statesboro ENT & Hearing Clinic 106 Proctor Street Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.8200 | f: 912.489.2954

Linc Lippincott, M.D.

Board Certified in Otolaryngology

Statesboro Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy 1301 Statesboro Place Circle Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.7368 | f: 912.681.3687

PAIN MANAGEMENT

East Georgia Regional Medical Center’s pain management services are designed to give you relief from pain and help you regain control of your life.

Justin Rountree, M.D.

Board Certified in Pain Management

Board Certified in Anesthesiology 1497 Fair Road, Suite 206 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1121 | f: 912.871.2483

PATHOLOGY

The science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.

Keath Wade, M.D.

Board Certified in Anatomic & Clinical Pathology & Cytopathology 1499 Fair Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1616 | f: 912.871.2393

PEDIATRICS

A pediatrician is medical doctor who manages the physical, behavioral, and mental care for children from birth until age 18. A pediatrician is trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of childhood illnesses, from minor health problems to serious diseases.

Anna Benson, M.D.

Board Certified in Pediatrics Mama Doc Pediatrics

4451 Country Club Road, Suite B Statesboro, Georgia 30458 o: 912.871.5437 | f: 912.623.2037

Maggie Blackwood, M.D.

Board Certified in Pediatrics Mama Doc Pediatrics

4451 Country Club Road, Suite B Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.5437 | f: 912.623.2037

Michael Deal, M.D.

East Georgia Pediatrics 450 Georgia Avenue, Suite A Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.3325 | f: 912.489.7334

Prasad I. T. Rao, M.D.

Board Certified in Pediatrics

South Georgia Pediatrics 1230 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.489.5437 | f: 912.489.5550

Chandler Sapp, M.D.

Board Certified in Pediatrics Bulloch Pediatrics, P.C. 1044 Bermuda Run Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.4847 f: 912.871.5562

Eric Stout, M.D.

KinderCare Pediatrics of Georgia 122 S. Zetterower Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.259.9991 | f: 912.259.9992

PLASTIC SURGERY

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.

Marc Bisseck, M.D.

Board Certified in Plastic Surgery

Statesboro Plastic Surgery 1402 Brampton Avenue Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.681.3330 | f: 912.681.3303

PODIATRY

A podiatrist is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the foot, including its anatomy, pathology, medical and surgical treatment, etc.

Austin Whitlock, M.D.

Board Certified in Pediatrics

Bulloch Pediatrics, P.C. 1044 Bermuda Run Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.4847 | f: 912.871.5562

Board Certified in Podiatric Surgery East Georgia Foot & Ankle Center 17 Grady Johnson Road Statesboro, Georgia 30458

Kristian Jeffress, D.P.M.

Board Certified in Podiatric Medicine Affinity Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC 110 Hill Pond Lane Statesboro, Georgia

PULMONOLOGY

Pulmonologists diagnose the causes of breathing problems. Pulmonary medicine is the subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and management of disorders of the respiratory system.

Tarek Amoun, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine & Internal Medicine

East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

Basil Sohail Bangash, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine & Internal Medicine

East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

Andrew V. Cichelli, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine & Sleep Medicine East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

Sarah Ellen Stephens, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C.

1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600

Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 f: 912.681.6911

RADIOLOGY

A radiologist is a physician who diagnoses injuries through interpretation of x.rays, CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and MRI studies.

Benjamin Cahan, M.D.

Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology

East Georgia Radiology

1499 Fair Road | Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1620 | f: 912.871.2396

Statesboro Imaging Center

8 Coach Lee Hill Blvd. | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.764.5656 | f: 912.764.5659

Colin Dodds, M.D.

Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology

East Georgia Radiology

1499 Fair Road | Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1620 | f: 912.871.2396

Statesboro Imaging Center

8 Coach Lee Hill Blvd. | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.764.5656 | f: 912.764.5659

Janine Dodds, M.D.

Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology

East Georgia Radiology

1499 Fair Road | Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1620 | f: 912.871.2396

Statesboro Imaging Center

8 Coach Lee Hill Blvd. | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.764.5656 | f: 912.764.5659

Kha Nguyen, M.D., Ph.D.

Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology

East Georgia Radiology

1499 Fair Road | Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1620 | f: 912.871.2396

Statesboro Imaging Center

8 Coach Lee Hill Blvd. | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.764.5656 | f: 912.764.5659

Khoa Nguyen, M.D.

Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology

East Georgia Radiology

1499 Fair Road | Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.486.1620 | f: 912.871.2396

Statesboro Imaging Center

8 Coach Lee Hill Blvd. | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.764.5656 | f: 912.764.5659

SLEEP MEDICINE

A medical specialty or subspecialty devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of sleep disturbances & disorders.

Andrew V. Cichelli, M.D.

Board Certified in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine & Sleep Medicine East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C. 1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 | Statesboro, GA 30458

o: 912.681.4911 | f: 912.681.6911

Sarah Ellen Stephens, M.D.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep Disorder Medicine, L.L.C. 1601 Fair Rd., Ste. 600 Statesboro, GA 30458 o: 912.681.4911 f: 912.681.6911

THORACIC/VASCULAR SURGERY

Tthe specialty which encompasses cardiac surgery, peripheral vascular surgery and general thoracic surgery.

K. Brian Walton, M.D.

Board Certified in General Surgery

Board Certified in Thoracic Surgery Cedar Surgical Associates, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 200 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.871.7100 | f: 912.871.7110

UROLOGY

A urologist is a doctor who specializes in treatment of the urinary tract for men and women, as well as treatment of the male reproductive system. Patients may be referred to a urologist if their primary physician suspects they need treatment for conditions relating to bladder, urethra, ureters, kidneys, and adrenal glands.

Thomas Sorbera, M.D.

Board Certified in Urology East Georgia Urologic Clinic, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 102 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

Tim Thaller, M.D.

Board Certified in Urology East Georgia Urologic Clinic, P.C. 1497 Fair Road, Suite 102 Statesboro, Georgia 30458

o: 912.764.9001 | f: 912.764.3166

WOUND CARE/HYPERBARIC MEDICINE

The Wound Care Center is dedicated to the provision of state of the art outpatient clinical wound care and hyperbaric therapy.

o: 912.764.9001 | f: 912.764.3166 Board

EMERITUS STAFF

Camille Atallah, M.D.

General Surgery

Carla Branch, M.D. Family Medicine

Robert Cushner, D.P.M. Podiatry

Daniel M. Feldman, M.D. Pediatrics

Akram Hassanyeh, M.D. General Surgery

John E. Martin, Sr., M.D. Wound Care/Hyperbaric Medicine

George Piros, M.D. Radiology

Thad Riley, M.D. Family Medicine

H. Randolph Smith, M.D. Family Medicine

HONORARY STAFF

Frederick M. Laun, M.D. Orthopaedic & Hand Surgery

Paul Tilson, M.D. Urology

COMING IN 2026

Luis R. Davila, M.D. Gastroenterology

Sonia Nwoke, M.D. Nephrology

Sydney O‘Malley OB/GYN

DIGITAL DIRECTORY

Scan the code to the left or visit eastgeorgiaregional.com/find-a-doctor for a searchable directory

NOTES

BCHS Hot Chicken Salad

Summer time is a great time to enjoy friends over a light lunch. A go-to for me is hot chicken salad. I keep a deboned and skinned rotisserie chicken in the freezer most of the time for recipes like this one. It makes preparing the main dish so much easier.

INGREDIENTS:

3 c. Cooked Chicken (either chopped or shredded)

1 c. Finely Chopped Celery

1 Tbsp. Finely Chopped Onion

4 oz. Drained Chopped Pimento

1 c. Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1 can Sliced Water Chestnuts

1 10 oz. can Cream Of Chicken Soup

½ c. Hellman’s Mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste

Two cups crushed potato chips. (You can use French Fried onions for a change!)

PREPARATION:

Mix all ingredients except chips. Crumble the chips and add half to mixture. Put in a 9” x 13” dish and bake at 350˚ for 20-30 minutes. Do not overcook. Top with remaining chips.

Linens &

Lilies

WRITTEN BY LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY

THE BIRTH OF THIS ARTICLE BEGAN WITH A CASUAL CONVERSATION ABOUT SPIDER LILIES AT A LADIES’ LUNCHEON. I DON’T LIKE SPIDERS AT all. I’m actually terrified of the eight-legged spawn of Satan. The only spiders I tolerate are the vibrant, red lilies that appear in late summer and early autumn. You have probably seen them scattered on old ditch banks, randomly blooming in a field, or sprouting in clumps around an old homeplace. They are sassy little flowers that burst from the bare ground on long unassuming stems 1-2 feet high. The name, Spider Lily, aptly describes a blossom whose petals and stamen resemble the long legs of a spider. Their vibrant red blooms are often described as “dramatic.” The blooms are unadorned by foliage. As the flowers fade narrow green leaves appear through winter and disappear by spring. Spider Lilies are almost a thing of the past. They are not popular like today’s super curated collections of plants from big box stores. They are considered a classic southern heirloom bulb. You can order the bulbs online, but they mean so much more if they come from someone you love. Every time they bloom you will think of the person who gifted them.

My friend, Virginia Anne is a keeper of lilies and family lore. She is more than a friend. She is a distant cousin on my paternal grandmother’s side of the family. VA, as she is affectionately known, can easily recite the lineage that creates our kinship. She carries an encyclopedia of genealogy in her brain. I know we would be friends even without the ancestral ties. We enjoy many of the same things: funky art, collections, recipes that passed the test of time, vintage flowers, old cemeteries, heirloom tableware, and long conversations. I guess you could say we are kindred spirits.

Virginia Anne is bien connu pour hosting elegant luncheons at her home on Savannah Avenue. Lunch at “The Hideaway” is my most coveted invitation. It is hard for me to get away from the restaurant mid-day but I will cancel all plans to accept a luncheon invite from Cousin Virginia Anne. Her luncheons are really something special. There are no paper plates, no acrylic glasses, no catered food, no shortcuts. The food is always fantastic! The conversations and guest lists

Tiramisu

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 c. Heavy Whipping Cream

8 oz. Mascarpone Cheese (room temperature)

1/3 c. Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 1/2 c. Cold Espresso

1 package Lady Fingers (Bellino’s

Savoiardi brand works well)

Cocoa Powder for dusting the top

PREPARATION:

Beat whipping cream and sugar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Add mascarpone cheese and fold in until combined. Set aside. Pour espresso into a shallow bowl. Dip the ladyfingers in the espresso. Do not soak them. Quickly dip them on both sides. Place cookies in a single layer on bottom of an 8x8 dish. Smooth half of the mascarpone mixture over the top of the cookies. Add another layer of dipped cookies. Smooth the remaining mascarpone cream over the top. Dust cocoa powder over the top. Refrigerate overnight. Serve chilled.

Cranberry Congealed Salad

INGREDIENTS:

2 c. Boiling Water

1 box (0.3 oz) Raspberry Jello®

1 box (0.3oz) Strawberry Jello®

16 oz. can Cranberry Sauce

20 oz. can Crushed Pineapple

1/2 c. Pecans (chopped)

PREPARATION:

Combine boiling water with Jello® in a bowl and stir until dissolved. Stir in cranberry sauce, pineapple, and pecans. Pour into a round mold, glass baking dish, or individual dishes. Chill until set. I would allow the mixture to set overnight.

Morning Glory Muffins

INGREDIENTS:

2 c. All Purpose Flour

1 1/4 c. Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Soda

2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Salt

2 c. Shredded Carrots

PREPARATION:

1 Apple (peeled, cored, and shredded)

1/2 c. Raisins

1/2 c. Pecans (chopped)

1/2 c. Unsweetened Flake Coconut

3 Eggs

1 c. Vegetable Oil

2 tsp. Vanilla

Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line the cups with paper liners. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in carrots, apples, raisins, pecans, and coconut. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir the egg mixture into the carrot mixture until just moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Fill each cup 2/3 full. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. Cool muffins in the tin for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

are food for my soul. I eagerly anticipate the table setting with all her finery. The mixture of family china, silver, and crystal are a feast for my eyes! I wonder at the way she layers pieces and attributes each piece to relatives long passed. I drool over the blue and white Wedgwood. It's my favorite.

She tells the best stories! I love to hear her weave tales of her childhood, Big Mama, Totsie, and her parents into animated conversation. I feel like I know them and know they are with us in spirit. Linen placemats and napkins are starched to perfection, place cards are displayed, and the center of the table is decorated with fresh flowers she has arranged amid special seasonal collections of treasured figurines.

I could list Virginia Ann’s philanthropic deeds for Bulloch and surrounding counties, but wouldn’t know where to begin and would surely leave out more than I could mention! If you want to experience a glimpse of her endless historical knowledge join the Bulloch County Historical Society. (www.BullochHistory.com). The newsletter alone is worth joining! Who knows, you may even get an invitation to lunch.

My last visit to the Hideaway did not include lunch, but I was enamored just the same! I walked the grounds with Virginia Anne and we talked about the flora surrounding her home. Decades of carefully curated plantings have made The Hideaway a haven you would never know existed. The backyard makes me think of an enchanted forest. The canopy of trees allows light to filter down and create ribbons of golden glow. A walkway leads to a potting shed and the native wildness beyond. We dug spider lily bulbs along the walkway and identified other native plants. The front yard and planting beds surrounding the house are a tantalizing juxtaposition with bright colors, pots overflowing with seasonal blooms, camellias sagging with the weight of blossoms, borders, Bill’s manicured grass, fences, and bulbs of every kind. We walked, talked, and dug in the dirt. I left with a full heart and a trunk filled with vintage linens and flower bulbs.

I know in my heart I was meant for another time. I don’t believe in reincarnation but my spirit longs for a simpler time spent at a slower pace appreciating life’s small pleasures like family, food, and friends. Virginia Anne offers these things with a gracious heart. I’ll be waiting and watching this fall for the spider lilies to pop up unexpectedly, and as winter fades to spring, for the jonquils to appear. S

Houseplants Make Your Home Say,

IMAY HAVE A FEW TOO MANY HOUSEPLANTS. EVERY HOME NEEDS THESE FOR WARMTH, HAPPINESS AND TO HELP CLEAN THE AIR. IT IS A GOOD RULE TO annually evaluate your plants, re-pot if necessary, and on occasion, place them in the trash. Two of my dearest friends can kill philodendron, so I understand we all need some instructions on what makes these plants live and brighten our lives.

Houseplants are a wonderful way to bring happiness indoors and make a space feel alive. You don’t have to be a master gardener to keep these gorgeous greens happy and healthy. Experts say that greenery in the home can reduce stress and improve focus. Two things to consider with houseplants are when to water them, and how much sunlight do they need?

One of my personal favorites is the Snake Plant, also called Motherin-Law Tongue. Their botanical name is sansevieria. These old timey jewels are hardy, upright plants with striking, sword-like leaves. The leaves store water so you can water as little as once per month. If you have ever left one outside during a hard freeze only to find the leaves have become mush, now you know why. This plant is native to tropical

West Africa and medium indirect sunlight is best. The leaves are green, white/green or yellow/green and can grow up to four feet high.

A neighbor recently gave me two beautiful Monstera plants and I placed them on the living room hearth. This plant is also called the Swiss Cheese plant as the large split leaves give the look of this great cheese with holes. The leaves are heart shaped with gaps and splits. It likes moderate to low light and well-drained soil. We water ours about once a month. This plant was used by Matisse in his paintings, which contributed to its popularity. It can reach six feet tall at maturity!

Pothos has been a favorite houseplant for years. Pothos is the houseplant for beginners. Patsy Bobo gifted me rooted pothos every time we visited her at the beach. She rooted it in water in tall vases placed on kitchen cabinets. It is one of the most durable of all houseplants requiring minimal care. It has trailing vines. The leaves are heart-shaped and are green or variegated. Again, it likes low light and well-drained soil.

Another favorite of mine is philodendron. I have two huge plants that I was given in 2021 for a house warming present. They came from Colonial House of Flowers! These are fast growers and they can

“Welcome”

climb and grow upright. The leaves are very large with lobes, which are dark green. It prefers low light conditions and does not like to dry out completely.

The Peace Lily is an elegant plant that is often gifted for condolences, new beginnings (weddings, babies, housewarmings), and as a symbol of resilience for thriving in tough conditions. It has white flowers with a pronounced stamen amidst dark green foliage. According to Peng Shu it brings healing and spiritual balance in homes. It needs low light conditions and should dry out completely between watering. If the tips of your peace lily become brown, cut off these tips with sharp scissors trimming at an angle. The plant is reacting to either water conditions or it needs fertilizer. You could be over or under watering the plant. All plants must be fed to thrive.

During my childhood in the 1960’s every Southern home had a Spider plant. This plant has baby plants and they were gifted to friends and neighbors. It has cascading green and white leaves. It develops a long arching steam with a “new spiderette” plant. This plant adapts to any light conditions from bright to shade and prefers a humid environment. It can grow to four feet at maturity. These plants remove

toxins such as formaldehyde and xylene and they release moisture.

Snake Plant, Peace Lily, Pothos and Spider Plants offer many physical benefits. They filter out common indoor air pollutants. Through transpiration, they release moisture to combat dry indoor air. These plants, like other plants, absorb carbon dioxide and release fresh oxygen. This has been proven according to NASA research. Plants can reduce stress, improve mood, enhance focus, and create a calmer environment. These plants require minimal attention.

Fertilize indoor plants in spring as they enter their active growth phase, typically every 2-4 weeks. Use a balanced, liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength to prevent root burn. Apply the fertilizer in the morning for optimal absorption. Spring is the ideal time to re-pot root-bound plants and those where the soil is old.

Owning and gifting houseplants boosts happiness by reducing stress and providing a sense of purpose by nurturing living things. This lowers blood pressure and cortisol. Gifting plants offers a long-lasting, meaningful gesture that brings nature inside. Plants are considered a “gift that keeps on giving.” It does foster a sense of peace in the giver and receiver. S

Five Filters for DecisionMaking

WRITTEN BY REV. DR. JOHN WATERS

HOW CAN YOU KNOW GOD’S WILL WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH AN IMPORTANT DECISION?

AS A FAITHFUL HEAVENLY FATHER, THE LORD wants to give clear guidance to His children, so knowing God’s will during a time of decision is a matter of sensing His leadership. Use the following five questions to receive clarity and God’s guidance during decision-making:

1. HAVE I PRAYED ABOUT IT?

Whatever the question might be, you are not ready to move forward until you have prayed. This is more than asking others to pray on your behalf or placing a request on a church prayer list. Can you name the time and place where you prayed about this decision? Did you pray about it just once, or multiple times over several days, weeks, or months? If you haven’t actually prayed about it, then you are not ready to decide.

2. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT IT?

While God may not speak audibly, He clearly directs us through His Word. The answer you are looking for may already be given in Scripture, so search the Bible for insight and guidance. To know God’s Word is to know God’s will, and He will never lead any person to do anything that contradicts His clear teaching in Scripture. Even if your direct question is not answered in the Bible, look for principles and promises that form a better understanding of God’s heart and mind.

3. WHAT DO OTHER GODLY PEOPLE SAY?

Often in Scripture, God uses other people to help someone clarify and understand His will. Even today, God can use the counsel of other godly people to help us sense His leadership and direction in our lives. None of us is called to live as a Christian in isolation. The Christian faith makes us part of a community of other believers, and God will use other believers to help you understand, clarify, and follow His will.

4. WHAT DO THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WISE THINKING REVEAL?

One of the results of humankind being made in the image of God is our ability to think critically and logically about an issue. Sometimes God wants us to use common sense to evaluate an issue and determine what would be best. Does one choice give honor to God better than another? Are there adverse effects on my family? Does my choice show sound financial management? Will my decision hurt others? Will it be a good testimony to Christ?

Thinking about the logical consequences and circumstances of our choices is a gift from God. For example, my wife and I once considered purchasing a home that would stretch our financial means. We loved the house and dreamed of owning such a home, but calm and critical thinking about the purchase price, needs of our children, and other matters simply showed that it was not wise. God enabled us to know His will as we trusted His leadership in evaluating and considering the circumstances around our decision. We didn’t receive a sign, vision, or some other supernatural message. We simply allowed God to guide our thinking to the choice that reflected wisdom, prudence, and sound judgment.

5. DO I HAVE AN INNER PEACE?

The final question to ask about any decision is whether God has given you an inner peace. This final question can be the most difficult to consider, because the only measurements are those within your own heart. The term “inner peace” refers to a calming, confident sense that this is the right choice to make. It settles your mind and calms your spirit. One of the marks of God’s will is the inner peace it brings from knowing it and following it.

If you have sincerely worked through the first four filters, but still do not have an inner peace, then perhaps God is wanting you to wait. The absence of an inner peace about a decision means you should make no decision at all. Stay right where you are until God gives you a clear sense of His guidance. Keep working through these five filters until God gives you clarity, wisdom, and peace about the decision. S

Don’t miss this opportunity to show off your boutique or shop’s latest school fashions, sales and must haves.

An Appreciation of Dedication

WRITTEN BY BENJY THOMPSON

IHAVE THE CHANCE TO DRIVE HOME FROM HOPEULIKIT ON OCCASION, COMING INTO STATESBORO ON HIGHWAY 80 AND TAKING Northside Drive home. This path gives me a chance to recall how that stretch of road has changed over time, and reminds me of a recent confluence of events, some sad and some happy, that inspired my column this month.

This past March, Roy Thompson passed away. I’d known Mr. Roy for many years, primarily through his position as Chair of the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners. I didn’t know him as well as many of you reading this, but I worked with him often. And I talked with him often, usually in his office at Statesboro Floor Covering. I’d drop in and find him on the phone with a customer, or a constituent. Either way, the conversation was the same. Mr. Roy was trying to find some way to make things right, to make the other party on the call happy with whatever was taking place. Meanwhile, Mrs. Deborah, his partner for and in life, would be sitting at her desk, patiently talking with me while we waited on his call to end. Roy and Deborah were an amazing couple. They were totally dedicated to each other and the life they’d chosen to share together.

The Dedication. That’s the thing that Roy and Deborah showed us every day. And whether you agreed with him or not, you couldn’t question whether Roy Thompson was dedicated to his home town, this place he’d grown up loving. Roy dedicated much of his life to making Statesboro and Bulloch County a better place.

Dedication is a quality that is harder to find these days, and it seems less appreciated. I’m so glad that our community has celebrated a couple of people who are dedicated to making lives

better. Recently, Trish Tootle was named as United Way’s Woman of the Year. Trish is deeply involved in our community, with so many leadership and volunteer positions that one loses count. But the quality that is so impressive to me is how she has been the same caring, thoughtful, happy person for as long as I’ve known her (which is longer than either of us may want to divulge). Trish has dedicated herself to the people around her, the people she engages daily. This dedication shows up all over our community. Trish is a light for all of us.

Another recently celebrated friend of mine is the editor of this magazine, Jenny Foss. Jenny was recently named Catalytic Leader of the Year by the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce. This award suits Jenny perfectly – she is someone who gets people going, inspiring people every day. Jenny loves this community – just ask her about it, and she’ll light up. And, she wants Statesboro-Bulloch County to be better. I’ve spent countless hours talking with Jenny about ideas for our community, and she’s not done yet. We are fortunate to have her telling our stories, reminding us of how fortunate we are to live here, and sharing our best with the world outside of us.

I hope that all of us feel blessed to have Trish and Jenny, and to have had Roy - not because you agreed with them, or that you interacted with them regularly, but because they’ve all cared so much about our community. They all have been dedicated to making Statesboro-Bulloch County a better place. I feel blessed for having them, and I appreciate their dedication to all of us. S

Marsh, and Thompson

Manack, Marsh, and Thompson

Statesboro, GA 30458

912.871.3101

https://advisor.ml.com/sites/ga/statesboro-ga/manack-marsh-andthompson

G rowing S tronger. G rowing T ogether.

In Statesboro-Bulloch County, economic growth means community opportunity. The Development Authority of Bulloch County and our workforce partners are helping citizens bridge the gap to highpaying, high-benefit careers. By investing in our community, we are ensuring that our growth benefits everyone who calls Bulloch County home. Merrill

As our community continues to benefit from economic growth, the Development Authority of Bulloch County recognizes the importance of maintaining the quality of life that makes Statesboro-Bulloch County so special. We want people to continue to live here – get educated, find work, and start a family. So, while we continue our efforts to provide economic opportunities for our citizens, we pledge to do our best to make this community a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The future is bright for Statesboro-Bulloch County!

STATESBOROBULLOCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INAUGURAL CHOOSE BULLOCH EVENT

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Oak Room – Jack Hill Building Ogeechee Technical College ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY WILBURN

ABOVE: The 2026 Catalytic Leader of the Year was awarded to Jenny Starling Foss, editor of Statesboro Magazine, presented by Joel Hanner, Georgia Power Area Manager, immediate past chair of the Chamber.

ABOVE: The moderated panel featured (L-R) Alan Gross, small business & retail recruiter for BIG and the City of Statesboro; Jan Moore, VP of Economic Development for OTC; Allen Muldrew, executive director of the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority; David Bennett, chair of the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners; Jennifer Davis, president and CEO of the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce; Justin Samples, VP of Marketing & Operation for Visit Statesboro; and Benjy Thompson, CEO of the Bulloch County Development Authority.

STATESBORO-BULLOCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING FOR ELEVATION

MEN’S CLINIC

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

12 – noon

100 Brampton Avenue, Suite 2D-1

Statesboro, Georgia

CITIZENS BANK OF THE SOUTH - STATESBORO 20 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours

Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Main Branch

(L-R) Jonathan Young, Senior Mortgage Lender & Loan Officer; Lynde Schubert, Corporate VP & Baldwin County Market President; Holli Nichols, VP - Lending Officer; Mandy Fortune, VP & Chief Marketing Officer; Christy Brinson, Customer Service Representative; Kate Mincey, AVP Commercial & Consumer Lender; Laura Mock, VP –Human Resources Director; Matthew “P.K.” Huling, Corporate VP & Bulloch County Market President.

THE STATESBORO-BULLOCH CHAMBER FOUNDATION’S EMERGING PROFESSIONALS

MENTORING PROGRAM

kicks off its inaugural year in May with a seven-month, comprehensive professional development initiative designed to empower emerging professionals through coaching, support, and skill development. The program matches community leaders with young professionals to offer a structured framework for positive change and community engagement for rising talents seeking both personal and professional growth.

IN OUR CORNER OF THE SOUTH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE TAKE TIME, INTENTION, AND A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR neighbors. Whether it’s tending a garden or caring for our families, “living well” is something we cultivate day by day. For many in our community, that journey now includes an honest conversation about weight—and the impact it has on overall health.

Weight is about so much more than just how we look. Healthcare organizations recognize that weight management is a complex journey, and for many, it isn’t a matter of willpower, but of biology and environment. According to the CDC, over one-third of American adults face the challenges of obesity—a condition that affects everything from heart health and energy levels to sleep and joint comfort. For those who have worked hard without seeing results, it’s important to know that you aren’t alone. Modern medicine offers more personalized options and compassionate support than ever before to help you reclaim an active, healthy life.

Dr. John Allen, a board-certified general surgeon and bariatric specialist at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, often reminds patients that addressing weight is really about protecting the life you want to live. “Taking proactive steps toward your weight management goals now will have a significant positive impact on your overall health,” he shares. “It’s about being present for the moments that matter most.”

Today, individuals seeking a healthier weight may hear about newer medications, surgical options, or a combination of both. Rather than viewing these paths as competing choices, many providers encourage patients to see them as tools—each with its own role in supporting long-term health.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS

Medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists have gained attention for their ability to help regulate appetite and improve how the body processes blood sugar. For some, they can make it easier to establish healthier habits by reducing cravings and supporting steady weight loss. These medications are typically used as part of an ongoing plan, often alongside nutrition and lifestyle changes.

A New Season for Health and Healing

WRITTEN BY JAIME RIGGS

Bariatric surgery offers a different kind of support. Procedures such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass work by changing how the body processes food and energy. For many patients, surgery can lead to significant, sustained weight loss and improvement in conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.

Both approaches have helped people reclaim their health. Both require commitment, follow-up, and a willingness to make lasting lifestyle changes. And for some individuals, a combination approach may be recommended—using medication before or after surgery to support the best possible outcome.

A PERSONAL DECISION, GUIDED BY CARE

There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to weight and wellness. What works well for one person may not be the right fit for another. That’s why the most important step isn’t choosing a treatment—it’s starting the conversation.

Talking openly with a trusted healthcare provider can help you better understand your health risks, your goals, and the options available to you. Together, you can build a plan that reflects your needs, your lifestyle, and your long-term vision for living well.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about numbers on a scale. It’s about having the energy to enjoy a walk on a spring afternoon, the strength to keep up with children and grandchildren, and the peace of mind that comes from taking care of your health.

Living well isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, support, and making informed choices along the way.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

If you’ve been thinking about your health and what comes next, consider starting with a simple conversation with your primary care provider or a bariatric surgery specialist.

www.eastgeorgiamedsurgassociates.com/family-medicine-care www.eastgeorgiamedsurgassociates.com/bariatric-surgery1 912.871.7100. S