Communicare | Spring 2025

Communicare l Improving the health of our community in all we do

Spring 2025

In this Issue A New Era for Health Care What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

Overcoming Pelvic Floor Challenges

contents From Our President

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A New Era for Health Care

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Overcoming Pelvic Health Challenges

9-10

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

11-13

Relief is Just Down the Street

15-17

Breathing Easier

19-20

A Joint Collaboration

21-22

Giving the Comfort of Home

23-24

743 Spring Street NE Gainesville, GA 30501 770-219-9000 nghs.com

OUR MISSION

“Improving the health of our community in all we do” OUR THANKS TO BOARD CHAIRS Martha Randolph

Hospital Authority of Hall County & City of Gainesville

Spence Price

Northeast Georgia Health System

Semuel Maysonet

Northeast Georgia Medical Center

ON THE COVER: A helicopter lands on NGMC Gainesville's Green Tower rooftop helipad. Read the complete story on pages 3-8.

Pepper Brown, MD

Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation

Natalie Challen

Northeast Georgia Health System Auxiliary

Bedri Yusuf, MD

Northeast Georgia Physicians Group

EDITORIAL STAFF: Abigail Carr, editor Gregg Carson, designer Sean Couch, executive director Beth Downs, director Erin Gibson, writer Emily Kerns, writer Mark Richens, writer Layne Saliba, writer Paige Yingst, writer

Antonio Rios, MD

Northeast Georgia Health Partners Network This organization does not discriminate against any patient because of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability or because a patient is covered by a program such as Medicare or Medicaid.

Communicare is a health education magazine published by the Public Relations department for the community to support the organization’s mission.

from our president My name is Matt Hanley, and it’s both an honor and a privilege to serve as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). I officially stepped into the role on March 31, and I'm eager to get to know the people and communities that make NGHS such a vital part of the region.

First, let me say I’m thrilled to be back in the South. I graduated from medical school at Duke University and took my first job as an emergency medicine physician in Lynchburg, Virginia, where my wife and I started our family. After more than a decade in Lynchburg, we moved further South where I worked for a large, multi-state health system based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eventually, a terrific opportunity presented itself in Saint Louis, Missouri, and the next thing I knew, we had been living in the Midwest for seven wonderful years. However, for the first time in my life, I realized I missed “home.”

It means so much to me to be back where my journey in health care began. I can’t tell you how blessed I feel to have the opportunity to lead an organization with such a rich history, strong culture and core values, expert clinicians and talented staff — all with a passion for improving the health of our community in all we do.

In the pages ahead, please be sure to read about the amazing legacy of my predecessor, Carol Burrell, and how the capstone of her career – NGMC Gainesville’s new Green Tower – will care for generations to come (pages 3-8). Learn about how our teams are filling a gap in women’s health care across the region by providing urogynecology (pages 9-10) and how a dynamic duo of female physicians used robotic technology to detect a woman’s lung cancer early (pages 19-20). You’ll also find other amazing stories about life-saving heart care (page 11-13), life-improving spine surgery (pages 15-17) and expert orthopedic surgery (pages 21-22).

Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me with open arms, and I look forward to calling northeast Georgia home!

Matt Hanley, MD President & CEO

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A New Era for Health Care

opening a new tower and welcoming a new ceo

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Spring is a time for new beginnings. As the season changes, it’s clear the clichés are true for a reason. The days really are longer, flowers are actually blooming and the future usually seems a little brighter. So, it’s a fitting time to open the largest construction project in Northeast Georgia Health System’s (NGHS) history, while the organization also welcomes a new chief executive officer – ushering in a new era for health care across the northeast part of the state.

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GMC GAINESVILLE’S GREEN TOWER NOW OPEN Thousands of people flocked to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville on February 1 during a community open house for the hospital’s new Green Tower, which opened one week later.

The tower transformed the campus by providing several enhancements across almost 1 million square feet. For starters, improving access to emergency care was a top priority. The emergency department, which is among the busiest in the state, moved to the ground floor with a revamped layout to care for more people quickly and efficiently.

“This new space is a dream come true for this community and our staff,” said Mohak Davé, MD, chief of emergency medicine at NGMC. “No one wants to go to the emergency department, but, if you have to, people can at least look forward to more convenient parking, walking into a modern area with more room and in many cases, getting in and out faster than before.”

A new parking deck right next to the tower includes more convenient parking spaces, which is a welcome improvement for a busy campus. There’s also a new helipad on the roof, so first responders can now get patients faster and more efficient access to Level I trauma, heart attack, stroke and emergency surgical care.

“Once the helicopter lands, patients are wheeled into a dedicated elevator and taken directly to a team waiting on the correct floor,” said Matthew Vassy, MD, medical director of trauma services at NGMC. “Seconds count in those situations, and – once the patient gets to the elevator – it takes literally 30 seconds or less to get them the care they need.”

“That speed is crucial in all emergency and trauma situations but especially when it comes to strokes,” said Sung Lee, MD, medical director of neurointerventional surgery at NGMC. “The more

time we save, the more brain function we have the opportunity to preserve – so this building is having a profound impact on improving people’s lives.”

The tower is also a destination for heart and vascular care. Several services provided by Georgia Heart Institute including diagnostic testing, cardiac catheterizations and open-heart surgery are now in the same building.

“We talk about how Georgia’s hearts are always on our mind, and that was definitely true when our boards and leaders were planning for the Green Tower,” said Glen Henry, MD, director of interventional cardiology at Georgia Heart Institute. "The Tower brings together many of our cardiovascular clinicians and services in one location for a true team approach to providing our patients seamless, efficient, high-quality care."

Plus, the tower’s impact goes beyond the bedside.

“We talk about our expansion projects as ‘growing the greater good,’ because they are truly improving the community outside of health care,” said John Kueven, chief operating officer at NGHS. “For instance, the Green Tower project has created more than 100 new jobs, and 83% of the construction labor came from companies across our region and state.”

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CAREER CAPSTONE As the person who led NGHS through its most challenging and successful period, Carol Burrell’s mantra has long encouraged her teams to be “better tomorrow than we are today.”

“I think the Green Tower has certainly made us all better, and I couldn’t think of a better capstone to a career,” said Carol, who retired from her position as NGHS’ CEO in March.

In fact, expansion projects on the NGMC Gainesville campus bookended her time with NGHS. “I was chief operating officer when we opened what we called the North Patient Tower back in 2009, which we now call the Blue Tower,” said Carol. “Little did I know then just how much would change over the next 16 years.”

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Carol became CEO in 2011. During her tenure, NGHS grew from one hospital in Hall County to a total of five hospitals across the region, including one of the state’s only Level I Trauma Centers.

The system also now includes the sixth largest multispecialty physician group in the state (Northeast Georgia Physicians Group) and the state’s most forward-thinking heart and vascular program (Georgia Heart Institute) as well as one of Georgia’s largest graduate medical education programs. NGHS’ estimated annual impact on the state and local economy has grown from around $1 billion in 2011 to more than $7.5 billion in 2022.

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“As a board, we rarely had to push Carol,” said Spence Price, longtime NGHS board member and current chair. “She was usually the one pushing us with her bold visions for the future.”

When it became clear in the late 2010s that a growing population was pushing the limits of how many people NGMC Gainesville could treat, Carol was quick to paint the picture of what would become the Green Tower. But it didn’t take long for the picture to blur.

“We had approved this ideal timeline with all the capital expenses laid out, and then the COVID pandemic hit,” said Spence. “Given how that consumed every minute of every day for healthcare workers, it was almost impossible for them to think ahead to tomorrow.”

“Those were dark days, but I’m grateful the board pushed and supported us,” said Carol. “We all agreed it wasn’t enough to just handle the crisis, we somehow had to figure out how to continue to look up and out as a leadership team and press the plans for the tower forward – because the community need was still going to be there when the pandemic faded.”

The group refocused, and their collective determination is why the tower stands a beacon of hope and healing today.

“That building is a big part of Carol’s legacy, but it wasn’t the end of her bold vision for the future,” said Spence. “Perhaps her last strong act of leadership for NGHS was working humbly and without ego to help the board plan for her successor.”

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NEW LEADER FOR A NEW ERA Carol announced her plans to retire back in January 2024, committing to staying on the job and fully engaged until the next CEO was in place. The board quickly formed a search committee, and a national firm was chosen to identify the best candidates. After the applications and interest rolled in, the committee narrowed it to a handful of options – and a two-day session was scheduled at a hotel near the Atlanta airport for in-person interviews.

“The search committee was committed to conducting a very robust, honest and deliberate search process to identify the next CEO,” said RK Whitehead, NGHS board chair emeritus and chair of the search committee. ”All of the candidates were very impressive and accomplished people, and it was difficult to be confident someone would fit well into the NGHS culture in such a short time of meeting with them. After the two days of interviews, we intentionally did not discuss among ourselves any of the candidates, but after Matt was selected, the committee members told me they had known the minute Matt walked in the door that he was going to be our next CEO.” Matt Hanley, MD, had quite a journey that led him to the hotel on that fateful day.

Matt’s family was among a group of Americans who moved to Saudi Arabia amid the oil boom of the 1970s and 80s, which he says made him a “citizen of the world,” but he always felt a connection to the Southeastern U.S. After graduating from a Catholic boarding school in England, he earned his undergraduate degree from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Then he jumped at the chance to move south and completed his medical degree at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Matt went on to complete his residency in emergency medicine, worked as an emergency physician for years and progressed through a series of increasing leadership roles – eventually becoming chief medical officer for Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also picked up a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University along the way.

“I never had a grand career plan to be a leader,” said Matt.

“I just knew I wanted to help people through health care.”

In 2018, Matt and his family moved north to St. Louis, Missouri to take a chief clinical officer role with SSM Health, a not-forprofit health system with 23 hospitals across four states.

After a few years, he was asked to serve as interim president of the system’s operations in Wisconsin, which included seven hospitals, nearly 100 additional care locations, 14,000 employees and medical staffs of more than 1,000 providers.

“That opportunity was a real blessing to broaden my knowledge beyond clinical leadership and provide oversight of more operations and administration as well,” said Matt. “I loved it, and it planted the seed that I wanted to further explore more broad leadership roles.”

In 2022, Hanley stayed in St. Louis to accept a role as Market President for Navvis Healthcare, a company that serves as a strategic and operating partner to help health systems, health plans and physician groups transform to value-based care.

Then, in 2024, heard about the chance to lead NGHS.

“I was aware of NGHS because people who work in the healthcare industry outside of Georgia have often heard of the system’s stellar reputation,” said Matt. “So, I was excited when they flew me in for an interview.”

"He won the room over that day," said RK. "When we finally met for the ultimate selection, Matt was head and shoulders above all the other candidates. We are 100% confident in the process and the selection of Matt that we recommended to the board."

NGHS announced Matt as its next CEO in December 2024, and he officially started the job in April. Hanley continues to maintain his board certification in emergency medicine. He and his wife, Aline, have four children: two in college, one graduating high school this spring and a rising high school junior.

“My wife and I started dating back in our days in North Carolina, so we’re thrilled to bring our family back to the south,” said Matt. “I’m also honored that I had the opportunity to collaborate with a respected and beloved leader like Carol to ensure a smooth transition.”

There are already more expansion projects on the horizon.

More patient care floors are opening at NGMC Braselton this summer, NGHS will open a dedicated inpatient rehabilitation facility in Gainesville in the summer, too, and there are plans to break ground on a hospice house in Gainesville later this year.

"I thank the board and this community for their vote of confidence," said Matt. "I also want to thank all my colleagues and, of course, my family for supporting me every step of the way.

Rarely, if ever, do we achieve anything on our own. I look forward to the years ahead!"

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OVERCOMING PELVIC HEALTH CHALLENGES

A Retired Nurse’s Journey On a Monday morning last summer, Carolyn Johnson, a 67-year-old retired operating room nurse, visited Viengngeun Bounkeua, MD, an OB/GYN at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG), with concerns about a pelvic floor prolapse.

Coincidentally, it was the first day for the new urogynecologist at that practice location, Sana Ansari, MD. Recognizing this fortunate timing, Dr. Bounkeua referred Carolyn to Dr. Ansari, who could see her immediately.

Urogynecology is a specialized field that combines aspects of urology and gynecology, focusing on treating conditions affecting the female pelvic floor and performing reconstructive surgery.

“From the moment I met Dr. Ansari, I felt reassured,” said Carolyn. “She was so kind and professional. As a nurse, I had quite a few questions, and she answered every single one in detail, explaining my condition and treatment options. Upon her recommendation, I felt at ease moving forward with the scheduling of my vaginal prolapse surgery.”

After being in practice for over a decade, Dr. Ansari was starting her first day at NGPG on the same day that Carolyn was in the office.

“It felt special knowing we were both beginning a new chapter—Dr. Ansari, as a new provider at NGPG, and I, newly retired and ready to enjoy life without any restrictions,” said Carolyn.

Carolyn’s procedure took place at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Lumpkin, a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide exceptional care. Not only was this Dr. Ansari’s first surgery as an NGPG provider, but it was also the first hysterectomy performed at the hospital.

“I felt so comfortable knowing I was in expert hands,” said Carolyn. “The entire team at NGMC Lumpkin made the process seamless.”

The surgery was successful, and Carolyn’s recovery was remarkably quick.

“Within a few days, I felt 80% better, and by my follow-up visit a little over a month later, I was 100% recovered,” said Carolyn. “There’s no reason to endure the discomfort or embarrassment of pelvic problems. If you’re struggling, don’t wait—talk to your doctor.”

Almost one in three women will experience some form of pelvic floor disorder in their lifetime.

“We often see women like Carolyn who have devoted their lives to caring for others,” said Dr. Ansari. “A pelvic floor dysfunction, such as prolapse or incontinence, is not a life sentence. The right treatment can make a significant difference, and I’m very pleased with her outcome.”

Today, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family at their lake home in Dawsonville, where she and her husband have retired. She also volunteers at a local food bank, staying active and giving back to her community.

Carolyn’s story highlights the importance of addressing pelvic health concerns and the transformative impact of compassionate, specialized care. For women facing similar challenges, her experience is a powerful reminder that healing and hope are within reach.

To learn more about urogynecology services at NGPG, visit ngpg.org/urogyn

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WHAT BECOMES BROKENHEARTED? OF THE

REMARKABLE RECOVERY ENDURES AMID PERSONAL TRAGEDY For a while, Jim Wilson felt like he was stuck in a bad dream.

He had undergone a complicated emergency heart procedure that saved his life. That was the good news. He wasn’t out of the woods yet, though.

“My liver had gone south, and I had so many things in my lungs and throat, all these tubes,” said Jim. “I was yellow in my eyes and skin. I just remember when I finally came to and tried to drink water, I couldn’t get anything down. I was in a pitiful condition.”

As the days turned into weeks back in October 2023 and Jim lay in his bed at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville – he began to lose hope.

“I was so depressed,” said Jim, who was 82 at the time.

“I thought it was over, and I was ready to go. But my wife, Donna, brought me around. She kept saying ‘no.’”

“I told my family, ‘I may not get out of this place, so y'all just hang in there. And if I don't make it, I had a great life,’” said Jim. “But for some reason, the Lord said it wasn't time. Then I

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realized, ‘I'm gonna make it out of this and come back again!’

That was the turning point of my recovery.”

Little did Jim know that even once his heart was physically fixed, it would be broken yet again by an emotionally painful loss.

Earlier in 2023, Jim had noticed he was slowing down and getting tired easily.

“We go to UGA football games and have season tickets, and I was having a hard time getting to the car and back,” said Jim. One day that fall, Jim fell ill and ended up at the hospital close to his home in Watkinsville. There, doctors attempted a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this procedure, tiny tubes called catheters are used to open blockages in the arteries of the heart, and then a stent is placed to keep the blood vessel open and blood flowing through it. The procedure was unsuccessful, however, and Jim was sent by ambulance to NGMC Gainesville.

“I was so depressed,” said Jim, who was 82 at the time. “I thought it was over, and I was ready to go. But my wife, Donna, brought me around.

She kept saying ‘no.’”

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There was no time to lose. Karen Gersch, MD, a surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, took Jim straight to the operating room so she could have all resources available to her while she examined him. She was surprised to find his heart was hardly functioning, and he had severe problems with his heart valves. She was concerned Jim would die if she went ahead with surgery in the operating room.

“I knew that he would never survive a coronary artery bypass, an aortic valve replacement and a tricuspid valve repair,” said Dr. Gersch.

Dr. Gersch decided to call Ronnie Ramadan, MD, an interventional cardiologist and director of the Structural Heart Center at Georgia Heart Institute.

“Dr. Gersch asked if I could help Jim in the cardiac catheterization lab instead of the operating room,” said Dr. Ramadan. “She and I decided to proceed with a much less invasive approach.”

Dr. Ramadan and his team used a small device called an Impella to keep Jim’s heart pumping while they performed a complex PCI to open two of his coronary arteries. They also performed a procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, to replace Jim’s ailing aortic valve using catheters instead of opening his chest.

Although Jim’s blood flow was improving, the doctors decided Jim would need additional work to help him recover. Dr. Ramadan implanted two TriClip devices to treat Jim’s leaky heart valve.

“The TriClip device procedure helped his heart double the amount of blood it was pumping,” said Dr. Ramadan. “That helped us wean him off all the support medications and devices, and then we moved him to the cardiovascular intensive care unit.”

Dr. Ramadan estimates Jim had only a 50/50 chance of surviving.

“His successful outcome is a testament to the skills of our heart team and our collaborative multidisciplinary approach,” said Dr. Ramadan. “Georgia Heart Institute has the expertise and a wide array of treatment options at our disposal that rivals anywhere in the world.”

It took a lot of work for Jim to get his heart physically stronger.

“I did rehab really well,” said Jim. “My color came back. My liver and my organs started working again. I started to look normal. I had a walker and started going to the gym.

I was feeling really strong.”

“Donna had made a bunch of reservations for us to go here and there,” said Jim “We were even going to go on a cruise.”

But that’s when tragedy struck.

“She fell down the steps at my daughter’s house and broke her neck,” said Jim. “There hadn’t been anything wrong with her.”

Donna, who kept Jim going through the toughest times in the hospital, who “kicked his fanny” to get him moving once he returned home, died instantly on January 28, 2024.

“We were married 60 years, and I still miss Donna,” said Jim. Today, Jim is healthy and active at 84. He still lives in the house that he and Donna bought 50 years ago. He stays busy working a couple days a week at nearby Lane Creek Golf Club. He says he can still hit the ball pretty well, and he enjoys brisk 45-minute walks on the treadmill.

Jim is a lifelong musician who played rock and roll and R&B in bands from his college years at the University of Georgia until his 60s. He still likes to pick on his guitar, though his singing voice is thin and raspy since he got out of the hospital, and he gets together with his buddies to hang out and play cards.

And, perhaps most importantly, Jim has three daughters and one granddaughter, who is in her 20s.

“Donna was the rock of our family, and we all miss her more than words can say,” said Jim. “But we have to move forward and honor her memory because we have so much to live for. I’m eternally blessed.”

To learn more about Georgia Heart Institute’s specialized programs ranging from preventative care to complex surgical options, visit nghs.com/heart

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GEORGIA’S HEARTS ARE ALWAYS ON OUR MINDS While you’re busy being you, we’re working all day, every day to make Georgia Heart Institute the state’s #1 heart and vascular program. With the highest rankings in heart attack care, heart failure treatment and heart surgery, Georgia Heart Institute is also one of only two programs in the state to offer robotic heart surgery. Whether you live in Atlanta or on Lake Lanier, in the country or in town, the future of heart care is here for you today.

LEARN MORE AT 770-525-1558 OR GEORGIAHEARTINSTITUTE.ORG/ALWAYS

RELIEF IS JUST DOWN THE STREET A physical therapist’s experience with joint pain

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Clay Hammons, a husband, father of four young children and doctor of Physical Therapy, suffered from pain in his arm for years due to a compressed disc in his neck. Once conservative efforts no longer provided enough relief, he sought advice from a neurosurgeon – and his neighbor – Zain Boghani, MD, with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group.

“As a physical therapist, I’m in the business of keeping people from needing surgery,” said Clay. “However, the pain got to a point where I needed surgery. Working long hours at a busy clinic for a decade had taken a toll on my body and its mobility. I trusted Dr. Boghani to advise me on the best course of action.”

During his appointment, Dr. Boghani told Clay that he was a good candidate for artificial disc replacement surgery.

For patients experiencing chronic back or neck pain, either artificial disc replacement surgery or spinal fusion surgery are often recommended to treat herniated or degenerating discs, depending on a patient’s unique situation.

“I knew my pain was bad, but once I was healed, I truly understood how much I had been suffering,” said Clay.

“Before having the surgery, I was not able throw a baseball or football with my kids without being in pain.”

With an artificial disc replacement, worn or damaged discs are removed and replaced with a prosthetic, or artificial, disc.

In contrast, spinal fusion surgery fuses vertebrae together to

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prevent motion and improve stability. Both procedures aim to provide symptom relief, with disc replacement restoring greater range of motion in the spine.

“An artificial disc in the spine acts in a lot of ways like an artificial joint in the knee or hip,” said Dr. Boghani. “It provides nearly immediate relief and improved mobility. Like Clay, I tend to err on the conservative side of treatment for my patients. However, spinal surgery is sometimes necessary to provide long-term relief.”

Dr. Boghani removed a portion of Clay’s C6-C7 disc, located at the base of his neck, and replaced it with an artificial disc.

This area in the cervical spine is one of the most common for a herniated disc and controls the back of the arm and hand, so activities like lifting and throwing are impacted when the disc is damaged.

“The care I received at Northeast Georgia Medical Center was flawlessly executed,” said Clay. “I cannot say enough good things about the team there. After surgery, I felt immediate relief and had full range of motion back in two weeks.

I’ve since referred friends and patients to Dr. Boghani and will continue to do so for years to come. He’s not only an exceptional surgeon but an exceptional person as well.”

To learn more about spine surgery at NGMC, visit nghs.com/spine

schedule

A MORE ACTIVE YOU online

COMPLETE HIP AND KNEE CARE

Say goodbye to hip and knee pain and get back to your active lifestyle! Our orthopedic experts are here to support you every step of the way, ensuring you’re back on your feet and thriving. Schedule a more active you online today.

To learn more, scan the QR code, visit ngpg.org/schedule or call 770-219-9006.

BREATHING EASIER OVERCOMING LUNG CANCER WITH INNOVATIVE TREATMENT

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Karen Thomason struggled with smoking for forty years. She only successfully quit once while she was pregnant. It wasn’t until she reached her 60s that Karen realized something finally needed to be done about her smoking.

“I decided that it’s now or never,” said Karen. “So, I laid the cigarettes down and never picked them back up. I felt such relief.”

It wasn't until a routine cancer screening that Karen’s world was rocked to its core.

Karen’s primary care physician, Idopise Umana, MD, with Northeast Georgia Physician’s Group (NGPG), saw Karen’s smoking history and recommended that she get regular lung cancer screenings.

The lung cancer screening is called a low-dose computed tomography, also known as a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan. During an LDCT scan, patients lie on a table and an X-ray machine uses a low dose of radiation to make detailed images of their lungs.

The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful.

There are certain criteria to be a candidate for a LDCT scan, such as having a history of smoking.

“One of my previous scans showed something that looked abnormal, and my doctors wanted to keep an eye on it,” said Karen.

“The most recent scan showed that the same abnormality in my lung was evolving.”

Karen’s case was brought to a committee at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) that reviews specific cancer cases, which includes April McDonald, MD, an interventional pulmonologist and Karen Gersch, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, both with NGPG. “We thought it was likely cancer and decided to biopsy the nodule,” said Dr. McDonald. “Since Karen had damage to her lungs, a standard biopsy would be risky. We decided to proceed with a bronchoscopy using an Ion robot. With the Ion, while the patient is asleep, I'm able to insert a catheter through the mouth and down a patient’s throat – which makes it easier to access the lungs.”

Dr. McDonald would navigate to this area of concern, where she could perform multiple biopsies to confirm if it was cancer or not. Additionally, she would be able to place a little metal marker, known as a fiducial, into the lung tissue. That way, if it was cancer, Dr. Gersch would know exactly what area to remove.

“Dr. McDonald did the lung biopsy and explained to me what to expect,” said Karen. “I felt a sense of peace.”

The calm feeling wouldn’t last long. The results came back positive for lung cancer.

CONFRONTING CANCER HEAD-ON

The type of cancer Karen had is the most common form in the United States. It doesn’t display symptoms until its very advanced, making it incredibly fortunate that doctors were able to catch Karen’s lung cancer early.

“I was worried when I heard ‘lung cancer’ because years ago, the surgery would have been a big one,” said Karen. “But when I found out it was going to be done by minimally invasive robotic surgery, I wasn’t nearly as worried.”

Before robotic surgery existed, patients typically had to stay in the hospital for several days after a procedure like that. Karen was able to go home the following day.

"Thanks to the fiducial that Dr. McDonald placed, I was able to safely remove the segment of lung that the cancer was in without damage to the remaining lung," said Dr. Gersch.

The robotic arms, which can perform intricate movements with enhanced skill, are controlled entirely by the surgeon from a console located in the operating room.

“I expected it to be more painful than it was,” said Karen. “I figured I would have to be on oxygen or have inhalers, but I didn’t have any issues at all. I went back to work a week later.”

LIFE FOLLOWING LUNG CANCER

Over a year later, Karen is a cancer survivor— a living testament to the power of collaboration and early detection.

“Once I recovered from the surgery, I went back to work a week later,” said Karen. “My life really went back to normal! I’m so thankful the cancer was caught early.”

Karen and her family celebrated her victory with a New Year’s Cruise to the Bahamas in December 2023, and another in October 2024. Having her cancer found as early as it was allowed Karen to continue spending quality time with her loved ones and made her trips that much more meaningful.

“I never would’ve known about my cancer until it was too late had I not had the routine screening,” said Karen “It’s worth it to get a scan – even if you don’t have symptoms. You need to know.

If you wait until you have symptoms, it’s too late. A lot of stories don’t have happy endings like mine.”

For more information about lung cancer and NGMC’s Cancer Program, visit nghs.com/lung-cancer

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a joint collaboration Comprehensive Care in Buford

Darnell Jackson spent much of his life playing basketball – in high school in Pennsylvania; in college in New York; and professionally overseas – without ever suffering a major injury or needing any sort of surgery. A couple of decades after hanging up his sneakers, it was a sunny day at the beach chasing the kids around in the sand that put the 41-year-old on the bench.

“I was chasing my two-year-old and I felt a pop in my groin,” said Darnell. “Kind of like I pulled a muscle or something.”

Darnell laughed it off at first, thinking it was just his “old dad body” giving way to age. But a month went by, and the nagging pain got worse. He’d been doing everything he could think of on his own at home by taking over-the-counter medication, resting and stretching. But the pain persisted.

The Jacksons are an active family. The kids all play sports, go to the park often and run around the yard in the evenings. The weekly Scrabble game nights are unbelievably competitive, so being injured put a damper on Darnell’s and the family’s fiery spirit.

“I would just have to sit there,” said Darnell. “The kids can kind of tell when daddy’s not really feeling good, and I could tell they were a little disappointed.

I definitely had my breakdown moments where I just wanted to be able to walk and be there with them and for them.”

Altogether, there’s nine in the family. Darnell and his wife, Jennifer, are far outnumbered by the seven boys ranging in age from 2 to 23. Watching his oldest, Jadon, play football at Kansas State University; seeing his 18-year-old, Isaiah, graduate high school; being there as his 5-year-old, Asher, started kindergarten and his 2-year-old, Chase, began to explore the world are all memories and experiences he wanted to enjoy fully and didn’t want to miss.

Darnell finally decided to visit Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Urgent Care in Buford – on the first floor inside the Medical Plaza at the intersection of Buford Highway and South Lee Street.

He thought he’d only need a steroid shot or some other quick fix, but the doctor suggested an X-ray to make sure there was nothing more serious going on.

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“After that X-ray, they told me that something was wrong with my hip joint,” said Darnell. “They referred me to an orthopedic surgeon with NGPG to get an MRI.” Luckily for Darnell, he was able to return to the same Medical Plaza in Buford for his appointment with the surgeon. In the meantime, even before that appointment, he was able to see his primary care physician on the second floor of the same building.

“Having everything in one place was so convenient for me,” said Darnell. “Not having to search around or drive from one place to another took a lot of the stress off me. I could focus on the injury and working to get better as opposed to trying to figure out where my appointment was that day.”

And now, seeing an orthopedic surgeon at the Medical Plaza in Buford is even easier with NGPG’s orthopedic walk-in clinic, open five days a week. Patients don’t have to call or schedule an appointment – they can simply walk in, and a sports medicine or orthopedic doctor will be there to help identify, treat and care for the injury.

The MRI showed he had necrosis of the bone – a condition that leads to the death of bone tissue.

Zach Skipper, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with NGPG, explained that it could be related to an old sports injury that didn’t heal correctly on its own, but it was hard to tell exactly. He referred Darnell to Shan Sharif, MD, another orthopedic surgeon, for a surgery consult.

At that time, Darnell's options were joint preservation surgery or a total hip replacement. Dr. Sharif was able to successfully perform the less invasive option - a joint preservation surgery known as core decompression of the hip. This surgery involves drilling into and removing diseased bone.

“The level of care I received so close to home, and having most of those services I needed in one building, was invaluable,” said Darnell. “I’m able to play with my kids again and will be able to for years to come.”

To learn more about the services available in Buford, visit nghs.com/buford

NGPG recognizes how important it is to have access to orthopedic experts when injuries occur. There's no need to call, just walk in to one of our locations in Bethlehem, Buford, Dawsonville or Gainesville and someone will be there to help identify, treat and care for your needs. Find hours and locations at ngpg.org/walkin.

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Giving the Comfort Home of

When Linda and Gordon Potter helped care for their close friend during her final days in a hospice house in Tennessee, they witnessed firsthand the profound impact of comprehensive end-of-life care. That experience inspired their gift to the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) Foundation to help create not only the region’s first hospice house but also the first NGHS building project fully funded by donors.

"Watching the care and respect our dear friend received in her final days opened our eyes to the importance of giving people dignity at the end of life," said Linda. "Every family deserves access to this level of compassionate care for their loved ones, and we want to help make that possible in our community."

The Potters’ gift, one of many donations from across the region, will support the development of the Chuck and Diane Stephens Hospice House, affectionately called the "Stephens House," which is designed to provide 24-hour care in a comfortable, home-like setting. The Stephens House will serve patients who need intensive symptom management that cannot be provided at home, allowing patients and families to experience the same level of care they can receive in a hospital but in an environment that feels more like home.

"There was so much intentionality given to every aspect of this project," said Natalie McNeal, director of Hospice and In-Home Palliative Care at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC).

"Down to the placement and orientation of the building on the property, we want this to be a peaceful and respectful place for patients and their loved ones. Each room opens up to the outdoors with beautiful views. We are so grateful to be able to offer our patients and their loved ones comfort in this way.”

Set to open in 2026, the 18,000 square foot, one-story building located in the Thompson Bridge Medical Park in Gainesville will consist of 16 inpatient hospice rooms and staff support areas. There will also be family spaces, including quiet rooms, a kitchenette, a chapel and a courtyard. These amenities will complement the expert medical care and emotional support provided by NGMC’s experienced hospice team.

“The Potters’ commitment is continuing the vision of the Stephenses' gift,” said Chris Bray, chief philanthropy officer and president of the NGHS Foundation. “It’s this type of philanthropy that will touch countless families for generations to come."

"We've been blessed to be part of this community, and we believe everyone deserves access to exceptional hospice care close to home,” said Linda. “This facility will fill a crucial need for families facing end-of-life situations."

To learn more about this project and other Growing the Greater Good projects at NGHS, visit nghs.com/growing Join others in supporting the future of hospice care at NGHS at nghs.com/stephens-house

DISCRIMINATION IS AGAINST THE LAW Northeast Georgia Health System, Inc. (NGHS) complies with applicable State and Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected class or characteristic, including race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

NGHS: • Provides free auxiliary aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: • Qualified sign language interpreters • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats) • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: • Qualified interpreters • Information written in other languages If you need these services, contact: NGHS Medical Interpreter Department Telephone Number: 770-219-1689 If you believe that NGHS has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: NGHS Patient Nondiscrimination Coordinator 743 Spring Street NE Gainesville, GA 30501 Telephone Number: 770-219-1557, (TTY: 1-800-255-0135) (VRS: 1-888-888-1116) Fax: 770-219-1895, or Email: civilrightscoordinator@nghs.com.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Phone: 1-800-368-1019 TDD: 1-800-537-7697 Complaint forms are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE You have access to interpretation services 24/7 at no personal cost to you. This chart includes languages commonly spoken in your community, additional languages are available.

English: Do you speak [language]? We will provide an interpreter at no personal cost to you.

Revised November 2024

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