Gwinnett Magazine - Spring 2023

SPRING!

HEALTH, LIFE, LOVE & NEW BEGINNINGS

BUY, SELL, RENT, FIX AND REMODEL!

HEALTH IS WEALTH GET YOURS HERE!

HOW TO GET WHAT YOU REALLY WANT

David@gwinnettmagazine.com

HAS SPRUNG! SPRING

As we enjoy the beautiful weather and the renewal that spring brings, I want to take a moment to talk to you about the things that matter most in our lives - our health, our homes, and our community.

At Gwinnett Magazine, we know that taking care of yourself is the key to living your best life. That’s why we’ve partnered with the top healthcare providers in our community to bring you the latest information on how to stay healthy and happy. Whether it’s through regular check-ups, screenings, or preventive care, we want to inspire you to take charge of your health and well-being.

And while we’re on the topic of self-care, let’s not forget about our homes. Our homes are our sanctuaries, and they should be a reflection of who we are and what we value. In this issue you’ll find some great features on all things home renovation and remodeling. From DIY projects to working with contractors, we’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to make your home a place of comfort and relaxation.

Of course, taking care of yourself and your home is only part of the story. It’s also about the community that we build together. As we push the pandemic into the past and grapple with politics and the economy, it’s more important than ever to come together and support one another. Whether it’s through volunteering, donating to local charities, or just being there for our neighbors, we can make a difference in the lives of those around us.

So, as we move forward into this new season, let’s take a moment to reflect on what’s truly important in our lives - our health, our homes, and our community. Let’s inspire one another to be our best selves, to be compassionate and understanding, and to create a world that we’re all proud to call home.

Thank you for being a part of the Gwinnett Magazine community!

Sincerely,

David Greer Publisher David@GwinnettMagazine.com

eNEWS

VIDEO PODCAST

WHERE HAVE THE WORKERS GONE? The things every business can do to keep their best team members.

MAKE BETTER DECISIONS Talking

SAVING TIPS AT ANY AGE.We work hard, and we want to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

SEASON 3 BEGINS! We’re back for a 3rd year to celebrate the city of Lawrenceville.

RECIPES TO WELCOME SPRING! The weather is warming up, it’s time to try something new!

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS ! A celebration of Metro Waterproofing’s 50 year history.

SHOW SOME LOVE TO LOCAL BIZ! Be positive. Buy Local. Help Others.”

Financial Fitness with Roger S Green.

BBQ RIBS AT THE TIPSY PIG! Award winning St. Louis Ribs right in the City of Lilburn!

LA CAZUELA: THE ALAMBRE! We drop in on 2022 Best of Gwinnett winner to share a favorite menu item!

GWINNETT BUSINESS PAGES

OUR SENSORAGNOSTIC SOLUTIONS PROVIDE 3D MODELS AND REALTIME PERCEPTION OF INTERSECTIONS, ROADWAYS AND MORE.

WILLIAM MULLER , VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPEMENT FOR SEOUL ROBOTICS

WELCOMES A NEW COMPANY! THE SCIENCE CITY

The future is a little closer than we think. At least the technologically advanced one. Peachtree Corners is a city powered by real-world infrastructure and 5G, it’s one of the nation’s first smart cities. Seoul Robotics has established its United States office in Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners. The company’s presence in Curiosity Lab will fuel further development of its groundbreaking 3D perception platform, while providing the company with a realworld testing environment along city streets. The company’s smart city-focused technologies make managing roadways

simple, helping city managers improve safety, reduce traffic and decrease vehicle emissions. This partnership reinforces Curiosity Lab’s international smart city presence and Peachtree Corners’ ever-growing, innovative environment.

“Our sensor-agnostic solutions provide 3D models and real-time perception of intersections, roadways and more. Peachtree Corners’ smart city and Curiosity Lab ecosystem is the ideal environment to deploy and test our technologies in a real-world environment. We are looking forward to how this collaboration will advance our technologies, while also aiding the city’s goals of creating greener, safer and smarter streets,” said William Muller, Vice

President of Business

Development for Seoul Robotics.

NEVER ENDING NIGIRI? BUFORD IS STEPPING UP ITS GAME WITH KURA SUSHI REVOLVING SUSHI BAR

If you’ve ever wanted sushi that never stops then boy, we’ve got news for you. Coming soon to Gwinnett is Kura Sushi Revolving Sushi Bar. It’s quite literally sushi on a conveyor belt that never stops. Plus, the more you eat the better the reward. At the end of the experience, you get to turn your plates in for prizes! These can be anything from a keychain to an anime themed toy. It’s the future of sushi. Don’t worry, if you don’t see what you want making its way towards you, you can place orders that will come out on a separate belt right to your table. The menu includes your standard nigiri, classic rolls, hand rolls, ramen and a few other fun surprises! Finish your meal with a sweet treat like ice cream mochi or taiyaki ice cream. You pay per plate, making it an affordable experience for date night or family dinner. It’s a great way to explore the world of sushi without having to commit to a single type or dish. The restaurant will be located in The Exchange, at 2926 Buford Dr. Suite 1105 Buford, GA 30519. Until then you can head to the Doraville location to satisfy the sushi cravings.

PEACHTREE CORNERS FORUM CONSTRUCTION AND REDEVELOPMENT KICKOFF LATE APRIL

The newest of Gwinnett’s great cities, Peachtree Corners is focused on being a lively and forward place to live and enjoy. The Forum Peachtree Corners recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the redevelopment, planning to incorporate new builds, new business, new brands and more into the town space. The endeavor is backed by Nuveen Real Estate and North American Properties, who you might know as the developers of the Avalon. The Forum is already home to beloved businesses like Trader Joe’s, Ulta Beauty, Lululemon and more.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

With the new development, we can expect more soon to be loved places like Giulia Italian Bakery and Pêche Restaurant. You’ll be able to take a break from shopping to be transported to the heart of Italy or the coast of France. There’s more to come! Word is a hotel is in the works as well.

“Peachtree Corners has invested heavily in the Town Center, and we believe there couldn’t be a better partner for us at The Forum to oversee the completion of our long-term vision,” said Brian Johnson, City Manager for Peachtree Corners.

The development construction is set to begin sometime this May. We can anticipate a bit of hubbub as the changes are made, but don’t let that deter you from shopping about.

FRED CEPHAS named Gwinnett County Fire Chief. HEATH JONES has been named Technology in Music Education (TI:ME) 2023 Mike Kovins Music Teacher of the Year.

MEREDITH BAILEY, promoted to Creative Director of Gwinnett Chamber.

Former U.S. Representative DR. CAROLYN BOOURDEAUX joins Gateway85 Community Improvement

THE GREAT FAST FOOD WAR IS HAPPENING IN BUFORD...

WHATABURGER!

Maybe you are an In-n-Out fan willing to fight over animal fries. Or maybe you are an east coast Shake Shack lover, because what beats a potato bun? Whataburger, hailing from Texas, has long been a fan favorite in its home region. It was even designated a Texas Treasure by the state government in 2001. The popular orange themed chain is now making its mark in Georgia, it opened a Kennesaw location last year and opened a Gwinnett location earlier this spring.

The Exchange, located by the Mall of Georgia, is hosting all kinds of new businesses and foods. Like most burger chains, Whataburger has its signature staples: the “Whataburger” ®, the Whataburger patty melt, French fries and of course shakes. Plus, it claims a famous fancy and spicy ketchup that fans can buy in stores. The new location is at 2925 Buford Dr, Buford, GA 30519… but the chain is hoping for at least ten total Georgia restaurants!

Gwinnett Tech College student

RYAN MOORE named Gwinnett Technical College’s Georgia Occupational Award (GOAL) of Leadership winner.

MELISSA RAMIREZ named new Manager of Gwinnett Young Professionals.

Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office

LT. BRYANT HARRIS graduated fron the 285th session of the FBI National Academy.

RACHEL LASARUS named staff attorney for Gwinnett Juvenile Court Judge Robert Waller.

HOW’S IT KICKIN’?

WANT SOME CHICKEN?

You may not have been so lucky as to have made a trip to the Raising Cane’s in Athens, previously the chain’s only location in Georgia. You’ll no longer need to make that trip down 316 to get in on the chain that rivals Zaxby’s. Raising Cane’s opened its second Georgia location and first Gwinnett location in Dacula earlier this year. Another location is anticipated to open by the Mall of Georgia. The chain is a fan favorite with its fluffy Texas toast, crinkle cut fries, coleslaw and, of course, chicken. You can get the Caniac Combo, the Box Combo and a variety of other options to maximize the most out of your meal. The line has been pretty long though, sometimes even stretching back to the street behind it. Located at 3485 Braselton Hwy, Dacula, GA 30019…that’s right, it’s across the street from Zaxby’s!

NEW MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITY, CALEDON ON CLUB, COMING TO LAWRENCEVILLE!

Want to live the country club lifestyle? There’s a now open 352-unit venture for those looking to live somewhere exclusive and inviting! The new properties are resort and country-club style, with amenities to mimic Gwinnett’s oldest country club that was closed in 2019. Caledona on Club is built on the former Northwoods Country Club golf course. Portions of the greenspace have been preserved and there will even be a golf simulator for residents. You can hit the course without having to put on

a golf polo and sunscreen. Residents will have access to a clubroom, a 3000 square foot pool, gym, pet spa and a few other country club style amenities. The apartment homes offer one-, two- and three-bedroom options. Oxford Properties is developing the 33-acre project with RAM Partners as property manager. Located at 3355 Club Drive, the community is near the 25-acre Club Drive Park which features outdoor basketball courts, a fishing lake and a playground. The property is close to Pleasant Hill Road, which connects to Interstate 85, while also being about 35 miles from downtown Atlanta.

WINGS UP!

SHELTAIR OPENS ITS SECOND GEORGIA LOCATION AT THE GWINNETT COUNTY AIRPORT

The Sheltair FBO and Hangar complex is located on the northside of the Airport and features all the Sheltair amenities to include an FBO Terminal and 208,000 square feet of hangars ranging from general aviation t-hangars to 28’ door corporate hangars, with the ability to hangar aircraft up to and including the G-600 and Global 7500. The 34-acre campus includes a spacious aircraft parking apron for simultaneous movement and parking of the largest business aircraft. In acquiring the leasehold at Gwinnett County Airport, Sheltair made a commitment to the County Commission to invest in a $17 million redevelopment plan that consists of upgrading all of the existing buildings, apron, and parking areas and construct a new FBO Terminal and office/restaurant spaces, all to be completed over the next three years.

QUALITY HEALTHCARE ACCESS IS

THE KEY TO THRIVING COMMUNITY

Gwinnett is growing in both population and the infrastructure needed to support these new residents. With all this growth, access to quality healthcare is paramount to our safe, livable, and thriving community.

Providing services and programs to address mental health, chronic diseases, and preventative care remains a key priority for the Board of Commissioners. While we play a role in enhancing healthcare access for those in need, we also are grateful for the presence of two leading hospital systems and countless health professionals in our community.

Expanding the landscape of healthcare facilities and services is underway at Northside Hospital Gwinnett. A new tower under construction in Lawrenceville will add 132 new inpatient beds, increasing the hospital’s total inpatient capacity to 520, and is expected to be completed in 2025. The hospital’s services include a Level II Trauma Center, cardiovascular specialties, and a network of more than 1,000 physicians.

Piedmont Eastside Medical Center currently holds 310 beds and a multi-campus system of care that offers surgical, imaging, outpatient, and emergency care. More than 700 physicians and 1,100 employees staff the two campuses located in Snellville.

Gwinnett County strongly supports the healthcare community and preventative measures needed to sustain and improve total care with the awarding of chronic care assistance grants to two nonprofit healthcare organizations, Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, and The Hope Clinic. The medical staff in these clinics help uninsured and underinsured patients avoid ambulance transport and emergency room visits by pinpointing chronic illnesses and preventing them from getting worse.

We’ve also taken steps to enhance services for residents who may be experiencing mental health crises through a partnership between the Gwinnett Police Department and View Point Health. Through compassion and collaboration, the unit plays a key role in answering routine and emergency calls with an opportunity for residents to receive the care they need. The growth of this partnership has also led to the addition of more licensed clinicians in the behavioral health unit. I’m proud to witness more residents able to access the tools they need to navigate difficult times.

I would like to express my appreciation to all healthcare professionals for your vital contributions to keeping our community a preferred place where everyone thrives.

NICOLE L. HENDRICKSON CHAIRWOMAN GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

NICK MASINO

Ask Nick Masino about the importance of human connection.

Masino – a man to whom conversation seems as natural as the next breath, who strings words together with effortless aplomb, who assembles spoken sentences and paragraphs, hands gesturing in vigorous punctuation all the while – will get to the point soon enough.

In the meantime, enjoy the ride, because Masino is a conversational force of nature. He is a tradesman at the top of his game as he locks eyes on yours. He is an artisan at work as he leans toward the listener, agreeably smiling, nodding and making each point – aligning the ideas, fleshing out the foundations, until the words are all but physically manifested in the space between you.

Now, what was the question you were going to ask? Right … the importance of human connection.

Should be easy enough for him to answer.

Connection is Masino’s craft, and he is a master.

It’s a fitting skill for someone who’s been head honcho of one of the continent’s largest suburban chambers of commerce since 2019. It’s an ideal talent for someone who for 12 years was chief economic development officer for Partnership Gwinnett – overseeing business recruitment and retention for Gwinnett. The current and previous posts left little room for someone who couldn’t hack it in any given boardroom with world-class CEOs seated across the table.

Social skills are essential in Masino’s line of work, and he comes by them honest.

His father, Joe Masino, was an AnheuserBusch executive, to whom “nobody was a stranger.”

“He would meet anybody and talk to anybody. My whole life, when we’d go somewhere for dinner, he’d always talk to the manager. Like, ‘hey, let the manager know I’m here.’ It’s like, in my family, no one ever said, ‘don’t talk to strangers,’” Masino says, laughing. “All we did is talk to everybody.”

Today, in business dealings here in Gwinnett County, the topic of Masino’s father often comes up: “Any time I run into someone who knew my dad, they’re like,

‘Oh my God, you sound and act just like him!’”

Growing up, Masino’s father was a mentor to his son. He worked in the hospitality industry, affording the younger Masino unique opportunities that would sound improbable to most other children his age.

“I went to the U.S. Open with my dad when I was 11. I went to World Series games. I’ve done all these crazy things with dad,” Masino says, offering up an anecdote peppered in detail, as he often does.

“Once, I was backstage with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at Chastain when I was in fifth grade and it was hot as hell,” Masino says. “It was Chastain in the summer, and I remember Frankie Valli coming off stage. This was around the same time Mean Joe Greene had a commercial where some kid gave him a Coke … So, Frankie Valli comes off stage and I actually got to give him a Coke.”

Adds Masino, now 50: “I mean, as a kid, I was like, ‘This is so cool!”’

He recalls having no fear of social situations from a young age. In high school, when he’d go to prom, he’d spend most of his time chatting with the father of his date about the next Heisman candidate.

“I’d go on dates and meet the parents, and the parents loved me. They always loved me,” Masino says. “And now, my kids, they’re great communicators too, so I guess we emulate our dad, and my wife, she’s also very outgoing too … our kids have emulated us.”

GEORGIA’S YOUNGEST MAYOR

Seems like a good point in the conversation to ask how Masino met his wife.

Here’s the gist: He met Suzanne in Cincinnati, where they attended high school. A self-described “corporate brat”

– akin to “military brat” – he’d moved there in eighth grade, following his father’s ascendant career from location to location around the United States (seven states by eighth grade).

He finished high school in Cincinnati, then followed his parents to Snellville, where a family member lived. After being accepted to Ohio State (the same college as Suzanne), he packed his bags and went north again, reconnecting with his high school sweetheart. He married Suzanne in 1994.

They moved to the Atlanta area, starting out at an apartment near Gwinnett Place Mall, before settling on a home in Suwanee in the mid-90s.

Twenty-three years old, and holding a degree in interpersonal organizational communications, Masino went to work in business development. He sold checkwriting systems intended “to convince people not to buy a computer … but to use a journal,” followed by temporary staffing.

Fast forward to 2006: Masino leads the national division of a publicly traded staffing and recruiting company.

“I had offices in three different time zones. I remember waking up one morning, either in DC or Chicago, and I had to look at the area code on the hotel phone to remember where I was,” Masino says. “At the same time, I had three little kids … and I’m like, ‘this is not healthy.’ Oh, and at the same time, I was mayor of the city of Suwanee.”

Wow. Let’s back up a little. When did you become mayor?

“Yeah, it’s interesting,” Masino says. “I got involved with the city of Suwanee within a year of moving there. There was a rezoning near my neighborhood. I went to city hall, and [said] ‘hey, I’m a voter and vote against this. One of the council members came down to talk to me and said, ‘Hey, I was going to vote for this

Any time I run into someone who knew my dad, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, you sound and act just like him!

tonight, but [because of] your public comments … I changed my mind.’”

The experience intrigued Masino, who was 25 years old at the time. He kept attending city council meetings. Six months later – still attending city council meetings – Masino was approached by a city staff person who asked what kept him coming.

“I was just like, ‘this is interesting to me,’” Masino says.

The staff person told Masino about an opening on the planning and zoning board of appeals. He submitted a letter of interest and was soon serving the city of Suwanee in the new role.

He held a post on the planning and zoning board for several years. The mayor approached him one today and, according to Masino, said, ‘I’m not running again; you should run for council.’

Masino says the mayor and council thought him a good listener with fresh ideas and lots of energy. And turns out, none of the current members wanted to run for mayor for the upcoming term.

Masino talked to his wife and prayed about it. He decided to run and soon became mayor of Suwanee at the age of 29, making him, at the time, Georgia’s youngest mayor.

He served as Suwanee mayor for eight years, retiring from elected office to take a role in economic development leadership in 2007.

AT 5 O’CLOCK ON FRIDAY, I’M DONE

Let’s talk about that. How did you get involved in economic development leadership?

“I remember going to a [Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce] luncheon in November of 2006 and I saw the chamber president … Jim Maran,” Masino says. “I said, ‘Jim, If you know of an opportunity, new company moving to town, somebody expanding, somebody that maybe leads a sales team, I’d be interested in something where I’m not traveling as much or regularly.’”

Later on, Maran – who passed away last year –called Masino in January 2007 and asked to meet him and another high-ranking chamber staff member for breakfast.

The group came to an agreement on salary, and, like with many of the decisions in his life, Masino went home, prayed about it and talked it out with his wife.

He started as Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett’s Chief Economic Development Officer in February 2007. He worked with public and private leadership to commission economic development studies in 2011 and 2016 and spearheaded the implementation efforts of the initial plan in 2007 – which has since brought about 290 company expansions or relocations; more than 28,000 new jobs; more than 9 million square feet of space filled; and more than $2.1 billion in investment for Gwinnett.

For their work together in this role, Masino talks of Maran with much reverence.

“[Maran] had experience as an international executive, and I really was almost just coming to work for him,” Masino says. “He was hardcharging … and awesome. I loved working for him. I appreciate everything that I learned from him.”

Little did Masino know that 12 years later he himself would be chamber president.

After taking the job in 2019, Masino has since been named to the 2019: Most Influential Atlantans list by Atlanta Business Chronicle and been numbered among Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2019 and again in 2020.

In addition to being chamber president and CEO, he serves on the Regional Business Coalition of Metro Atlanta; Explore Gwinnett; Council for Quality Growth; Mitsubishi Classic Foundation; the 1818 Club; Georgia Chamber; Georgia’s Innovation Corridor Joint Development Authority; the Water Tower Global Innovation Hub @ Gwinnett; Partnership Gwinnett; Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund; and Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation (Northside Hospital).

Andrew Carnes, vice president of economic development with Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, says Masino is “one of those leaders people are drawn to … and he’s down to earth

as well. Another thing about Nick – you can always count on him to have your back … through thick and thin.”

Carnes adds that in his time working Nick – about six years now –it’s clear Masino puts a premium on time with the family above all else.

It’s true, Masino says. Family first.

And, while we’re on the subject, don’t go texting or calling him about business after 5 p.m. on a Friday.

“Yeah, so everybody knows I sometimes get invited to things on the weekend,” Masino says. “At 5 o’clock on Friday, I’m done. I’ll see you at 8 Monday morning. I’m out; that’s family time.

PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS COME TOGETHER

For years, Masino has guarded his precious family time on weekends so that he could be his daughter’s soccer coach; so that he could be his son’s wrestling coach; so that he could run the Peachtree Road Race with his youngest daughter; but most of all, just so he can be “a completely engaged parent” in the midst of all he does Monday through Friday.

The kids aren’t kids anymore, but the time with them isn’t any less important to Masino. In fact, Anna, 21, Vincent, 19, and Julia, 17 still take regular vacations with their mom and dad (as you can see from all the pictures).

“We like to travel. We love the outdoors. We’ve done a ton of great national parks. [Our daughters and son] actually want to do college spring break with us,” Masino says. “And so instead of the whole, ‘let’s go to Florida and get crazy,’ they’re

like, ‘can I go to Switzerland with you and mom?’”

Nick’s wife says the family vacation has been one of the joys of parenting.

“They love to travel. We love to travel,” Suzanne says, adding that having a son and daughters their age who still enjoy spend time with them is “the ultimate win in parenting.”

They’ve skied together in Switzerland. Seen the sights in Germany. Toured Milan in Italy.

Speaking of Italy, there was one question we never did get back to – the answer to which happens to involve the southern European country.

Tell me about the importance of human connection.

Masino ponders for a moment before smiling, locking eyes on the listener and going to work in his trade of master communicator, wielding the power of spoken word:

“This is completely the way humans are designed biologically, genetically. We were gatherers together. Have you ever been to Italy, for instance? Every village in Italy is at the top of a mountain … the residents are all crammed together, people stay together. They gather. It’s human nature. People will always come together.”

Adds Masino: “How do you connect and grow if you’re not connecting and communicating? My entire career, it’s never proven me wrong that if you get people together, and you focus on what you agree on, you can accomplish great things together.”

... if you get people together, and you focus on what you agree on, you can accomplish great things together.

LOUISE RADLOFF

In the parking lot of a building that bears her name off 316 in Lawrenceville, Louise Radloff gets out of her car. It’s rainy and cold out this morning, but she’s unhindered by these kinds of things. She’s 86 but feels good. She still runs four and a half miles on the treadmill at 5 every morning and makes her rounds throughout Gwinnett until the sun sets.

Inside her car, there’s a stack of brand-new blue jeans and shoes. Once she gets through here, she’s taking the clothes over to Radloff Middle to be handed out by counselors to kids in need.

It’s the kind of thing she does. Finding a need, then bridging the gap to fill it. Connecting dots.

Like most days, there’s plenty of dots to connect, so Louise gets going. She shuts the car door and walks inside the Gwinnett Board of Health and Louise Radloff Administrative Center.

She greets a handful of people inside, who brighten with her approach. She’s well known here, which goes without saying in a building named after you. But it’s not just this building. Radloff could walk down any given street in Gwinnett County and be instantly recognizable. For one, she held a post on the

Gwinnett County Public Schools Board of Education 47 years.

If you ask most anybody who knows her, they’ll also tell you she touched a lot of lives during that time – and continues to do just that.

As she takes a seat in a conference room and chitchats with colleagues and friends, her mind goes to the laundry list of things to do this week: there’s planning for Saturday, overseeing a program for academically struggling and special needs children; on Sunday, she’s cooking for an English Language Learners class – a function she’s performed for more than a decade; she also

needs to go by the Wellspring thrift store at some point to talk about the prom dresses they are selling for $25 that would normally go for more than $100 –a bargain for financially challenged kids in the school district who want to go to prom.

And more.

There’s plenty to do. Lots of people to see. Kids to help.

Lots of dots to connect. But first, there’s the business of this magazine interview. The reporter walks into the conference room, taking off his jacket.

How has she been, he asks. The two know each other from past interviews. Last time they met was just before 2013, he suggests. She agrees. Yes, 2013.

Awful year, but with a silver lining: her first grandchild.

“Busy,” Radloff says. “I’ve been staying busy.”

The two talk politics – national and local – family, local leadership, changes to the county since they last met. Now, it’s time for the interview. The reporter switches on the audio recorder.

YOU ARE DISOWNED

Best place to start is at the beginning because if you can envision a young Louise Radloff helping her brothers and foster siblings as they prepare for school you can capture a glimpse of the young leader to be. Picture it now:

It’s wintertime 1945 in Pickering, Ontario. It’s snowy and about as cold as one could fathom. Inside this modest little farm home, it’s warm.

A young Louise, her siblings and foster siblings huddle around a large coal stove, absorbing the warmth before the morning walk – a two-mile trek to the bus stop. From there, a 50-mile bus ride to Catholic school. Louise helps the two brothers and four foster siblings put on clothing and prepare for the weather as they step out the door.

With a mother from England and father from Ireland, her big family came together after settling on this Canadian farm plot, growing tomatoes.

“(My parents) were very Catholic, and they worked very hard. Strong work ethic. Growing up, I had the responsibility of doing everything (on the farm) from pulling weeds to using a .22 rifle to shoot skunks that would try to go after the geese eggs,” Radloff says.

Her family later moved to the United States in the 1950s. At the time, Louise was 15 years old, and decided to stay behind, taking up residence in a Toronto facility run by nuns. She went to school, got a job and two years later decided to come to the U.S. as well.

She worked for the Bell system, met her husband-to-be, Dick, at the University of Buffalo, and got married.

It caused a rift in Louise’s relationship with her family.

“(Dick) was Lutheran and I was Catholic, and that was a big deal at the time,” Louise says. “My dad left me a note: ‘if (your husband) does not turn Catholic, you are disowned.’”

Adds Louise: “It’s tragic, but my father’s whole family … we never really spoke again after that.”

Despite her father’s opinions on the importance of differences in her and her husband’s religious views, when an opportunity to take care of her ailing father later presented itself, Louise and Dick took him in; he was dying.

“My father got very ill … and my husband said, ‘look, he’s your dad. We should take care of him.’” she recalls. “That was the kind of person my husband was. So, we took him in. My dad died at my home.”

At the time, their home was in Tonawanda – north of Buffalo, N.Y.

From there, Louise and Dick Radloff moved around New York a couple times because of job transfers before a transfer

It’s tragic, but my father’s whole family … we never really spoke again after that.

to Atlanta. They moved to Norcross and bought a home in Gwinnett County, where they settled with their children.

Louise says she “almost had a stroke,” when, in 1970, she took her children to register at Norcross Elementary.

A DIFFERENT WORLD

“There was no air conditioning, only one row of lights. Kindergarten didn’t even exist,” Radloff says. “It was a different world than it is today. So, when I saw all this I said to myself, ‘this isn’t going to work.’”

She also says there were no custodians, inadequate textbooks, dangerous, deteriorating playground equipment and – above all – just the overwhelming feeling that education was not a priority at the school.

Inspired to bring about positive change, Louise helped arrange a cupcake fundraiser to raise money to build a new playground. The fundraiser was such a success, the school was also able to buy a piano for the children.

CONNECTING DOTS

“When I looked at what schools in Gwinnett looked like then versus what they look like now, it’s just such a huge difference,” she says.

Motivated by the success of the fundraiser as well as being bothered by the poor quality at the time of Norcross Elementary, she announced her bid for the Gwinnett County Board of Education. She ran on the republican ticket and won in 1972 – holding on to the post 47 years.

Her passion for special education began to show in the late 70s when she became involved with the founding of the first Oakland Center School – now called Oakland Meadow. The school serves the needs of students from ages 3 to 21 who have cognitive and motor development deficits.

This was around the time the Education for All Handicapped Children – later, renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – became law.

She also got involved with the issue of mental health, which was then under the category of public health for the county and state. She helped found the state’s mental health association as well as volunteering with Gwinnett Juvenile Court.

Her efforts in the county then and now have not gone unnoticed. There are numerous scholarships, societies and accolades named for her. In 2012, she was one of five nationwide honored in Washington, D.C. as a National

Mother of Achievement for American Mothers – an elite honor that few garner.

And May 25 is “Louise Radloff Day” – a title bestowed by the Georgia General Assembly in 1994.

To this day, she continues working in the areas of mental health, public health and public education, as well as serving on various boards, volunteering with charities, and assisting at food banks.

Dr. Audrey Arona, Gwinnett’s district health director with the Georgia Department of Public Health, is “in awe” of all that Radloff has accomplished.

Arona, who works with Radloff at the Gwinnett Board of Health, likens Radloff’s philanthropic enthusiasm to that of the “Energizer Bunny. She has so much energy and gives so much of her time.”

Adds Arona: “She’s had such tremendous dedication to this community … every problem she encounters, she works to solve it. Every family or child … where there’s a need, she steps up to do something about it every single time. I can’t even begin to fathom how many lives she’s impacted.”

At 86 – though she’ll tell you with a smile she’s actually 39 – Louise is still going strong. How does she do it? Faith. Work ethic. Possibly some of the very same traits engrained in her from a young age on the farm helping her siblings and foster siblings.

Without her faith, strong work ethic and desire to just keep pushing on, some things in this life might have kept her from achieving all that she has. And she’s been through a lot. Being disowned by her father for marrying a Lutheran was a tough blow that she still remembers, but she forgave. Even the year 2013 couldn’t shake her faith or work ethic. And, well, that was a dreadful year.

GOD KEEPS ENERGIZING ME

Her husband, Dick, passed away in June of 2013 after a battle with cancer. They’d loved each other very much. They shared a house in Norcross for nearly five decades. They’d raised sons and helped raise foster children as well.

Later that summer, in September, while Louise was picking up bread at a baked goods company’s warehouse to be delivered to Salvation Army, she missed a step and fell off a loading dock. She suffered a blow to the head. When paramedics came, she refused to be transported.

“I said, ‘let me sit here for a minute,” she recalls. Paramedics left, but two men working at the loading dock insisted on driving her to the hospital. She

remembers sitting in a wheelchair at the hospital and, after being x-rayed, a nurse came running down the hall and said, ‘her neck is broken.’”

“(Doctors) told my kids I either wouldn’t make it, or I’d be paralyzed,” Louise says.

But she came through it all. The year 2013 was harsh but didn’t stop her. She would also celebrate the birth of her first grandchild that year and continue her work on the school board and just about anything else that would keep her busy.

How did she get through these trials?

“Inner strength, I guess,” she says with a smile. “You do what you have to do. You really do. When your time comes, and it’ll come for all of us, death doesn’t worry me. As long as I keep running, and God keeps energizing me, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Her faith, she says, is a big part of her life.

“I’ve been blessed … Faith is really important,” she says. “I have a very strong belief system.”

Attending church, however, has been problematic with a schedule like hers. For instance, the English Language Learners class starts mid-morning on Sundays.

“Most churches aren’t done by then,” she says. “So, on Sundays I cook a meal at home, I pack my car, I go to the classes, I set up for the meeting and I usually don’t get home until 6:30 at night. So, I have not officially joined a church since my husband’s death.”

At this, she is reminded of her husband’s kindness. Specifically, the time he insisted that Louise’s father come live with them while he was dying. And then, Louise is thinking of how, despite the religious rift because of her husband being a Lutheran, they still forgave and were there for her father in the end.

“My father was a fanatic about religion,” she says. “Very church oriented. And there’s a place for church and religion, but you’re also charged to take care of the community you live in.”

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Inside the conference room in the building that bears her name in Lawrenceville, Louise continues fielding questions about her decades of service. It inevitably reminds her there is still much work to be done today.

She thinks about the stack of brand-new blue jeans and shoes in her car awaiting transfer to Radloff Middle. It reminds her about the kindness of the people over at Wellspring for selling prom dresses at such a solid bargain so financially challenged kids in the school district can afford. She thinks about other needs and wants.

How can she join one to the other? How can she find the need, then bridge the gap to fill it? How can she connect the dots today and every day for the rest of her life?

The answer is simple: There’s always something she can do. Always a need she can fill.

The interview wraps up and the magazine reporter puts on his jacket. Time to go. She stands up, bidding him farewell as she exits the Gwinnett Board of Health and Louise Radloff Administrative Center. She walks back out to her car, already mentally assessing the tasks to attend to after delivering the stack of blue jeans and shoes to Radloff Middle School.

There’s plenty to do. Lots of people to see. Kids to help – and Louise Radloff wouldn’t have it any other way.

As long as I keep running, and God keeps energizing me, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.

I KNOW A GUY…

OH NO! You’ve woken up in the middle of the night, fumbling around in the dark and following the “drip, drip, drip” you find it: the dreaded unexpected leak. Yet in your darkest hour in dire need of repair days, the contractors of Gwinnett come to the rescue. Using their flashlights as beacons of home improvement hope, they can fix just about any problem. Gwinnett is home to some of the best contractors, many of which have run small family-owned businesses that have been serving local families for decades.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PROJECTS THAT ARE TRULY DIY

WE’VE ALL GOT THAT UNDERLYING NEED TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, and the home is no exception. Before you start calling numbers to see if you can get on one of those HBTV Home Improvement shows, try these DIY projects. And if you’re still wanting a bigger change, find someone in our Guide to Contractors to help!

Hmm… you could use another shelf. Try a modern peg board or rustic pipe shelf for something a little more innovative.

Perhaps you’ve accented enough… Nah! Just grab yourself some matching throw pillows, curtains, and a few other accessories. DIY doesn’t have to mean construction!

BREAK THE MONOTONY WITH AN ACCENT WALL! SPLASH ON SOME BOLD COLOR WITH A BUCKET OF PAINT OR APPLY SOME TEXTURE WITH SOME WOOD OR STONE.

Employ that green thumb of yours and install a raised garden or two. The question is… colorful flowers or tasty strawberries?

WHY STOP AT WALLS? You’ve got furniture too! Put on a pair of overalls, grab yourself a brush, and paint that entry table scarlet!

DEEP CLEANING AND WHY IT NEEDS TO BE DONE!

Hm… It’s not much of a walk-in closet anymore, is it? So… How often are you going to walk past and ignore the clutter? Aren’t you a little miffed that you can’t find your favorite top? Why don’t you take a step back and give the chaos you created a good look. Isn't it time you took care of it rather than let the mess fester and grow?

Well, if you’re finally ready, begin by committing a few days to doing a deep clean. To start, you’ll take everything out of the closet that isn’t tied down or too big to fit through the door. Once the room is as barren as you can get it, grab yourself a pair of gloves, mop, vacuum, and clean everything you can reach. By not periodically cleaning, you risk damaging your health and belongings due to pests and mold.

After you’ve thoroughly cleaned every nook and cranny of the room, you can begin to bring the essentials back. However, you should try to limit what all you return to the room and see what you can place elsewhere. As for the rest of the junk, toss it out with the trash. With your work done, you can relax, and rest assured that you can find whatever you may need.

DON’T TOUCH THE THERMOSTAT!

What is it with Dads and thermostats? We’ve all been told to never ever touch the thermostat at some point or another. But is there a reason behind this other than a general Dad joke? Turns out, yes! Air conditioners aren’t built to repeatedly adjust the temperature to fit your preference in this hour or the next. Instead, they’re designed to maintain a constant temperature. Every time you change the thermostat, you’re introducing friction and thermal stress to your air conditioner. This friction can lead to motors overheating, bearing failures and much more. The more you mess with the thermostat, the greater the risk it'll break down quicker. We can’t say for sure if Dad knows this or not, there’s a chance he might just not like the temp you’re setting it to!

In the event of a breakdown, repairs typically cost a few hundred dollars while a replacement can run a couple of grand. Even if nothing breaks, you’re still going to have a higher energy bill from dialing it up and down over and over. So if you’re a little chilly, throw on a sweater and a blanket. If you start to feel too warm, change into a tank and use the fan. Trust us, there are plenty of other ways to warm up or cool down that don't stress out your AC or your father.

HERE ARE SOME DO-IT-YOURSELF DON’TS,

THINGS THAT SOUND GREAT TILL YOU’VE WOUND UP IN OVER YOUR HARD HAT HEAD.

1.

Ladders - might seem like a good idea, until you’ve set it up a bit too steep to safely head up or come back down…

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Nail Guns - steer clear of automatic triggers or you might end up with a rouge nail somewhere you don’t quite want. Make sure you use a sequential trigger.

Table-saw - it’s best to keep all your fingers, so if you aren’t an expert with this tool, you should find yourself one.

Stud Guns - over-eager and under-informed can lead to accidents, never use things like stud guns without the proper know-how.

Protection - never attempt a project without proper protection: the gear, the gloves, the googles, the whole get-up.

Heavy Machinery - If your home improvement calls for any type of this it’s best not to do-it-yourself.

It’s easy to get excited about renovation, but just because you’ve got the vision doesn’t mean you’ve got the knowhow. Some stuff is best left to the professionals. No need to worry though, Gwinnett has an expert that can turn your house into a home when the project calls for someone with experience.

THERE'S BATS IN THE ATTIC

• Have you ever found your yard turned into a maze of raised grass? Then you may have a mole on your hands. If so, then a few traps, a dog, or an exterminator might be needed.

• Is Rocket raiding your bin again? Perhaps a well-placed latch and a padlock can easily rectify that. The only problem is that you’ll now have some grumpy raccoons.

• If you ever come across guano on your attic floor, you’ll be sure to find bats in your rafters when you look up. To remove them, you’ll need to block their way in and remove any stragglers.

• Steer clear of Bambi if he ever crashes through your front door! It's best to simply leave the room and let it find its way out.

• Keep an eye out for any coyotes, they’re always looking to make a quick snack. Make sure to keep small pets and children inside whenever you spot one.

• If you ever hear any scurrying about in your attic, call up animal control and a handyman. They’ll be able to remove any pesky squirrels and patch up the holes they made.

• Did Jerry just scurry by? If you’ve spotted one rodent you’re bound to find more. It’s best to find yourself a decent trap, a hunting cat, or call a local exterminator.

• If you ever come across an opossum in your yard, don’t worry as they aren’t aggressive. But you may want to seal up your deck or crawl space to prevent it from building a nest.

Teaching Building Skills and Empowering Young People: Home Depot’s Kids Workshops

In 1997, the Kids Workshops program launched in our stores across the U.S. and Canada. Created to help our youngest customers develop safe building skills, while gaining confidence to complete projects.

The first Saturday of every month, from 9 a.m. to noon, kids and their parents can attend free workshops. Each child receives an apron, pin and a certificate for completing their project.

Build. Learn. Create. Building strong relationships is a core value at The Home Depot, and it shows in our workshop program.

Register

Have Your Health.

We all can attest that good health is the key to a happy life, and we’re excited to take you on a journey to discover everything you need to know about healthcare options in the Gwinnett region.

From traditional medicine to alternative practices, we’ve assembled the latest news and valuable information on healthcare providers and resources in the area. But that’s not all! We want to shine a spotlight on our everyday heroes, the healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly to keep us healthy throughout our lives.

Whether you’re in need of a primary care physician or specialist, Gwinnett has plenty of resources and providers to help you on your healthcare journey.

Take a minute to read up on the latest and greatest our healthcare organizations have to offer. You’ll be glad you did!

NORTHSIDE ON THE RISE

You might have seen it happening over the past few months, reaching to the sky with its shiny exterior and gleaming panels. In Lawrenceville, the new tower at Northside Hospital Gwinnett is growing tall. The need for the tower is based on our thriving community. We’re a growing county (because who wouldn’t want to live here?), and with more people there is more need for inpatient beds, doctors and care.

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It hasn’t been a straight shot process, but Northside officials haven’t let that keep them from reaching for the sky. In the original project plans, the tower would have been 257 feet and six inches, 17 stories tall total. After consultations with the Federal Aviation Administration, it was decided the structure would need to be shorter for flight safety. With the Gwinnett County Airport at Briscoe Field in the near vicinity, they needed to be sure the tower wouldn’t interfere with planes!

will be designated to critical care and the remaining two-thirds will be for intermediate and acute care patients.

“We started as a 10 story tower and tried to go to 17 stories and realized we are in the airspace of the airport, so we’re limited to 15 stories,” said Steve Aslinger, Director of Facilities Planning at the Northside Hospital System. Luckily, they’ve found a great solution to making sure they meet the inpatient bed need. “We’ve come back around with a plan and have converted what was the Gwinnett extended care center, the nursing home behind the hospital, into a 48 bed inpatient nursing unit.”

mitigate the congestion, eliminate the merging traffic and make the process more efficient for everyone. It’s a $1.6 million project designed to enhance the ability of easy access to the hospital and its services. This will be in addition to the other hospital entrances.

“We’re right there and taking care of the patients in front of us to the highest quality,” said Aslinger. “We’re bringing the clinical needs to meet the high end, as well as provide the volume that is needed.”

The tower will now be lowered by two stories, but it is still on track to have significantly more beds and be the largest facility in the Northside system. The new height is projected to be an impressive 230 feet…that’s taller than both the Cinderella Castle at Disneyland and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The project to build the seven additional floors was officially approved in winter of 2022. Originally, Northside already had approval to build the first ten floors and pushed for seven more in December. The tower will be part of a renovated and upgraded Gwinnett campus. According to a press release, out of the expected patient beds, a third

Gwinnettians can also expect a much larger parking deck (we’re talking 1800 spaces!), a new cafeteria, new patio, new lobby, larger patient rooms and a new medical office. The approximately 150,000 square foot medical office building will be able to house a variety of physician practices, ranging from head to toe. One big feature? The building will have outpatient imaging and a cardiovascular diagnostics center. The facility will relocate their outpatient surgery to the new building, which will alleviate the chaos of day visits and allow room for improved technology. While the tower might not open till summer of 2025, the initial hospital services will be open by the end of May.

The new renovations and projects are partially about reducing wait times and making it easier for people to get the care they need. Gwinnett County is growing rapidly, approaching a million residents, and the local hospitals and healthcare need to match that. Worried about the traffic? Don’t be! Another improvement in the works is the slip ramp funded by the city of Lawrenceville. As you approach 316, towards Athens, if you get in the far right lane of the exit ramp you’ll be going directly to the hospital. It will

Gwinnett Campus Expansion Summary:

• 15 story tower

• New cafeteria & new kitchen

• New patio for patient use

• New lobby space

• Retreat areas & greenspace

• Patient room upgrades & accommodation spaces

• Diverse surgical staff from a range of specialties

• Innovative imaging capabilities & technology

• A parking deck with 1800 spaces

• Slip ramp from 316

WE’RE RIGHT THERE AND TAKING CARE OF THE PATIENTS IN FRONT OF US TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY.

— STEVE ASLINGER, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES PLANNING NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL SYSTEM

GROWING IN THE GROVE AT SNELLVILLE

In Snellville, a development in The Grove is going to house a 45,000 square foot medical office building and a 7,500 square foot medical retail center, set to open in early fall of this year. What’s The Grove? Snellville’s new downtown city center! In addition to the medical facilities, the area will also include over 275 luxury residential units, 50,000 square feet of retail space, the new Gwinnett County Elizabeth H. Williams Library and a 750 parking-space parking deck, all surrounding a one-acre town green space.

Northside’s presence will be in two buildings, part of phase two of the city center development. The area had several

physician practices, but the new project will really cement a medical presence and location for Snellville residents. The facilities will include physicians offices, urgent care, an ambulatory surgery center and other outpatient services.

“It’s meant to bring outpatient services and make it more convenient for patients in their communities,” Charlie Dickhaus, Senior Vice President of Realty Trust Group, the commercial real estate consulting company that has been working with Northside for over a decade.

IMAGING AND DIAGNOSTICS COMING TO BUFORD

Tucked between the Mall of Georgia and Cool Ray Field will be a new medical office building set to open in summer of next year in Buford on Highway 20. The 100,000 square foot facility will be anchored by an imaging and diagnostics center as well as a full complement of primary care. It doesn’t stop there, the facility will also house cardiology, medical oncology, orthopedics, a total joint center and more. All of these developments mean that for the Gwinnett County community, specialized care will be closer than ever.

The project is a joint effort between Northside and Physicians Realty Trust. Site work began in April of last year, and the building is anticipated to open in summer of 2024.

WHAT ELSE IS IN THE WORKS?

The heart and vascular program has added new cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. As a designated open-heart surgery center, Northside can provide services for patients that some areas unfortunately do not have.

Healthcare improvements are on the rise for future Gwinnettians too! Northside is working to bring

improved neonatal care and women’s care to the area. The hospital system has always been known for women’s services, and is now working to expand the special care nursery in the Women’s Center as well as bring in more nursery beds. It’s a regional hub for infant care for Northeast Georgia, so that babies born in outlying counties that have developmental issues or health challenges will have the opportunity to come to Lawrenceville and benefit from the care there.

URGENT MEDICAL MATTERS! NEW NORTHSIDE LOCATIONS

Northside Hospital has opened two Health Choice Urgent Care locations in Gwinnett County, providing same-day care for patients with immediate medical needs. These facilities, located less than a mile away from the nearest Northside Hospital emergency rooms, offer X-ray imaging, COVID-19 testing, occupational health, and illness and injury care.

The new facilities expand Northside Hospital’s network of healthcare services, increasing accessibility for patients in Duluth and Lawrenceville. Patients in these areas can receive the same level of care and expertise at Health Choice Urgent Care as they would at Northside Hospital’s emergency rooms.

Northside Hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services is reflected in the opening of these new facilities. The hospital’s expansion of healthcare services in the area demonstrates its dedication to providing accessible, high-quality care to the community.

Northside Hospital’s new Health Choice Urgent Care locations in Duluth and Lawrenceville offer a convenient option for patients with immediate medical needs. These facilities are easily accessible and provide the same level of care and expertise as Northside Hospital’s emergency rooms, further expanding the hospital’s network of healthcare services in the area.

Lawrenceville

Duluth

PIEDMONT EASTSIDE’S GROWING PROGRAMS

Piedmont Eastside (formerly known as Eastside Medical Center) became part of Piedmont Healthcare on August 1, 2021. Since then, the system has worked hard to bring care to Gwinnett. Piedmont Eastside Medical is a 310bed, multi-campus system.

It offers comprehensive medical and surgical programs including cardiovascular, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, robotic surgery, rehabilitatiown, maternity with neonatal intensive care, behavioral health, bariatric, urgent care, and 24-hour emergency care at two locations in Snellville (1700 Medical Way and 2160 Fountain Drive). With a medical staff of 1,200 employees, 400 volunteers and 500 board certified physicians, the hospital is committed to providing excellent healthcare.

One area they are growing strong in is orthopedic care. Piedmont Orthopedics and OrthoAtlanta opened a new location in August of last year, at 1700 Tree Lane, Suite 300 in Snellville. The new office is located at Piedmont Eastside Medical Center’s main campus. OrthoAtlanta is one of the largest physician-owned orthopedic and sports medicine practices in the Southeast providing an integrated approach to delivering musculoskeletal care.

“Our new Snellville office is designed with patient convenience, comfort and access in mind,” said J. Ryan Mahoney, D.O., who specializes in Sports Medicine, Shoulder and Elbow and is serving the location. “Piedmont Eastside presents a great location for us to serve more patients and provide these life-changing services to the community.”

Piedmont Eastside has earned full Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, the Blue Distinction Centers Program for Spine Surgery and Gold Plus status for stroke care, and the Healthgrades 2017 and 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award for superior performance in patient safety. The Breast Imaging and Diagnostic Center is designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the FDA. Piedmont’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs offer residents the opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience in their chosen specialty.

HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS?

Calling all dawgs! For those who love some good ol’ UGA football, did you know Piedmont does too? Piedmont and The University of Georgia Athletic Association have signed a ten year sports medicine and marketing partnership, extending the relationship that began in 2016. Piedmont will provide UGA student-athletes with specialized sports medicine care and access to comprehensive health services. Given the Athens campus proximity to the University, Piedmont is able to provide medical care for students from all 21 of the university’s programs.

“We are pleased to extend the existing contract with Piedmont as the official health care provider for the University of Georgia Athletic Association,” said Ron Courson, UGA Athletics’ Executive Associate Athletic Director - Sports Medicine. “Our goal in sports medicine is to make a positive impact on health care, sports, performance and life. The health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes is paramount. Piedmont has provided outstanding medical care in a caring and timely manner to our student-athletes and staff for a number of years. They play a critical role in the success of our athletic teams. Piedmont and Georgia share the same values and goals: to be a national leader in sports medicine by cultivating a culture of care.”

PIEDMONT MAKES LABOR & DELIVERY MORE COMFORTABLE

From labor to the first time strapping in the carseat to head home, having a baby is an exciting and nerve wracking process. Piedmont Eastside’s Piedmont Atlanta Hospital has recently renovated its Labor & Delivery unit to be more accommodating and more comfortable for patients. Rooms with natural light, private bathrooms and bathtubs that can be used during labor are now available. These renovation ideas came from the people who know most: the families, patients, doctors and nurses all gave their feedback to help the healthcare provider create an informed design for the best patient experience. The new updated rooms and unit will enable Piedmont Atlanta to assist 30% more women for deliveries. The neonatal intensive care unit is expected to open next spring with its own list of upgrades.

ART IS THE WINDOW TO THE SOUL

But could it also be the window to good health? Of course, no one is saying to trade fruits and vegetables for wax foods and paint, but there’s no doubt that art can bring some joy to your day. Piedmont Eastside Medical Center partnered with Sheridan at Eastside, a local senior living facility, to create an art gallery for the public to view! Sheridan residents Stephen Buckley and Anne Ranne created the “Art of Healing” exhibit to bring some cheer and lift some spirits. The Sheridan, which has a monthly art club for residents to create art, thought it would be a good idea to bring some of that “feel good” art to others. The exhibit is expected to be inaugural and will feature work from several local entities. The current one at The Sheridan is a space for families and staff to sit, take a deep breath, and enjoy the colorful pieces of art. “I have a lot of time on my hands, and I didn’t really grow up with a talent to paint, I just started to pick it up,” said Buckley. “If people like something

and want something special, I do the best I can to make that for someone in mind. It’s what I do. Make people feel good when they see my art.”

The first exhibit ran through March and when the show concluded, the 15 prints of original works on display were offered to Piedmont Eastside patients as gifts to support and encourage them along their journey of healing.

“Artwork is like meditation, and I recommend it for anyone really,” said Ranne. “I feel like it’s a way for me to give back to my community and I hope it’ll give patients peace, if it pleases them, and hopefully makes them feel better.”

Piedmont Eastside CEO Trent Lind is proud to be a part of the art. “Our goal with this exhibit is to recognize the contributions to healing that art can provide… It’s just one more way that will fulfill the Piedmont mission to make a positive difference in every life we touch.”

I FEEL LIKE IT’S A WAY FOR ME TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY AND I HOPE IT’LL GIVE PATIENTS PEACE...

— ANNE RANNE, ARTIST SHERIDAN EASTSIDE SENIOR LIVING

PIEDMONT EASTSIDE WELCOMES...

LARRY EBERT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER!

Ebert first joined Piedmont in 2017 as the Executive Director of Strategic Operations at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. After his time in Athens, Ebert served as Chief Executive Officer at Piedmont Walton Hospital in Monroe for five years.

“I’m excited to announce that Larry Ebert will lead Piedmont Eastside Medical Center as CEO,” said Michael Burnett, Piedmont Athens Regional and Piedmont’s East Clinical Hub CEO. “Larry is a strong leader committed to providing high-quality and safe care close to home. He is committed to ensuring patients in and around Snellville have access to the care they need.”

While serving as CEO at Walton, Ebert successfully led the hospital through its integration into the Piedmont system. He has a track record of outstanding performance of hospital operations and positive culture creation, for patients and employees.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve the Walton County community,” said Ebert. “I will miss everyone on the team at Piedmont Walton, but I am equally excited about joining the team at Piedmont Eastside and continuing the great work being done there.”

MARTY WYNN AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER!

Wynn is bringing more than 25 years’ experience in the healthcare industry to the role, ready to work alongside the Piedmont Eastside leadership team to manage the hospital’s financial performance.

“We are pleased to welcome Marty to Piedmont Eastside. He is an excellent addition to this hospital’s leadership team,” Eastside’s chief executive officer, Larry Ebert said. “His extensive knowledge in finance and his experience in the industry will serve our team very well.”

Wynn will continue serving as Chief Financial Officer of Piedmont Walton Hospital, where he’s been working for the past three years. Before joining Piedmont Walton, Wynn worked at Piedmont Rockdale for over six years and prior to that he held various roles in healthcare. Marty began his health career in revenue cycle management. He’s been involved in many projects and accomplishments, including improving cost reductions across the board and margin improvements.

“I am thankful to continue to be a part of such a great organization and am ready to jump in at Eastside, working with a great team,” said Wynn.

HEALTHY HEARTS

AT NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEMS

News to get your heart pumping! In a good, excited way of course. Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is on the forefront of cardiological care, in addition to a few more new updates in the hospital wings. In 2020, NGHS became the first in the state of Georgia to receive an Emergency Cardiac Care Center designation. That pretty much means you’ve got great heart health care at your fingertips here in Gwinnett and North of Atlanta. In fact, the hospital system performed its first robotic heart surgery earlier this year in February. Nationally renowned robotic heart surgeon Sloane Guy, MD, came to Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery and Georgia Heart Institute in Gainesville last November. He was the first-ever robotic heart surgeon to perform surgeries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville. Robotic surgery options are less invasive, allow patients to recover faster and are in general just pretty cool!

GAINESVILLE GETS A NEW PATIENT TOWER

Soon to be at the heart of it all is the new patient tower in Gainesville, complete with a helipad on the rooftop and set to be open in 2025.

“This new tower is designed with the greater good in mind,” said Carol Burrell, President and CEO of NGHS at the groundbreaking. Located next to the existing North Patient Tower on the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville campus, the project includes an 11-story, 663,000 foot expansion. It broke ground in March of last year and is planned to include a variety of improvements and innovations.

The Georgia Heart Institute and North Georgia Medical Center’s (NGMC) heart and vascular patients will be transitioning into the new patient tower on the campus. The current units for cardiovascular patients – Cardiovascular

Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care Unit, Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, Progressive Cardiac Care Unit, and Heart Failure – will receive an increase in the number of patient beds when the new tower is open for care in 2025. Services such as diagnostic testing, cardiac caths and open-heart surgery will all be making an improved appearance.

It isn’t only cardiological care that is being upgraded, the comprehensive stroke center services will also have greater access, working to accommodate all levels of inpatient care for neurology patients. The new and more accessible helipad will mean that the emergency department and surgical floor will only be minutes away, whereas in the past patients would have to take a short ambulance trip to get where they need to be. The emergency department will be moved to the ground floor

of the new tower, and it will be expanded to accommodate more patients. In February, the North Georgia Medical Center Gainesville was designated a Level 1 Trauma Center. This makes NGMC Gainesville one of five state-designated Level I trauma centers in Georgia and only the fourth nationally-certified Level I trauma center in the state.

In addition to the tower, the beginning of a larger Medical Park is planned for the Highway 60 location. A new Medical Plaza will be built as a 14,000 square foot location off Thompson Bridge Road and will include primary care, bariatric care, behavioral health, gynecology and lab services.

BIG NEWS FOR BRASELTON!

Expansion isn’t limited to Gainesville. In Braselton, another project is in the works. You can expect an additional 235,000 square feet of clinical space to be added to the existing hospital. What to expect with all of this new space? A critical care unit, expanded emergency department, operating room support areas and a renovated laboratory are all part of the plan. That space will include two new patient care floors and 150 more acute care beds. On the less surgical side, we can expect kitchen renovations and new parking spaces. Bonus! The Braselton NGMC is getting a new helipad too.

A new medical plaza is anticipated, featuring an Ambulatory Surgery Center. This 100,00 square foot building will also have two floors of physician office space in addition to the four operating rooms and two procedure rooms of the surgery center. What’s an ambulatory surgery center? It’s a facility designed to do same-day surgical care, meaning healthcare for patients in Braselton will be a lot more convenient!

The Emergency Department expansion is anticipated to be complete by 2026 and the new patient care floors to open by Summer 2025.

BRASELTON NGMC RECOGNIZED FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY!

For patients receiving cancer treatment in Georgia, Northeast Georgia Healthcare System is proving it is the place to go. The NGMC Cancer Center locations in Braselton, Gainesville and Toccoa are now the only accredited radiation oncology locations north of Atlanta. NGMC offers a full range of cancer services including cancer prevention and screening; early diagnosis; cancer staging; advanced treatment through medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgery, patient navigation, rehabilitation and more. The 119-acre Braselton campus is also home to Medical Plaza B, which houses several specialty physician offices, a resource center and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and Medical Plaza 1, which houses an urgent care center, imaging center, endoscopy suite, outpatient lab, therapy services and more than 20 physician offices.

LUMPKIN

New hospital on the horizon located on GA400 in Lumpkin. The 53 acre site will have 16 inpatient beds, three operating rooms, and bring access to all kinds of health care.

BETHLEHEM

A 34,000 square foot project is coming to Bethlehem. The new Medical Plaza will have urgent care, family medicine and more. It will be easily accessible from Hwy. 81 and expected to open Fall 2023.

IN PROGRESS INITIATIVES

DAWSONVILLE

New medical plaza coming to Dawsonville! The new facilities will be home to an NGPG urgent care, Georgia Heart Institute cardiology services, NGPG specialty services and more. The $20.9 million project will accommodate around 100,000 visits each year from patients in the area. It will make getting highquality health care easier for those who use Ga. 400. Bonus? The 35,800 square foot building will be known as Medical Plaza 2. It will be three stories and built right next to what is now known as Medical Plaza 400, but soon to be known as Medical Plaza 1. Construction began in March of this year and should hopefully be complete by spring of 2024.

RECOVERY EXERCISE YOUR WAY TO

Speaking of patients, the need for long-term inpatient rehabilitation is another challenge that NGHS is tackling head-on. Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, has entered a joint venture partnership with NGHS to build and operate a new inpatient rehabilitation facility in Gainesville. This $62 million project is expected to begin later this year and open in 2025. For those recovering from neurological conditions, the new facility will provide intensive nursing, physical, occupational and speech pathology services. You can expect even more facilities to aid in recovery. The plans include a gym, private therapy rooms, a cooking

therapy room, and a variety of other equipment.

“Since 1989, we’ve been proud to offer inpatient rehabilitation services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville,” stated Kevin Matson, vice president of oncology, orthopedic and rehabilitation services for NGHS in a press release. “We’re so excited that this partnership will not only increase availability of this kind of care in the region, but it will also improve the patient experience and expand the kinds of therapies we can offer – closing a gap in the care continuum so patients can get the care they need close to home.”

WHAT ABOUT MY DIET?

Atkins, Ketogenic, Mediterranean. Hear the word “diet” and most people either cringe or make a beeline for the weigh scale. But the dictionary definition for “diet” simply ecompasses to mean the foods we habitually eat. Whether trying to lose weight, attempting healthier choices or trying to maintain a healthy weight, there is a simple way a good diet can help you achieve any of these goals.

First, pay attention to the way your food is cooked: opt for baked, air fried or broiled methods. Second, be wary of sodium and sugar. Both can bloat you and put you at greater risk of diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. Third, opt for home-cooked meals to keep control over which ingredients are used and their quantities. Last, use a smaller plate for meals to keep control of portion sizes. If you must use a regular one, break it up into three portions and fill vegetables in half, and your protein and complex carbs in the remaining two ¼ portions.

To satisfy sweet cravings, reach for seasonal fruits that are succulent and sweet in place of high and processed sugar alternatives. Also, wait twenty minutes after a meal before you eat more so your stomach has ample time to gauge true hunger or determine satiation. Remember, whatever it is you’re aiming for when it comes to your diet, everything is good and dandy—as long as it’s in moderation!

LIVE HEALTHY GWINNETT AND BE ACTIVE!

Live Healthy Gwinnett has found a new way to promote physical activity and healthy living with its “Be Active Gwinnett” mobile unit. This innovative recreational center travels throughout the county, providing a range of activities like obstacle courses, agility exercises, sports, parachutes, and bubble soccer from its former home-delivered meals box truck. The goal is to encourage residents to engage in regular physical activity and adopt healthy habits.

The “Be Active Gwinnett” mobile unit is just one part of the Live Healthy Gwinnett initiative, a collaborative effort between the Gwinnett County Parks Department and Eastside Medical Center. The program is dedicated to creating a healthier community by offering year-round events and activities that promote wellness and fitness.

Whether you prefer to stay active on the go or participate in scheduled events, Live Healthy Gwinnett has something for everyone. Join the movement and take advantage of the “Be Active Gwinnett” mobile unit or any of the other programs available to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Visit livehealthygwinnett.com to find upcoming programs & local events.

Scan to learn more about Live Healthy Gwinnett!

Check

CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA IS IMPROVING PEDIATRIC CARE IN RURAL GEORGIA

It takes a village to raise (or heal) a child! Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Mercer University School of Medicine have joined forces to improve healthcare for children across the state. includes a series of pilot programs focused on improving access to pediatric care close to home. The affiliation will be funded by a dedicated and long-term sustainable fund of $200 million that the Children’s Board of Trustees allocated in 2022. There’s a need for pediatricians in rural areas which is why 10 full-tuition scholarships are being offered for those who want to serve those communities! The proposed rural healthcare pilots and programs will include:

• Helping Rural Hospitals be “Kid Ready” to help rural hospitals better prepare and treat pediatric patients in emergency departments.

• Supporting Rural Pediatricians training and resources to provide information to physicians focused on challenges regularly faced in rural practices.

• Expanding Behavioral and Mental Health Support will work with schools, pediatricians and hospitals to develop a comprehensive approach to pediatric mental health in two communities with virtual mental health services and a focus on suicide awareness and prevention.

And more! Other endeavors include helping rural hospitals become “kid ready”, supporting mental health and aiding rural pediatricians with services and training. Let’s help get those little ones healthy!

LOOKING TO IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING WHILE AT WORK?

1. MOVE YOUR BODY: Take breaks to stretch or go for a walk.

2. STAY HYDRATED: Drink lots of water and reduce the caffeine.

3. EAT NUTRITIOUS MEALS: Pack healthy snacks, avoid junk food.

4. TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: Practice stress-relieving techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Remember, taking care of yourself at work can lead to better overall health and productivity.

LOVE THE EARTH AND KEEP HER HEALTHY!

A healthy environment directly correlates with our own health. Cleaner air means healthier lungs! Cleaner water means happier humans! Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful works to keep the Earth healthy and engages with over 100,000 volunteers each year. The environmental non-profit hosts events like trash collections, recycling and other sustainability activities.

COLD THERAPY IS HOT NEW TREND AT SPORTS

MEDICINE SOUTH OF GWINNETT

Chronic pain is a common reason to seek care, but it can be hard to manage and often return in some way. Dr. Clay Guynn at Sports Medicine

South of Gwinnett has incorporated the use of iovera°- a hand-held device that delivers cold therapy directly to the nerve to help stop painas a tool in his practice. With the rise in opioid related issues and addictions, the hope is that innovative cold therapy treatment will provide immediate (and long-lasting) relief, eliminating the need for substance pain relievers. Dr. Guynn has already seen a 50-70% reduction in opioid use among patients. It’s a tool that can be for cases where surgery has to be delayed or when surgery isn’t an option. Head, shoulders, knees to toes, wherever the pain may be…Sports Medicine

South of Gwinnett is hoping to bring the freeze ray solution to it.

NEW CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA HOSPITAL TO BE THE FUTURE OF PEDIATRIC CARE.

The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta North Druid Hills campus has been in the works and is nearing completion by Fall 2024. With greenspace, larger private rooms, more patient beds and a great location it’s easy to see how the new state-of-the-art facility will be posed to offer great patient care! The conference and simulation space on the new campus will offer more than the current Egleston hospital. There’s a focus on healing with the two new patient towers that overlook the 20 acres of greenspace. Patients and their families can walk trails and enjoy nature, helping add some relief to what can be a stressful time.

EMORY’S NURSING PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE BEST!

Looking to go into healthcare? According to the U.S. News & World Reports, Emory’s Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Nursing programs came in at the top spot among all nursing schools, while the Doctor of Nursing Practice program retained its No. 6 standing. U.S. News placed the school No. 2 in its undergraduate program rankings last fall.

THE GEORGIA CHAPTER OF THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION IS TAKING STRIDES IN SUWANEE!

The Suwanee Town Center will be hosting the Atlanta Great Strides walk, an event put on by the Georgia Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to raise awareness and donations to combat cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition that affects about 35,000 Americans. It’s a condition that causes difficulties with breathing and digestion by affecting your body’s mucus production. Instead of the normal fluid in your lungs, those who suffer from cystic fibrosis have thick, sticky mucus that can cause blockages in their lungs and other organs. Great Strides participants are driven by their dream that people living with cystic fibrosis will live a long, healthy life. Atlanta hosts the largest walk nationwide and everyone is invited to join it! Can’t attend in person? You can participate virtually too.

“Over the past 65 years, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, powered by a fiercely devoted community, has made great strides in the fight for a cure of cystic fibrosis,” stated Molly Taggart, Executive Director of the Georgia Chapter in a press release. “Though we have made incredible progress, we will not rest until ‘CF’ stands for ‘Cure Found’. We invite everyone in the Atlanta and Metro Atlanta community to help us as we cannot accomplish this mission alone.”

IT’S CRUNCH TIME!

If you’ve been waiting for a gym in the Buford area, you won’t need to wait any longer. Crunch Fitness opened their newest Gwinnett County location off of Buford Drive (3740 Buford Dr, Buford, GA 30519). Crunch Buford will offer top-quality strength training equipment, hundreds of pieces of premier cardio equipment, Dual Cooling/Heating Group Fitness Studio, the HIITZone™, a Cycling Studio, Training Hub, Dry Saunas, HydroMassage® Tanning, spacious locker rooms, and more.

RELAY FOR LIFE

THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

It’s one of the biggest Relay For Life events in the world. We’re talking colorful bursts of purple, lovely luminary lights and thousands of people hitting the track. It’s Relay For Life of Gwinnett!

For years, the event has reigned as one of the largest Relay For Life events. Thousands of participants join the walk and efforts to raise money towards fighting cancer. It’s a beloved community tradition and a memorable time for those who attend. Most importantly, it’s a celebration of survivors and an opportunity to work towards preventing the disease in the future.

The event has been a tradition for many years, held across the county. This year, the event was hosted at the Suwanee Town Center. Many Gwinnett companies were proud to be partners, including Northside Hospital, Cancer Institute, Northeast Georgia Medical Center and others. The presenting sponsor partner was Primerica and it was their 12th year supporting the event.

Each year, the event features four signature elements:

Celebrate – Cancer Survivors. The Relay is kicked off with a joyous start. Local cancer survivors are invited to line the track and make the survivor lap!

Celebrate – Caregivers. You’ll need your walking shoes for this event. For friends and family who have helped in the hardships and tirelessly provided support, the next lap is for you!

Remember – Luminaria Ceremony. The Luminaria ceremony is the time to remember those the community has lost and reflect on the journey of those who have survived. Beautiful luminaria bags are lit as the sun sets, decorated with messages from loved ones and supporters alike.

Fight Back. The fight against cancer is endless (for now!) and as a community, Relay invites us together to support the efforts through advocacy, fundraising and more.

Though the Relay For Life Of Gwinnett event is perhaps the hallmark for the organization, the year-round effort to change lives is always underway. “Family Fun

Day” in the spring celebrates survivors and caregivers. The annual fall “Thank You Gwinnett” event looks back on the efforts made during the year and looks forward to more to come. The organization is always looking to raise awareness and gain support.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed yearly. Each of those diagnoses affects more than just the individual, it affects their family, friends and the community they belong to. The American Cancer Society is volunteer driven, it’s supported by millions of people who want to make a difference. The nonprofit’s mission is straightforward: save lives, celebrate lives and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Every cancer. Every life. The fight against cancer is continuous. Time to get involved!

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

Scan the QR code to learn more about Relay For Life of Gwinnett, sign up, start a team and join in the fight against cancer!

THE BEST & WORST

FOODS & DRINKS FOR TEETH

Most foods won’t do much one way or another for dental health. But, there’s always certain foods that are best to have in moderation or they might start to impact that smile.

FOOD IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL, BUT IS IT GOOD FOR THE TEETH?

BEST WORST

CHEESE

That charcuterie board cheese has casein - a protein that repairs enamel.

WATER

Water is the mouth’s best friend. Washes, whitens, wonders!

SALMON

It’s high in minerals like phosphorus, which helps strengthen teeth.

STRAWBERRIES

Did you know this fresh fruit can actually help whiten teeth?

SODA

We hope this one isn’t a surprise. Too much sugar causes erosion and stains.

SOUR CANDY ICE

Bye, bye sour straws. You’re too sticky and bad for the enamel.

CHIPS

Overtime the starch turns to acid and harms enamel. Brush after eating!

Sorry icechewers, ice is too hard for teeth. It can actually break them.

WHAT MAKES

WISDOM TEETH SO WISE?

Wisdom teeth are given their name due to their appearance at a later age in our lives. They usually start coming in after we’ve turned 18 years old. And unless we visit a dentist, they are here to stay! These are our “third-molars” and they have been causing problems for centuries, in fact there’s records of Ancient Greeks complaining about wisdom teeth too! While they might have helped our ancestors grind tough and uncooked foods, now they seem to be one of the pains that come with growing older. Most of us have at least one or two wisdom teeth. Some people are lucky enough to have all four of them. Only 35% of us don’t grow wisdom teeth!

We’ve all seen those funny videos of people post-wisdom tooth surgery, goofy on that dentist’s gas! It’s hard to say who gets to be wise and who doesn’t, but most people who have wisdom teeth get them removed. What you don’t want to happen is for a wisdom tooth to be “impacted” meaning it can’t come out by itself and it might be pushing into your other teeth. This can cause all kinds of problems for your dental health, and even your jaw! Wanna know if you’ve got the teeth knowledge? Schedule an x-ray with your local dentist! Or if you’re starting to think you might have a tooth that’s ready to break free, talk to your dentist about that too!

MANFRED SANDLER

Some of the best ideas come along when we least expect. Lt. Manfred Sandler was 23 years old, serving compulsory time in a South African military hospital when he embarked on an idea.

Quickly, he scribbled in a notebook plans for a medical center that made sense to him, drawing up the design to best serve medical personnel and patients. Everything would flow centrally, with a nurse station in the middle. Each floor would encompass different levels of care: acute care, cardiac care, and a designated cath-lab and surgical areas. Upon finishing the sketch, he looked it over.

The plans had come to him in a flash of inspiration, though Sandler is no architect. Manfred Sandler is a man of science. Harkening back to this inspirational moment, he refers to it as a vision or –laughing with a smile – “a delusion of grandeur.”

“It was just something that was on my mind,” reflects Sandler more than three decades later. “I had this idea that one day I was going to open a heart hospital.”

At the time, he knew nothing of Gwinnett County – only that he wanted to leave South Africa to further his career as

a doctor in America. He certainly had no inkling that the sketch he’d just drawn in his book would decades later bear striking resemblance to the Strickland Heart Center: a 40,000 square-foot, state-of-theart facility he’d play a huge part in making a reality for Gwinnett County residents.

“I used to just sit and wonder,” Sandler says. “At the time, I was just drawing pictures. I would look and think about the flow of hospitals and ask myself if I could just have one building that was devoted to the heart, that was all heart, what would it look like?”

THE PHYSICIAN I AM TODAY

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Sandler knew from an early age he wanted to be a doctor. He didn’t know what specialty, but his time spent as the son of two pharmacists made clear to him he didn’t want to go that route.

“I worked on the weekends counting tablets in the pharmacy and I used to see all of these prescriptions written by doctors, and I developed an interest in medicine very early,” Sandler says. “I knew I was going to be a doctor from when I was 8 or 9 years old. I never really swayed from that. The only question was what type of doctor … and I knew I didn’t want to count tablets my whole life. I’d done enough of that.”

His career pursuit sent him on a collegiate path that started in Johannesburg. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery Degree. Then, an elective at the Department of Pediatric Neurology and Cardiology in London, England; an internship at a hospital in Johannesburg and a surgery internship; followed by the aforementioned compulsory military service where he served as lieutenant. He continued studying medicine in South Africa until 1987, when he moved to North America.

He did some post-graduate training at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, followed by cardiology training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

In 1994, he moved to Gwinnett County, taking a post with Gwinnett Consultants in Cardiology, where he stayed until 1998 when he started with Cardiovascular Group, P.C., where he remains to this day.

The differences in the private practices that he worked at in Gwinnett County and the medical facilities he worked in while in South Africa are vast. That’s partly to do with the fact that it was in the 80s when he practiced there – but Sandler says it’s also due to the fact that the countries are very different.

There were only two medical schools where he trained in South Africa.

“Fortunately, I managed to get into the one I applied for,” Sandler says, adding that he owes his decision to stay in the field to two talented professors of cardiology who greatly inspired him.

“Different professors give you clinical training, teaching, etc.,” he says. “There were two professors both leaders in South African cardiology who solidified my decision to pursue a career in Cardiology… They were both behemoths in the South African medical field. They were brilliant, and they were excellent teachers.”

In South Africa, he also learned from the greatest teacher – real world experience.

“While I was over there, things may be different now, but the technology wasn’t what it is here,” he says. “You had to use your brain and your stethoscope to make life saving clinical decisions. He learnt early on that listening to the patient is absolutely vital to making a diagnosis. This together with a thorough examination as well as basic testing allowed me to appropriately diagnose and treat patients without ordering every test known to man or womankind. It taught me to become the physician I am today.”

I knew I was going to be a doctor from when I was 8 or 9 years old.

I never really swayed from that.

I STARTED ASKING SOME UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS

To this day, Sandler is averse to what he refers to as “overtesting.” He likes to use his brain, doing examinations and speaking to and listening to the patient’s story. Often, their diagnosis can be made before even laying a hand on them, he says.

His medical colleagues in Gwinnett County have enormous respect for Sandler’s expertise as a cardiologist.

“He’s the consummate physician gentleman – always has been,” says Dr. James Smith, medical director for the emergency department at Northside Hospital Gwinnett. “(Sandler) has the ability to make everyone he interacts with feel like the most important person in the room.”

Dr. Martin Siegfried says Sandler “has relentless integrity. When he does it, he does it right. He treats staff, employees and patients like they are the most important person he knows. I think that’s how he really sees them too. He respects everyone.”

Being a good listener, Sandler says, is one of the best traits a cardiologist can possess – as well as compassion and a patient-focused outlook.

“You’ve got to give them the attention they deserve. They’re there to see you,” he says. “They want advice from you, so you have to be attentive to what their concerns are.”

It’s an approach that has served him well as a cardiologist in Gwinnett County, where he’s garnered many accolades (including the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2010 ) as both a physician and as a citizen who has worked to improve the county. He has been voted one the best cardiologists in Atlanta every year by his colleagues as published in Atlanta Magazine and US News and World Report.

His most notable achievement includes efforts to establish a first-rate cardiac facility in Gwinnett County.

When Sandler arrived in Gwinnett County in 1994, the county was well populated “but very underserved from a cardiology point of view,” he says, adding that their capabilities were limited

because they weren’t allowed to perform procedures like stents, balloon angioplasty or open heart surgery. This was during a time when Gwinnett’s population was around 750,000, making it one of the largest counties in the state.

“And yet, we were having to put patients in an ambulance and transfer them to another county for cardiac care,” Sandler says. “This is around the time I started developing an interest in the political side of things, because I wanted to know why we couldn’t do all of this at (what was then called) Gwinnett Medical Center. So, I started asking some uncomfortable questions of the people in government.”

He learned of a law called Certificate of Need, which is Georgia’s and certain other states program for evaluating the need for new hospitals or services in designated regions of the State. Without a Certificate of Need, hospitals cannot open or expand either their bed capacity or new services. This was the roadblock that the administration of then Gwinnett Medical Center faced when trying to become an Open Heart full service cardiac facility. The hospital had attempted to get the CON once before and failed.

Sandler became vocal with hospital administration as well as educating leaders of the county. He also spoke with an attorney, Gerald Davidson, who pointed him in the right direction.

He arranged a meeting with the community leaders, most notably: Wayne Mason, Bartow Morgan, John D. Stephens, Richard Tucker, Rudy Bowen, Clyde Strickland and Bill Russell.

“I explained this healthcare need to them, and they unanimously agreed to support the effort.

I STILL GET CHOKED UP

It became a mission for Sandler to see this through. He joined the hospital board, became more involved with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and, together with the hospital’s then CEO Philip Wolfe applied to the Department of Community Health to prove the need for this service in Gwinnett County.

“In our case, we were transferring patients to St. Joseph’s Hospital (for cardiac procedures) … we were

literally driving behind ambulances with our patients under some circumstances to Atlanta to treat the patients we had just examined in our hospital,” Sandler says. “It was crazy.”

They were transferring as many as 1,500 patients out of the county per year.

The hospital hired attorneys. Sandler served as lead physician in the case. Together with the hospital’s CEO, they traveled the county educating and rallying as many people in the community as they could.

“We were like a dog and pony show,” he says. “We spoke to rotary clubs, churches, community centers and just broadcast to anybody who would listen why we needed this service in Gwinnett.”

The initial filing for the Certificate of Need was denied – opposed by Emory and Piedmont hospitals. After weeks in court in which Sandler served as lead witness, the judge ruled against approving the Certificate of Need.

They appealed this ruling and won. It had taken over five years from start to finish, but they had finally been victorious. Gwinnett County would have an all-inclusive heart center to serve the needs of its residents.

The next obstacle would be the cost. For this, Sandler teamed up with the group of people he’d met with prior to discuss the need for the center itself.

He became the Chairman of the Hospital Foundation and together with the foundation staff embarked on the most ambitious campaign to raise as

much funding toward the estimated $32 million dollar cost Sandler recalls. The financial support received from the citizens of Gwinnett County was overwhelming. Clyde Strickland was the lead donor. Sandler approached his doctor colleagues within Gwinnett County to understand and support the need and they followed suit by donating funds on an annual basis.

The group raised over $11 million. The medical facility was christened the Strickland Heart Center in 2011.

Today, the new, dynamic and ambitious leadership of Northside Hospital Gwinnett continues to expand the heart program adding state-of-the-art services, developing the newly named Northside Heart Institute into a powerhouse program that offers Cardiovascular treatment to the residents of expanding Gwinnett and surrounding counties. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the country.

While not looking exactly like 23-year-old Lieutenant Sandler’s rough sketch of a cardiac center, the man, now 63, says it does bear many similarities.

“I still get choked up about the heart center,” Sandler says. “People come up to me and say, ‘do you realize what happened here? Do you understand the gratitude people have towards you being instrumental in bringing this to fruition?’ I was just glad to be able to be here at the right time and help make it happen.”

I still get choked up about the heart center, people come up to me and say, ‘do you realize what happened here?

BUY, SELL OR RENT

GETTING MARRIED AND MOVING IN. Expanding the family and finding space. Maybe you’re just looking for a change of scenery. Whatever the reason, moving and selling a home is a major transaction and it’s not one you want to enter with the blinds on. Gwinnett’s real estate agents, home inspection companies, apartment communities and more are here to help you put one foot in front of the other. Soon you’ll be walking out the door!

MOVING ON OUT

PICK A MOVING COMPANY?

The sooner the better. You’ll need professional help you can trust, especially if it is a larger move. It’s not worth throwing out your back by trying to move a couch up some stairs. Hiring a company, in advance, will make the move as smooth as possible.

RENTING?

Apartments come with lots of decisions too. Consider if you need a consignor, a roommate or certain amenities when looking at units. Gwinnett offers tons of great homes.

TIME TO DOWNSIZE?

Looking for the perfect place? Don’t let the hassle of the housing market deter you from finding your dream home. A Real Estate agent knows the ins and outs of the community, and they’ll help you find your perfect match.

PACKING

Packing always takes longer than you think. A move is a great time to declutter. Consider what you really need before you go putting every possible thing you can fit into those cardboard boxes.

MONEY HAZARD

Don’t let purchasing a new home be a money hazard. Picking a home inspection company will give you peace of mind in your new property. Make sure everything is in tip-top shape for your move-in or move-out.

COST

Get a good idea of a budget, this will help you create a basic plan of how to approach your relocation process. You’ll need an estimate or appraisal before you sell.

TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT

You've more than likely considered buying or renting a home, but you just can’t decide which option to choose. It all hinges on your preferred current or future lifestyle you would like to live.

Do you consider yourself a nomad that travels around or an individual that would like to set some roots? When it comes to renting, its primary strength lies in the ability to share the burden with other tenants. Renting means you’ll save some money for the other important things in your life. On the other hand, you might not get to make-over your space or modify it. Owning a home provides a few benefits not found when renting a property. First and foremost, you’ll get an asset and

VERTICAL GWINNETT

Up, up and away Gwinnett. Has anyone noticed everything seems to be built vertically these days? Apartments that reach the sky and buildings that are in the clouds seem to be showing up across Gwinnett. Okay, maybe they aren’t that tall, but that’s what it feels like! So what’s the appeal of the vertical lifestyle? Gwinnettians are finding apartment and townhome living to be quite enjoyable. This kind of living comes with perks like pools, community centers, coffee bars and gyms. It’s easy to see how the amenities make these places appealing. Apartments and townhomes are usually close to everything one could need, complexes are often by shopping centers or grocery stores. Vertical living is environmentally friendly, too. Going up is good for growth! With people flocking to Gwinnett and county lines that probably aren’t going to move, the influx of new Gwinnettians gotta go somewhere! So if you’ve been in Gwinnett your whole life, or you’re getting ready to join our wonderful city soon, look to the sky for your next living arrangement!

an investment. Plus, you can paint the walls whatever color you see fit! A mortgage payment might be similar to paying rent, but there will probably be more costs upfront. Ownership comes with the need to maintain the property, meaning if the AC breaks you’ll need to get it fixed, but at least you can be assured that it will be. So to rent or not to rent? They're both great options, so pick the one that best matches your lifestyle!

MOVE OVER, BINGO NIGHT

BINGO MIGHT BE A CLASSIC, BUT THERE’S PLENTY OF FUN TO BE HAD. Retirement and nursing homes are offering so many activities for folks to do that bingo is a game of the past.

Tech Class

Technology can be learned by anybody, it just takes some practice! Head up a technology class, soon pocket-dialing will be a thing of the past.

Crafting

Knitting, weaving, painting, you name it! These activities are a great way to get some mental exercise and handson fun.

Yoga

Reach for the sky! Yoga is a great way to feel great and it’s something everyone can do, no matter their experience.

Movies

Lots of senior living centers are putting the excitement on the big screen! Grab some popcorn and cozy up to a movie. Have an adventure without having to get up!

Dancing

Get up and get groovy! Dancing keeps residents fit and having fun, plus it’s a great way to socialize.

Andy Stanley HOW TO GET WHAT YOU REALLY WANT

We’ve all gotten something we thought we wanted only to discover…it wasn’t. The new car smell wore off, but the payments didn’t. The “right” person turned out to be just like the “next” person. The “dream job” started to feel like…well…a job.

What if there’s a way to break that cycle? There is. But it doesn’t happen naturally. Getting what you really want means figuring out what is most important to you. You want a Tesla? Great. I hope you get a Tesla. But why do you want it, really? You want to get married? Okay, but why do you really want to get married?

Our focus is usually on what’s right in front of us. We want what we want. And we want it now. That’s why you could spend your entire life indulging in a lot of different things but never getting what you really want.

You can’t get what you really want until you discover what you value. Your values—the things that matter most to you—are not so easy to spot. So, here’s a question to get you started: What are the words you hope people would use to describe you? And let’s be honest—do any of us really want to be known for simply what we drive, where we live or how much we work?

Values, unlike wants, aren’t easy to market. They don’t come with free shipping. But when we teach ourselves to look past our short-term desires and appetites, we can see the bigger picture. And we discover what we really value.

So, do the decisions you’re making now line up with your future hopes and dreams?

If not, maybe it’s time to think through what’s most important to you—your values. Which words describe the person you hope to be? Write them down. Tape them to your bathroom mirror. Set some reminders on your phone. Prioritize what you ultimately want over what you want now.

Put your values in the driver’s seat and throw everything else in the back. When you do, you’ll get something much better than just the next thing. You’ll get what you really want.

Andy Stanley is a communicator, author, pastor and founder of Atlanta-based North Point Ministries, which includes Gwinnett Church in Sugar Hill and Hamilton Mill Church in Buford, as well as six other churches in metro Atlanta and a global network of nearly 100 partner churches.