The Free Clinic of Rome, along with a host of gracious community volunteers, are keeping those in need of healthcare services happy and healthy.
It Takes a Village
There are so many reasons to love living at The Spires, a stunning lakeside senior living community immersed in the vibrant campus culture of Berry College. A 27,000-acre backyard full of walking paths, wildlife and breathtaking views. A state-of-the-art fitness center offering everything from cardio drumming to water fitness. A bustling music scene where you can sing, dance or jam to your heart’s content. And the peace mind of a full continuum of care if further assistance is ever needed.
What our residents are saying:
“I’ve enjoyed making new friends and the staff is unbelievable from top to bottom.” — Dr. Woody Davis, Resident
“People here have been intensely supportive, and they mean it. It’s been a happy serendipity.” — Ann Marie Hollomon, Resident
“I think the best way I can describe the experience here is ‘community’ and I just give thanks. The opportunities are just endless for people to connect.” — Dr. Jennifer Barbieri, Daughter of Resident
“For social, emotional, mental and physical wellbeing — everything I need is here. It’s just been amazing the way our community loves each other.” — Julie Wahtola, Resident
Come see for yourself — we think you’ll love it here, too. Call 706-607-5322 or visit RetireAtBerry.com to schedule a personal tour.
MAY 2025 COLUMNS FEATURES
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Letters to the Emperor is a monthly humor column from the self-proclaimed Emperor of Rome, GA. This month, it’s Nero against the machine. Who will win the battle of wits between AI and the emperor?
This year for Stroke Awareness Month, Harbin Clinic and Atrium Health Floyd are encouraging patients to consider the changes they could make today to protect their tomorrow.
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The Free Clinic of Rome brings the community of Rome together to combat chronic illnesses at its 2025 health fair.
Publisher's Note
OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin
Nero vs. Artificial Intelligence
Letters to the Emperor is a monthly humor column from the self-proclaimed Emperor of Rome, GA. Nero Romansky, the unqualified descendant of Julius Caesar, answers his letters from his less-than-loyal subjects. It’s like UP – UP – DOWN – DOWN –LEFT – RIGHT– LEFT – RIGHT – B – A – START for the real world.
Since the dawn of time, both mankind and man-not-so-kind have asked the question, “Why?”
Nero, the great mystical pontificator, stares into an ethereal abyss of 1’s and 0’s and asks, “Alexa, what is the weather today in Euharlee, GA?”
First Question.
EMPEROR NERO,
“With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, Siri, Gemini, and MapQuest, why should we write letters to a human? Especially a human like you who consistently gives terrible advice?”
— Nguyet Ka | Rome High School, Class of 2020
DEAR NGUYET,
If the Emperor were to be truly honest in this response, he would tell you there are eleven to fourteen things about modern society he does not understand. After traffic lights, the color turquoise, and funnel cakes, AI tops the list.
But what is Artificial Intelligence? Is it the immediate rush of mental computing power that children get when consuming large quantities of sugary snacks and artificial preservatives? Then ole’ Nero is 120% in favor of all things AI. He does his best brain-busting after a 2:1 smoothie mix of Splenda and Red Food Dye #6.
Nero has to wonder: Does AI's artificialness prevent vegans from using ChatGPT? Is there a locally sourced organic alternative buried behind the old Purple Mountain?
One thing is for certain.
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
DEAR EMPEROR,
“Are you ok? Usually, when someone makes a statement like, ‘One thing is for certain,’ they have more to say. Assuming you are not having a stroke or locked in a stranger’s basement. Anywho, my question is, well, it’s more of a statement really. You should have a faceoff between you and ChatGPT answering the same questions.
— Jennifer “Jenny” Smeilshasar | The mom in the homeschool co-op with the most Instagram followers.
DEAR JENNY,
What a brilliant idea. Nero was thinking the exact same thing— that, and what ChatGPT looks like wearing a toga. Let the battle begin!
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
Mark Suroviec, M.Ed., is the Chief Ambassador of Fun at WorkPlay Solutions, the author of Forever Sisters, and the Vice President of the Children’s Museum of Rome. He hopes you pity laugh at his humor and satire stories, especially the ones that aren’t funny.
DIVINE EMPEROR / CHAT GPT,
“Which of Rome’s majestic rivers is your favorite?”
— Tayesha Guavez | Pepperell High School, Class of 1999
CHATGPT RESPONSE,
“As a large language model, I don’t have a favorite body of water. However, if I were forced to pick a favorite Rome, Georgia river, I would choose NONE of them. The rivers, if you can even call them that anymore, are a sluggish soup of oil-slicked muck and chemical froth. The surface is a grimy patchwork of rainbow sheens, floating Styrofoam, rusted cans, and soggy plastic bags clinging together like shameful secrets.”*
NERO’S RESPONSE
Unlike CHATGPT, Emperor Nero takes pride in our civic aqueducts, except for the nonfunctional aqueduct between the Loop and 411. Our waterways are our greatest natural asset, other than myself. Selecting a favorite river is like choosing a favorite child—it should be done publicly and with much ceremony. Therefore, let it be known in all the Enchanted Lands that Constantine IX is Nero’s favorite offspring, and the Etowah is a mighty fine river.
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
NERO / CHAT GPT,
“Imagine you moved all the car washes in Rome onto a single plot of land. Would the total acreage be less than or greater than the campus of Berry College?”
— Anonymous | His two friends call him “Awkward Scott”
CHATGPT RESPONSE,
“first off who names a skool after a fruit?? y’all got deer runnin round like they paying tuition, but the students can’t even find a park spot. smh. campus so big you need a sherpa just to get to class.”
NERO’S RESPONSE
Hypothetical math? Time to put the countless minutes Nero spent on expensive tutoring to use. Using the Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation as a starting point:
iℏ ∂Ψ(r,t)/∂t = (-ℏ²/2m)∇²Ψ(r,t) + c(r)Ψ(r,t)
Where Ψ stands for Aquaman’s three-pointed spear, and ∂ represents the number of Asics joggers sold by DiPrima Shoes, then the answer is Pi€ + or – the whipped cream.
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
Who is the victor of our little advice contest? I think we can all agree ChatGPT won by 27,000 acres.
01010011 01110100 01100001 01110010 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01000001 01001001 00100000 01110101 01110000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101110
Disclaimer: Emperor Nero Romansky is a satirical character written and created by Mark Suroviec, M.Ed. All people and quotations are fictional, invented by the limited imagination of the author, and do not reflect the opinions of the author, editors, or V3 Magazine. *This story contains genuine ChatGPT prompt responses, misedited for clarity, brevity, and to make AI sound like a jerk.
LIVE SMART.
Every year more than half a million Americans experience a stroke for the first time, but up to 80% of strokes may be preventable according to the American Stroke Association (AHA). This year for Stroke Awareness Month, Harbin Clinic and Atrium Health Floyd are encouraging patients to consider the changes they could make today to protect their tomorrow.
The brain’s emergency: what is a stroke?
Strokes strike fast. It happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die within minutes. There are two main types:
• Ischemic Stroke: This type of stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking a vessel in the brain.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke: This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the brain.
There are also transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) — often called “mini-strokes” — which are brief but occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.
Know your risk. Take control.
Screening is the best way to prevent a stroke, according to the AHA. Risk factors include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, high blood sugar and obesity. During appointments, primary care physicians can help identify modifiable risk factors for stroke with physical exams and blood tests.
“Unidentified or unmanaged cardiovascular disease risk factors are known to cause damage to arteries, the brain and the heart years before cardiovascular disease and stroke occur,” said Harbin Clinic neurologist Dr. David Hale. “For patients, stroke prevention begins by building a relationship with a primary care physician and scheduling regular visits before seeing a neurologist.”
Life’s Essential 8
The most common, treatable lifestyle behaviors that can reduce stroke risk are detailed in the AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 for cardiovascular health. They include:
1. Healthy nutrition
2. Regular physical activity
3. Tobacco avoidance
4. Healthy sleep
5. Healthy weight
6. Controlled cholesterol
7. Blood pressure management
8. Blood sugar management
Although this list may echo the common reminder to eat right and exercise, learning more about each category can be surprising. For example, the Mediterranean diet is not just suggested for those with increased risk. It is also encouraged for any adult with no prior cardiovascular disease.
There is also confusion around what counts as exercising regularly. Taking the stairs and meeting daily step goals may not be enough to reach the national recommendations. For adults, the Centers for Disease Control recommends at least 150
Dr. David Hale
minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week.
According to recent polls, only 26% of men and 19% of women in the U.S. meet these standards. Yet, physical activity can significantly improve blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, blood vessels and weight.
This month, make it personal.
Stroke Awareness Month is not about statistics — it is about patients. Whether overdue for a checkup or just starting a wellness journey, now is the time to act. Harbin Clinic and Atrium Health Floyd physicians encourage individuals to:
• Know their numbers.
• Talk to a primary care physician.
• Start small and stay consistent with habits.
Schedule an appointment with a primary care physician because preventing a stroke is not just about avoiding a crisis — it is about living a healthy tomorrow.
Hometown Healthcare
The Free Clinic of Rome makes quality healthcare and neighborly love one and the same as they provide the uninsured citizens of Rome with healthcare.
Text: Lauren Bachman
Photos: Andy Calvert
Day-to-day life can make it hard to prioritize yourself.
Juggling work and personal life is a full-time job, and often, taking care of yourself comes second to ensuring everything gets done. Between commuting, finishing the forty-hour work week, and setting aside time to spend with loved ones, you may not have the time to think about your own wellness. Constant tension in your back is brushed aside as a necessary consequence of the job. Perpetual grogginess just becomes a part of your day that you learn to combat with coffee. Balanced meals aren’t as important as simply making sure that you do eat something.
For over 14% of Rome’s citizens, a lack of health insurance only makes it harder to prioritize personal health. Proper access to medical care is a peace of mind that everyone deserves, though, and the members of the Free Clinic of Rome want their neighbors to have that peace of mind.
Health and wellness often seem at odds with our day-to-day lives, but the staff of the Free Clinic of Rome has designed their practice to meet the community where they are. For over twenty years, their goal has been to provide uninsured citizens of Floyd, Polk, and Chattooga counties with “quality primary healthcare,” says Renee Blackburn, Executive Director.
The clinic’s staff seeks the health and wellness of their community, one neighbor to another. And if the diagnosis calls for long-term treatment, they provide their neighbors with the medicine and resources they need.
Originally, the clinic was established by physicians volunteering at four of Rome’s local church soup kitchens. They wanted to help people, and this naturally began with feeding them. However, the volunteers also noticed that many of the same people they were feeding did not have their other needs met. “People in need were actually getting fed and there were two shelters in Rome, but there was no one that really was addressing the fact that these people had medical needs as well, and there was no access or no ability for them to answer that or provide that,” says Renee.
So the volunteers began working with the local Salvation Army to start a free healthcare clinic. It started small: the clinic was only open one day a month, and they had few supplies to work with. But they were reaching their community in the way they had hoped they would. The volunteers decided they needed their own space to offer their services on a more consistent basis, and by 2003, they had established the Free Clinic of Rome.
As of now, the clinic has been providing uninsured citizens with healthcare for over twenty years. Their work as a non-profit is based on generous donations from their community, along with resources from fellow non-profits. Renee says, “Every dollar that we’ve spent had a return on investment of $11.60,” amounting to “3.2 million in healthcare” last year.
Often, the Free Clinic of Rome finds that its patients have been struggling with chronic illnesses for years. “What happens is crisis and bad diagnosis sneak up on you,” Renee says. “If you didn’t know your A1C was climbing up or you didn’t know that your blood pressure was high and slowly getting higher because you felt fine at the time, those are actually the people that when they get in their 40s and 50s wind up with cardiac
issues or strokes or become insulin dependent diabetics, start losing functioning of kidneys or vision.”
To address these illnesses earlier on, the clinic held a health fair on May 14th, designed for members of the community to talk one-on-one with medical volunteers and professionals from a variety of fields about any concerns they have.
The primary focus of this year’s health fair was “hospitality and gig workers or service-industry workers.” Although service-industry workers maintain a flexibility and resolve that is vital to help their community where possible, their lines of work don’t typically come with the benefits of a full-time job, one of those being health insurance.
The clinic’s staff have noticed that patients with chronic illnesses later in life often come from
these backgrounds. By reaching out to serviceindustry workers when they’re in their 20s and 30s, they hope to treat them before their illnesses become chronic.
“We’re seeing people here on the back end of [not having insurance] and thought: You know what? We need to switch our focus and see if we can go ahead and reach out to the people who are on the front end of not having insurance, and not having jobs that provide insurance, and feel good and healthy, but in actuality may have
hypertension or may have an A1C,” says Renee. “Let’s reach out to them and say: I know you may be feeling good, but you’re not insured, so I know you’re not going to see the doctor. Can we help you?”
Physicians at the health fair offered to perform check-ups and to discuss medical care options with members of the community. Giving the public the chance to talk with these physicians one-on-one allows them to receive the individualized care they deserve and prepares the clinic with opportunities
to “do maintenance and control instead of crisis intervention when a crisis gets here,” says Renee. The clinic does not just intend to diagnose patients, though. They want to ensure that each person under their care receives the treatment they need, even if it must be outsourced. While the clinic is best equipped to treat chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, it collaborates with a plethora of other non-profits to aid their patients. Diagnoses mean little without tangible methods of treatment, and the clinic strives to find methods that suit each of its patients.
Beyond treating patients, Renee believes that the clinic should support the community in its entirety: “The patient is just one aspect of who actually benefits from the Free Clinic of Rome.”
Key to the Free Clinic of Rome’s success is its group of volunteers. Medical students and retired physicians come together to support the community each year, many balancing college courses and personal life in addition to their volunteering. And their tireless efforts are wellrewarded.
Volunteering gives them equal opportunities to uplift their neighbors and to uplift themselves. Renee says, “It helps tremendously students who want to go into the healthcare field. It helps tremendously physicians who want to retire, but they still love taking care of people.”
Working in the clinic allows aspiring and actively studying medical students to gain
experience in the field. “A lot of people that want to go into these areas have never had the opportunity to put their hand on another patient with a stethoscope or to… see what it's like to actually help take care of someone or assess somebody and their blood pressure, their blood sugar, put a stethoscope on their heart, listen to their lungs, and yet they’re choosing this as a career. And it helps tremendously to get that hands-on experience.”
While volunteering, students are acclimating to the medical workspace and gaining a familiarity they can’t get from the classroom alone. Renee says that the competition that comes with medical school and careers often calls for prior experience, which is what she hopes to give the students who volunteer at the clinic.
Students can also use their time at the clinic to determine where their passions truly lie, even if they ultimately extend outside the realm of healthcare. Renee notes how important experiences such as these can be for students, as they can give them insights into the medical field that they can’t get from their classes. Rather, practicing lets them know if being a physician suits them.
For volunteers who have retired from the medical field, the clinic is a space to continue their passion in a capacity that complements their lives. The workload of a full-time physician is fulfilling, but it is strenuous. The clinic provides an alternative to the sometimes seventy-hour work weeks, allowing volunteers to create a balance between their home and work lives.
Rooted in their beginnings at the church soup kitchens, the Free Clinic of Rome embodies neighborly love. It is an “orchestration of the community,” where everyone’s efforts harmonize to create something greater than themselves. Their faith-based origins guide how they interact with the community today: “You are to love your neighbor as yourself... just because your neighbor is backing out of their driveway five days a week and going to work somewhere forty hours a week, that doesn’t mean that they have insurance,” Renee says. “We were founded by neighbors who love to help their neighbors; we’re funded by neighbors who love helping out their neighbors. And that’s the way we have continued to be.”
The clinic is always accepting new patients through phone calls (706-2341331). Volunteers will usually be working with patients, but if prospective patients express interest in becoming a patient over voicemail, volunteers will reach out with more information.
WHEN THE ANSWERS YOU GET ARE THE ANSWERS YOU NEED
When two of the region’s best cancer-fighting teams join forces, it brings a new level of hope for cancer patients in and around Northwest Georgia. That means more leading-edge technologies. More advanced clinical trials. And more quality time to spend with the ones you love.
