You'll join a medical staff characterized by longevity, collegiality, and genuine commitment to community healthcare. The physicians at Elbert Memorial Hospital aren't transient hospitalists rotating through on short-term contracts—they're established practitioners who have chosen to build their careers in Elberton, many serving on the hospital authority board and maintaining deep connections to the community they serve.
The primary care foundation of your referral base includes seven family practice physicians who collectively represent decades of experience: R. David Mize, MD (Internal Medicine), Jonathan Poon, MD, Glenn S. Poon, MD, Dan McAvoy, MD, Matthew Jenkins, MD, Mark L. Daniel, MD, and Ralph "Wynn" Crowe III, MD (all in Family Practice). These physicians understand the frustration of sending their patients 40 minutes to Athens for cardiology consultations and the breakdown in continuity that often results. They're genuinely eager to collaborate with a local cardiologist who will communicate effectively, provide timely consultations, and help them manage their complex cardiac patients without unnecessary referrals.
Dr. Dan McAvoy and Dr. Matthew Jenkins serve on the hospital authority board, which tells you something important about the medical staff culture here: physicians are actively involved in hospital governance and strategic decisions. These aren't physicians who feel disconnected from administrative leadership—they're partners in shaping the hospital's future. As the cardiologist establishing this program, you'll find that your clinical insights and program development ideas will be genuinely welcomed rather than lost in bureaucratic channels.
You'll share the Lake Russell Medical Building with an established board-certified general surgeon, Dr. Wells, whose presence demonstrates the viability of specialty practice in Elberton. The building is managed by Debbie Shirley, Practice Manager for Lake Russell Specialty Healthcare Services, who understands the operational needs of specialty practices and will ensure your clinic functions smoothly. A dedicated RN, MA, or LPN will be added specifically to support your cardiology clinic, and you'll have input into selecting someone whose clinical skills and work style align with your practice preferences.
The orthopedic presence includes David S. Ryan, MD and Lee Sullivan, MD, along with Alan Rivera, MD in Internal Medicine—specialists who have found Elberton's combination of meaningful clinical work and lifestyle advantages worth committing to. Their sustained practices here suggest you'll find the same professional satisfaction and community appreciation that has kept them engaged.
Your relationship with the hospitalist team will be central to your daily workflow, and early conversations with hospital leadership suggest this will be a genuinely collaborative partnership. The hospitalists are experienced physicians who are comfortable with their scope of practice and genuinely value specialist input. They're accustomed to managing overnight admissions and acute presentations, then consulting specialists during business hours—exactly the workflow that makes your no-call schedule feasible.
Unlike some hospitals where hospitalists feel pressured to manage everything independently or specialists feel their expertise is only requested for the most complex cases, Elbert Memorial has cultivated a culture of appropriate consultation. The hospitalists recognize that having cardiology expertise available will improve patient care, reduce unnecessary transfers, and provide them with valuable education through your consultative input. You'll find they provide thorough clinical presentations, have already completed initial stabilization and diagnostic workup, and are genuinely interested in your clinical reasoning and recommendations.
The hospital employs 187 staff members across all departments, led by a stable and experienced leadership team. Shannon Rodgers, RN serves as the Emergency Department Director, and you'll work closely with Ande Gunter, RN (Outpatient Nursing Director) who oversees clinic nursing operations. Kellie Smith, RN serves as Director of Quality and Risk Management, and Renee Mann, BSN, RN leads Clinical Informatics—important relationships as you establish documentation workflows and quality metrics for your new cardiology program.
The hospital's nursing staff has weathered the years without cardiology coverage, which means they're experienced in recognizing which patients genuinely need transfer versus those who could potentially be managed locally with specialist input. They'll appreciate your presence not just for improved patient care, but for the clinical education and confidence that comes from having a cardiologist readily available for consultation.
Hannah Williams directs the Radiology department, which provides the imaging services essential to your diagnostic workup. The radiology partnership with Radiology Partners ensures access to quality interpretations, though you'll be reviewing echocardiograms, stress tests, and nuclear studies yourself as part of your consultative work. Brooke Jackson, PT, DPT, Director of Rehabilitation, oversees the cardiac rehab program that opened in January 2024 and is already experiencing rapid growth—a testament to both program quality and community demand for cardiac services.
The cardiac rehab team will become important collaborators as you manage post-MI patients, heart failure optimization, and other conditions benefiting from structured exercise and education programs. Their success in attracting patients who complete interventional procedures in Athens but return to Elberton for rehab demonstrates both program quality and patient preference for local care—a dynamic that will only strengthen with your presence providing comprehensive local cardiology services.
This is a medical staff that will genuinely value your expertise, support your program development, and provide the collaborative environment that makes community practice professionally satisfying. You won't be fighting for resources or respect—you'll be welcomed as the specialist who fills a critical gap in their ability to care for this community.