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SGMC Health has been recognized as a 2026 Great Workplace for Nursing by Nursegrid, the nation’s most widely used app for nurses, honoring healthcare organizations where nurses say they feel supported, respected, and empowered in their work. The recognition is based entirely on direct feedback from frontline nurses and reflects authentic, on‑the‑job experiences across the profession.

The Nursegrid Great Workplaces for Nurses list identified 204 hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide, and only 8 in Georgia, that earned strong recommendations from their nursing teams. More than 50,000 nurses participated, responding to a single, straightforward question: “Would you recommend your workplace to another nurse?” Organizations do not apply, submit data, or pay for placement, making the recognition a meaningful indicator of nursing culture and engagement.

“At a time when nursing faces unprecedented challenges nationwide, being recognized by nurses themselves is especially meaningful,” said Cherise Giddens, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at SGMC Health. “This honor reflects the voices of our nurses and the intentional work across our health system to support their well‑being, professional growth, and ability to provide exceptional patient care.”

SGMC Health has made strategic investments in nursing culture focused on work‑life balance, innovation, and recognition. The health system employs more than 1,100 nurses across its regional network and offers flexible scheduling options, competitive pay aligned with experience and expertise, and PRN opportunities that provide greater control over work‑life integration.

Career advancement is supported through SGMC Health’s Clinical Career Ladder, which provides a structured pathway for growth based on clinical expertise, education, leadership, and experience—allowing nurses to advance professionally while remaining connected to the bedside.

Innovation is another cornerstone of SGMC Health’s approach. The organization continues to invest in clinical technologies designed to reduce administrative burden, enhance patient safety, and improve efficiency. New tools are piloted with frontline nursing teams prior to system‑wide adoption, ensuring feedback directly informs implementation. Nurses have reported positive experiences with virtual nursing initiatives, Smart Beds, and Rover devices, all aimed at strengthening patient care and team workflows.

Recognition remains central to SGMC Health’s nursing culture. Through the DAISY Nurse Recognition Program, more than 550 nurses were honored last year for extraordinary compassion and clinical excellence, with nominations submitted by patients, families, and colleagues across the system.

Nursegrid, which serves more than 650,000 active nurse users nationwide, developed the Great Workplaces for Nurses list to elevate workplaces where nurses feel supported by leadership, connected to their teams, and encouraged to grow professionally. Inclusion on the list signals a strong culture of trust and engagement grounded in real nurse experiences.

As the region’s most comprehensive health system, SGMC Health offers nursing professionals opportunities across a wide range of service lines, including acute and critical care, emergency services, surgical services, women and infants, and specialty care.

Nurses interested in joining SGMC Health’s award‑recognized nursing culture can explore current opportunities at sgmc.org/nursing.

Athens, GA – The Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership Internal Medicine Residency Program (IMRP) at St. Mary’s Health Care System celebrated Match Day on Friday, March 20, as the program matched its eleventh class of residents.

“We are honored once again to have received so many truly exceptional applicants to our program,” said Dr. Lela Ward, program director for the IMRP. “The supportive medical community, dedicated volunteer faculty, exceptional staff, and commitment of St. Mary’s Health Care System to quality care truly make this an excellent program to learn and to train physicians in Northeast Georgia.”

The IMRP Class of 2029 and the schools at which they completed their medical education are:

The program also matched a preliminary year intern, Edwine Coulanges, MD, from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

“This is another exciting year in the history of the Internal Medicine Residency Program,” said Stonish Pierce, president and CEO, Trinity Health of Georgia, which includes St. Mary’s. “We are confident this next class will continue the tradition of compassion and excellence demonstrated by their predecessors. St. Mary’s is proud to be an integral part of the IMRP and its success in bringing more physicians to Georgia and the Northeast Georgia region.”

The new residents will begin practicing at St. Mary’s Health Care System on July 1.

NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM HOSPITALS WIN STATEWIDE PATIENT SAFETY AWARDS 1:39 pm

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is continually looking for ways to improve experiences for patients, and safety is the top priority when they visit a Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) hospital campus. That focus was recently recognized as the Georgia Hospital Association presented four of its Patient Safety and Quality Awards to NGMC Gainesville, Habersham and Barrow.

“We always start with safety at NGHS,” said Matt Hanley, MD, president and CEO of NGHS. “It’s something our teams are committed to and prioritize every day, and these awards are direct evidence that their dedication is improving peoples’ lives.”

NGMC Habersham won first place in the Hospitals With Less Than 100 Beds category for its project focused on reducing the time it takes for a patient to be placed in an inpatient bed after being evaluated in the emergency department. Thanks to the staff’s collaborative work, NGMC Habersham saw a 61% increase in getting patients to beds in a timely manner, which directly impacts patient safety, reduces crowding in the emergency department and supports more timely access to care.

NGMC Habersham was also presented with the Circle of Excellence Award, which is awarded to a hospital that wins an award in the current year as well as three or more awards within the previous five years.

NGMC Gainesville won third place in the Josh Nahum Award for Infection Prevention and Control category for its project focused on reducing infections for patients in the hospital. The Infection Prevention and Control team created an online communication hub that provides staff with educational materials, clinical guidelines and operational resources that helped reduce catheter-acquired urinary tract infections and central line-associated bloodstream infections.

At NGMC Barrow, a project focused on falls won third place in the Hospitals With Less Than 100 Beds category. Staff developed a plan that successfully reduced falls by:

To learn more about NGHS and its five acute care hospitals across the region, visit nghs.com.

Tifton, GA – The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, representing not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems in Georgia, presented a Special Achievement Award to St. Joseph’s / Candler in recognition of its Sixth Magnet Excellence Award from the American Nurses Credentialing Center at the Alliance’s 42^nd Annual Conference.

State Representative Carl Gilliard presented the award, along with Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“Receiving the Magnet Nursing Excellence designation once is an incredible accomplishment, which St. Joseph’s / Candler achieved for the first time in 2002,” said Veazey.

“But receiving it five additional times, as St. Joseph’s Candler achieved in 2006, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025, puts the hospitals among the nation’s elite institutions. In total, only twenty hospitals in the United States have received the Magnet Nursing Excellence designation six times, placing St. Joseph’s / Candler in the top three percent of all magnet-recognized hospitals nationwide,” said Veazey.

“The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s assessment includes measures of: resource and staffing levels; professional autonomy of nurses; fundamentals of quality nursing care; interprofessional relationships; leadership availability and responsiveness; professional development; and nursing teamwork and collaboration,” said Veazey.

“Beyond the accolades accompanying this recognition, St. Joseph’s / Candler hospitals, their nursing staff, and patients have seen improvements in several measurable outcomes. During the last eight quarters, the health system outperformed the Magnet standards on: hospital-acquired pressure ulcers; Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI); patient falls with injury; patient satisfaction with discharge education; surgical outcomes, nurse engagement, and workplace safety,” said Veazey

“I am proud to present this Special Achievement Award from the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals to St. Joseph’s / Candler,” said Veazey.

Tifton, GA – The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospital, representing not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems in Georgia, named Senator John F. Kennedy of Macon as “Legislator of the Year” for 2025 at the Alliance’s 42^nd Annual Conference.

State Representative Rob Clifton of Augusta introduced Senator Kennedy, along with Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“I am pleased to recognize Senator John F. Kennedy as our Legislator of the Year, for his leadership on behalf of his constituents, the State of Georgia, and the impact he has had for Georgia’s hospitals and their patients,” said Veazey.

“This year, Senator John F. Kennedy was the lead architect and shepherd for Senate Bills 68 and 69, developed with Governor Brian Kemp, and constituting the first major state tort reform since 2005,” said Veazey.

“On behalf of our member hospitals, we’d like to thank Senator Kennedy for the many hours he spent working on this bill to improve the lives of Georgians by reducing the economic drag of tort litigation,” said Veazey

“After passage of these tort reforms, the American Tort Reform Association named the Georgia legislature a ‘Tort Reform Trailblazer’ after years of Georgia being branded a ‘Judicial Hellhole’ for excessive tort awards. The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals is proud to have worked with Senator Kennedy and his legislative colleagues for this major advancement,” said Veazey.

Tifton, GA – The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, representing not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems in Georgia, named Jeff Davis Hospital in Hazlehurst as “Small Hospital of the Year” for 2025 at the Alliance’s 42nd Annual Conference.

Leo Reichert of Wellstar Health System, outgoing Chairman of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Annual Conference, presented the award, along with Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“Amid the chaos of Hurricane Helene in 2024, which left 85 to 90 percent of Jeff Davis County without power, Jeff Davis Hospital not only kept the lights on and stayed open, but they became a lifeline for thousands of Georgians in their service area,” said Veazey.

“We often say that community hospitals represent their communities, and in the case of Hurricane Helene, Jeff Davis Hospital epitomized the toughness and resilience of their home county and all of South Georgia,” said Veazey.

“During the hurricane and in its aftermath, the healthcare workers at Jeff Davis Hospital performed heroically, keeping their Emergency Department open and functioning, stabilizing numerous patients suffering from cardiac issues, stroke, trauma, and critically ill patients,” said Veazey

“But beyond this, Jeff Davis Hospital exemplified how a hospital is more than a building, demonstrating the strength and resilience of residents and local businesses, bringing back together a community in the midst of suffering. Jeff Davis Hospital stabilized patients and arranged their transportation to tertiary facilities while maintaining the safety net of healthcare in their community,” said Veazey.

“I am proud to present Barry Bloom, President and CEO of Jeff Davis Hospital, with the 2025 Small Hospital of the Year 2025,” said Veazey.

Tifton, GA – The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospital, representing not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems in Georgia named Tanner Health System as “Large Hospital of the Year” for 2025 at the Alliance’s 42nd Annual Conference.

Tres Jernigan Senior Vice President of RaLin, a Gold Sponsor of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Annual Conference, presented the award, along with Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“Since the founding of Tanner Memorial Hospital in 1949, Tanner Health System has developed into a multi-state system with four hospitals, numerous urgent care facilities, specialty clinics, and home health, hospice, and senior living facilities,” said Veazey.

“Tanner Health also plays a role in addressing Georgia’s healthcare workforce shortage, investing in Future of Healthcare Scholarships for medical students and Advanced Practitioners. The Tanner Teen Institute provides younger students with exposure to healthcare careers and a partnership with the University of West Georgia connects senior nursing students to local practice. In 2026, Tanner will welcome third- and fourth-year medical students to their partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine to prepare students for the challenges of rural healthcare,” said Veazey.

“Tanner also works to address the social determinants of health, developing outreach programs that include corporate wellness partnerships and support for law enforcement agencies. Their Fresh Food Farmacy brings free nutrition and diabetes and social services to low-income patients, and additional nutrition programs, including ‘Food as Medicine’ cooking classes, serve thousands in their community,” said Veazey

“I am proud to present Tanner Health System with the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Large Hospital of the Year award,” said Veazey.

Tifton, GA – The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, representing not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems in Georgia, named Northside Hospital Forsyth President and CEO Lynn Jackson as “Outstanding Woman in Healthcare” for 2025 at the Alliance’s 42^nd Annual Conference.

Julie Ballantine, Director of Strategic Planning for Northside Hospital, presented the award, along with Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. The award was sponsored by the Georgia Chapter, Women in Healthcare.

“Lynn Jackson has served as CEO of Northside Hospital Forsyth after twenty years as Chief Operating Officer. During her leadership, Northside Forsyth has grown from a small 41-bed hospital serving a largely rural area to a 407-bed regional medical center serving a vibrant and growing population in suburban Atlanta,” said Veazey.

“It’s not just a massive growth in scale she has overseen, but an ongoing commitment to patient care that led to Northside Forsyth being named among Georgia’s top hospitals in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals and earning the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award, placing it among the top 15% nationwide for patient satisfaction,” said Veazey.

“The Forsyth County Schools Superintendents wrote about how Lynn Jackson helped Forsyth Central High School develop their STEM Academy and helped establish an internship program that allows high school students to become certified phlebotomists before they begin college. This helps ensure a strong pipeline for future healthcare workers to help address Georgia’s need for more healthcare workforce members,” said Veazey

“I am proud to present Lynn Jackson with the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Annual Outstanding Woman in Healthcare Award,” said Veazey.

Tifton, GA – The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, representing not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems in Georgia, named Piedmont Eastside Medical Center CEO Larry Ebert as “CEO of the Year” for 2025 at the Alliance’s 42^nd Annual Conference.

Michael Burnett, President of Piedmont Athens Regional, presented the award, along with Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“I am pleased to recognize Larry Ebert, CEO of Piedmont Eastside Medical Center, as our CEO of the Year for 2025, recognizing his accomplishments,” said Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Alliance.

“As the CEO of Piedmont Eastside, Larry Ebert has shown true leadership in understanding the challenges and needs of their diverse patient base, which includes suburban, exurban, and rural communities,” said Veazey.

“Larry Ebert invested the time and effort to understand the needs of his hospital’s community, and has shaped their services to address the transportation issues many patients face. He also worked to open a new free-standing Acute Inpatient Rehab Facility to ensure patients will have suitable follow-up care,” said Veazey.

“Larry’s work to partner with educational institutions at all levels, including Georgia Gwinnett College, Gwinnett Tech, and McClure Health Science High School, will help Georgia address the critical lack of needed healthcare workforce,” said Veazey.

“I am proud to present Larry Ebert with the 2025 Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals CEO of the Year award,” said Veazey.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and SGMC Health’s ongoing commitment to women’s health, the SGMC Health Breast Center is proud to offer 150 free 3D mammogram screenings to women who are uninsured and demonstrate financial need. Screenings will be available at the SGMC Imaging Center in Valdosta and SGMC Health Berrien in Nashville.

Now in its third year, this life-saving initiative is made possible through generous contributions to the SGMC Health Foundation. Eligible women can apply online at sgmc.org/mammo. Once approved, a Breast Center representative will contact applicants to schedule their screening.

“Thanks to our incredible donors, we’re able to remove barriers to care and ensure more women in our region have access to essential screenings,” shares Hilary Gibbs, Vice President of Support Services and Chief Development Officer. “These efforts not only save lives but strengthen families and communities across South Georgia.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in the U.S., with 1 in 8 expected to develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection through regular screenings has significantly reduced mortality rates, especially among women under 50.

SGMC Health utilizes Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exams by Hologic, Inc., a leading innovator in women’s health. This advanced technology improves cancer detection and reduces the need for follow-up testing.

The free 3-D mammograms will be available to the first 150 eligible women who meet the following criteria: