New Provider

Jillion Harris, M.D.

Dr. Harris earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. and her MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business in Durham, N.C. She earned her medical degree at Duke University School of Medicine.  Dr. Harris completed her residency at Columbia University Family Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York, NY.

She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Harris is in practice with WellStar Family Medicine at Vinings.

WellStar Foundation Physician Partners

 As one of its social events for the year, over 55 members and guests of WellStar Foundation Physician Partners gathered at the Red Hare Brewery on November 11, 2013 for a casual evening of beer tasting, tours, and fun. Prospective members including physicians and advanced practice professionals were welcome. Dan Styf, Senior Vice President of WellStar-Piedmont Health Plans presented an overview of the new insurance plans and answered questions from attendees.

The WellStar Foundation Physician Partners is a group of physicians that supports the philanthropic work of the WellStar Foundation by sharing the message that WellStar is a not-for-profit health system and helps to identify grateful patient opportunities.

Each member supports the Foundation through a gift of $2,500 or more each year. An Associate Membership is available for physicians who have joined the WellStar community in the last three years and they qualify by pledging $2,500 to be given over two years, or by giving $1,250 in each of the first two years of membership. The Advanced Practice Professional membership details and giving levels are currently being developed by the Advisory Council.

To see the list of current members, learn more about how this group makes a difference in the community, or learn how to become a member, please visit www.wellstar.org/physicianpartners or contact Jane Bunn at jane.bunn@wellstar.org or 470-956-6674.

December Department Meetings

• WellStar Cobb Hospital – MEC – December 17; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room
• WellStar Douglas Hospital – APP Meeting – December 17; 7:30 a.m.; Sycamore Room
• The Medical Staff Office will be closed December 25 in observance of Christmas Day

Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement: Giving Complex Patients a New Lease on Life

Maggie Sullins, 83, had no energy; unusual for a woman accustomed to mowing her three-and-a-half acres.

“I thought my mower was broken, but my son-in-law had unhooked the wires so I couldn’t use it,” laughed the Cartersville resident. “My family was worried about me mowing it myself.”

Sullins underwent open heart surgery in 2004 – three bypasses – and had some complications.
She was not happy to learn that she now needed an aortic valve replacement. Her cardiologist, George Kramer, M.D., with WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine, referred her to Richard Myung, M.D., and Amar Patel, M.D., who head the WellStar dedicated heart valve team specializing in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

In May 2012, WellStar Kennestone Hospital became the first nonacademic facility in the state to perform this innovative, minimally invasive procedure. And according to Dr. Patel, Kennestone is the busiest nonacademic TAVR center, with 53 cases completed to date.

Who is a good candidate for TAVR?
“Folks who are considered to be inoperable or high-risk for open chest surgery for valve replacement” said Dr. Patel. “For example, those with significant co-morbidities, such as advanced lung or kidney disease, and those who are frail. Also, people who have had previous heart surgery are sometimes not good candidates for open surgery.”

Those with extensive aortic disease also could be higher risk for open surgery. Dr. Patel explained that plaque in the aorta could potentially break loose during surgery and cause complications, such as stroke.

“When a patient is referred to us, we look at the whole patient,” said Dr. Patel. “Our multi-disciplinary valve clinic meets two half-days each week and we review each case very carefully, considering the best treatment for the least risk. Our radiologists, vascular surgeons, pulmonologists, and all my other cardiology colleagues are an important part of this – it’s a group effort. With our holistic approach, we get to know the patient and consider his or her expectations.”

Sullins had the TAVR procedure on Sept. 19 and went home three days later.

“I feel better than I’ve felt in 20 years,” she said. “It was a walk in the park. My family and I are so delighted – it’s such a blessing to feel this good.”

“Don’t let your patient’s age or comorbid conditions stop you from referring him or her to us,” said Dr. Patel. “That’s old-school thinking. We can do a lot more today for complex patients.”

Without treatment, about 50 percent of severe aortic stenosis patients will not survive more than two years from the onset of symptoms. Traditional, open-heart surgery for valve replacement requires a large incision or cutting through the entire breastbone. With TAVR, a new prosthetic aortic valve is implanted by either going through a small incision in the groin or left chest, underneath a rib.

With TAVR, mortality rates are 20 percent lower and the procedure is typically 90 minutes versus four to six hours. Recovery time is shorter and infection rates are lower.

Sullins is living proof: She has already taken a trip to Las Vegas with her daughter and granddaughter, and painted half of her garage.

“I can’t finish it because I promised Dr. Patel I wouldn’t get on a ladder,” she laughed.

“I love my family and I want to be around to enjoy my three great-grandchildren as long as I can. This procedure works – jump in with both feet!”

To make a referral, contact the WellStar heart valve team at 770-793-6431.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital Neurointerventional Suite Up and Running

WellStar Kennestone Hospital hosted an open house on Oct. 22 to celebrate the opening of its neurointerventional suite. The suite enables Kennestone to expand its neuroscience capabilities and offer one of the few comprehensive cerebrovascular neurosurgery programs in the region, offering both open vascular and endovascular procedures.

The suite features a new state-of-the-art biplane which provides three-dimensional images of the brain, enabling neurointerventional procedures. The procedures are performed by Ahmad Khaldi, M.D., and Rishi Gupta, M.D., who specialize in endovascular stroke intervention, retrieving clots in the brain vasculature and occluding ruptured intracranial aneurysms. They use the new biplane for minimally invasive, X-ray guided techniques. Dr. Khaldi also is a skull base and vascular neurosurgeon; Dr. Gupta is a neurointensivist.

“The addition of neurointerventional services at Kennestone enables us to provide the most state-of-the-art stroke care to our patients,” said William Benedict, M.D., co-chief, Neuroscience Service Line.

Kennestone has Primary Stroke Center designation; patients who need interventional procedures will no longer need to travel to other hospitals in the region.

WellStar’s Jose Rodriguez, M.D., Named Physician of the Year by the Georgia Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics

WellStar pediatrician, Jose Rodriguez, M.D., MBA, FAAP, was recently named Physician of the Year by the Georgia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Rodriguez is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Kennestone Pediatric Associates and has been pediatrician for more than 20 years.

Dr. Rodriguez is being recognized for his volunteer work with Ser Familia, a nonprofit founded in 2001 to help Latino families in the areas of family support and counseling, child abuse prevention, domestic violence prevention and crisis management.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Rodriguez earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, and medical degree from San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He came to Georgia in 1981 to serve a residency in pediatrics at the Medical College of Medicine in Augusta. In 1998, he completed a Master in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University.

Board certified in pediatrics, Dr. Rodriguez also holds two academic appointments in the pediatric departments of two medical schools. Since 2000, he has taught third and fourth year medical students as clinical professor at the Medical College of Georgia, and, since 2005, has taught third year medical students as adjunct associate clinical professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as a District II Representative for Cobb and Douglas counties.

Dr. Rodriguez is married and has two daughters. His daughter Sandra Rodriguez-Sfeir, M.D., FAAP, is a pediatrician who also practices at WellStar Kennestone Pediatric Associates. 

WellStar Connect Video – Verbal Orders

The latest WellStar Connect video is on verbal orders. Watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaEHEO1CqSE&feature=youtu.be

New Provider Bios

Candace M. Walker, M.D.
Dr. Walker earned her bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala. and her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Ky. She completed her residency at the Southwest Georgia Family Medicine Residency Program in Albany, Ga.
She is a member of the Dougherty County Medical Society. Dr. Walker is in practice with WellStar West Cobb Medical Center.

Theresa D. Luu, M.D.
Dr. Luu received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa. and her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She completed her residency and her fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta.
Board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, she is a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Luu is in practice with WellStar Cardiovascular Surgery.

Puneet Katyal, M.D., M.S., F.C.C.P.
Dr. Katyal earned his medical degree from the University College of Medical Sciences at the University of Delhi in Delhi, India and his master’s degree from the School of Health Information Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Carilion Clinic  in Roanoke, Va. and fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, N.Y.
He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Katyal is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine.

Jeffrey Evan Michaelson, M.D., F.C.C.P., F.A.A.S.M.
Dr. Michaelson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville and his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. He completed his residency and his fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine, he is a member of the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and the Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals. Dr. Michaelson is in practice with WellStar Pulmonary Group.

Hiren V. Patel, M.D.
Dr. Patel received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. and his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Commonwealth of Dominica. He completed his interventional pulmonology fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Ark. and his pulmonary/critical care medicine fellowship and residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ in Newark, N.J.
Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology and the American Thoracic Society. Dr. Patel is in practice with WellStar Pulmonary Group.

Aseem Shrivastava, M.D.
Dr. Shrivastava received his medical degree from the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, Nepal. He completed his internship and residency at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa. and his fellowship at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J.
Board certified, Dr. Shrivastava is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine.

Asif Saberi, M.D., F.C.C.P.
Dr. Saberi earned his medical degree at the LTM Medical College of Bombay University in Bombay, India. He completed his residency at the Buffalo Medical-Dental Consortium Internal Medicine Program at the State University of New York in Buffalo, N.Y. and his fellowship at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT.
Board certified, he is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Physician Executives. Dr. Saberi is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine.

Jason S. Oh, M.D.
Dr. Oh graduated summa cum laude with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville and earned his medical degree from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, Calif. He completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Md.
He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Society of academic Emergency Medicine, the American academy of Emergency Medicine, the Emergency Medicine Residents Association and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Oh is in practice with WellStar Medial Group Pulmonary Medicine.

Brittany Hixon, M.D.
Dr. Hixon received her bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Altanta and her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. She completed her residency at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. and her fellowship at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT.
Board certified, she is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Hixon is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine.

Aamer Rahman, M.D.
Dr. Rahman earned his bachelor degrees at King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan and his medical degree at the Faculty of Sciences at Government College in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his residency at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown, W. Va. and his internship at the Mayo Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.
Board certified, he is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Rahman is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine.

Atul Bhatnagar, D.O., F.C.C.P.
Dr. Bhatnagar earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa. and his medical degree from Des Moines Medical University in Des Moines, IA. He completed his internship at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. and his fellowships at Allegheny General Hospital and University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.
Board certified, he is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Bhatnagar is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine.

November 2013 CME Events

• Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: November 18, 25; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: November 13, 20, 27; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: November 20, 27; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: November 13, 20, 27; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: November 13, 20, 27; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: November 13, 20, 27; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiology Case Conference: November 26; 7 a.m.; Kennesaw Mountain Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Anesthesia M&M: November 20; 7 a.m.; Anesthesia Conf. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

November 2013 Department Meetings

WellStar Cobb Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Nov. 19; noon	Jasmine/Wisteria Room

WellStar Douglas Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Nov. 12; noon	Sycamore Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Nov. 12; 6 p.m.	KMR
OB/GYN	Nov. 18; 5:30 p.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
Surgery	Nov. 20; 7 a.m.	Auditorium

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Nov. 14; 12:30 p.m.	Dogwood Room

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Nov. 13; 5:15 p.m.	Admin. Conf. Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital Prepares for Residency Training

With the unanimous support of WellStar’s Clinical Council and a statement of commitment from the WellStar Health System Board of Trustees, WellStar Kennestone Hospital has begun the long and involved process of becoming an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residency training site.

“We now have the infrastructure to support training and, more importantly, we have enthusiastic support from the medical staff at Kennestone who sees this as a great opportunity to both improve patient care and to engage those physicians who are eager to teach,” said Don Campbell, M.D., WellStar’s senior vice president for physician education and career development.

The need for increased numbers of physicians, particularly primary care physicians, is clear when looking at the aging population and the anticipated needs for wellness and prevention services found in the Accountable Care Act. The need for residency training positions has dramatically increased as medical schools across the country have increased their class size and new medical schools have opened.

Representative Tom Price, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, noted at a recent event in Smyrna “more than 700 graduates of medical schools in the United States last year were unable to find a residency training position in this country.” Georgia is a net exporter of medical school graduates, most of who will practice near where they do their residency training outside of Georgia. Georgia’s medical schools have increased their enrollments over the past five years, yet the number of residency training positions has not kept pace with the increased class size.

“Kennestone has a broad scope of high quality services that will make it a great place for residents to train,” said Bob Lubitz, M.D., vice president, medical affairs at Kennestone. Dr. Lubitz has had extensive experience with graduate medical education in his previous role as the chief academic officer of the Ascension Health System in St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Lubitz is a member of the newly formed Graduate Medical Education Committee that was chartered in April of this year at Kennestone to begin the formation of a residency training program. An initial site visit from a representative of the ACGME occurred in early September to review the plans.

If ACGME’s New Program Committee approves the institutional application made by Kennestone, the next step will be to develop the individual programs. Programs are currently being planned in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology and the transitional year. The transitional year is a one-year general program that prepares physicians for specialty training in areas such as Radiology. If all deadlines are met and programs approved, Kennestone will see its first residents in July 2016. When all programs are completely staffed in 2021, there will be 70-80 residents on site at Kennestone and in primary care offices connected to Kennestone’s family practice and internal medicine programs.

As part of the ramp-up to residency training WellStar’s Student Affiliations office will increase the number of medical students who do clinical rotations at WellStar hospitals and physician practices.  If you are interested in becoming a preceptor for medical students or need more information on residency training at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, contact Dr. Don Campbell at don.campbell@wellstar.org.

WellStar Connect Update

Phase I is live!

• Phase II Go-Live is December 1, 2013
• eLearning modules for Phase II providers  are now available on SuccessFactors
• Training catalogs for Phase III will be distributed mid-October

 View a One-Minute video “Code Status” featuring Dr. Murphy Townsend.

For more information on Epic including videos and physician champion messages, visit the Wellstar Connect website via the portal or eSource.

WellStar Welcomes Cardiovascular Surgery to WellStar Medical Group

Cardiovascular Surgery has recently joined WellStar Medical Group (WMG). The practice will be known as WellStar Medical Group, Cardiovascular Surgery and will remain in their current office location of 61 Whitcher Street, Suite 4100, Marietta, Ga., 30060.

“Drs. Cooper and Myung bring a wealth of knowledge to the WMG,” said Robert Jansen, M.D., executive vice president, WellStar Medical Group president and chief administrative medical officer. “We are also excited to welcome Dr. Theresa Luu who will join the Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgery teams in November.”

William Cooper, M.D., has been affiliated with WellStar Kennestone Hospital since the inception of the cardiac surgery program in 2004. Richard Myung, M.D., joined the group as the practice’s growth expanded. Cardiovascular Surgery will provide Cardiothoracic and Thoracic surgery.

“We are extremely excited about continuing with delivering excellent cardiovascular healthcare services to the WellStar community,” said Dr. Cooper. “This is a natural evolution of a process that began here 10 years ago with the implementation of the cardiovascular surgery program.  We are looking forward to maintaining our standing in the top 15 percent of the country’s heart programs.  And this enhanced integrated relationship gives us the opportunity to extend new and innovative therapies such as percutaneous heart valves, hybrid therapy for atrial fibrillation, as well as advanced heart failure therapies such as ventricular assist devices.  My team and I remain dedicated to the advancement of world class healthcare within the community.”

Dr. Myung added, “I am extremely excited to be joining WellStar and honored to be a part of a team delivering world-class healthcare to our region.”

WellStar and Walgreens Announce Clinical Collaboration Agreement

WellStar Health System and Walgreens announced a clinical collaboration agreement that will provide coordinated and expanded health care services, while improving access to high-quality, convenient and affordable care for patients in the northwest Atlanta market.

WellStar Urgent Care Centers and physician practices will work with Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens to handle serious conditions outside of the clinics’ scope of practice, and to help manage the treatment of chronic diseases. While Walgreens and Healthcare Clinic strongly encourage all patients to have a designated primary care physician and medical home for ongoing needs, the collaboration will provide WellStar patients access to quality care seven days a week. The collaboration will include direct communication between WellStar physicians and Healthcare Clinic nurse practitioners to facilitate care coordination and sharing of patient information, and enhanced awareness of Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens and WellStar services.

“This collaboration extends quality care directly into our communities to provide greater access for patients,” said Reynold Jennings, WellStar president & CEO. “We believe our communities will benefit from this type of collaborative model as we join forces with Walgreens to deliver more coordinated care.”

With the Affordable Care Act expected to bring millions of new patients into the healthcare system, the relationship aims to help address some of the needs and challenges facing both patients and healthcare providers.

“With the healthcare system today facing a myriad of challenges, Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens can play an important role in enhancing patient access to quality, convenient and affordable care,” said Alan E. London, chief medical officer, Consumer Solutions Group, Walgreens. “Working with a highly integrated health system such as WellStar offers an ideal opportunity to further coordinate patient care in northwest Atlanta. We look forward to working together to help patients in these communities get, stay and live well.”

Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens-area locations partnering with WellStar include:
•1762 Mars Hill Road, NW, Acworth
•4120 Austell Road, Austell
•9465 Highway 5, Douglasville
•2779 N. Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw
•2464 Roswell Road, Marietta
•2988 Shallowford Road, Marietta
•5230 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs
•2670 Cobb Parkway, SE, Smyrna

New Provider Bios

Kelli C. Pitt, M.D.
Dr. Pitt graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, and earned her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. She completed her residency at Tulane University Hospital in New Orleans.

Board certified, Dr. Pitt is in practice with WellStar Cobb Medical Group.

Keerthi Mulamalla, M.D.
Dr. Mulamalla earned her medical degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Medical College in Pune, India. She completed her family medicine residency at Northeast Iowa Medical Education Foundation in Waterloo, Iowa.

Board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, Dr. Mulamalla is a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and Maharashtra Medical Council, India. Dr. Mulamalla is in practice with WellStar Towne Lake Medical Center.

Montaque Freeman, Jr., M.D., M.P.H
Dr. Freeman received his bachelor’s degree at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., and his medical degree at Meharry Medical University in Nashville, Tenn.  He completed his residency at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and earned his master of public health degree at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Certified by the American Board of Family Practice, he is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association and the American Preventative Medicine Association. Dr. Freeman is in practice with WellStar Urgent Care – Kennestone.

Uma Mudaliar, M.D.
Dr. Mudaliar received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas and her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.  She completed her residency at the Emory University Department of Medicine Residency Program in Atlanta.

Board certified, Dr. Mudaliar is in practice as a hospitalist at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

LaSonya Roberts-Lopez, M.D.
Dr. Roberts-Lopez received her bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. She earned her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Roberts-Lopez completed her fellowship training in advanced pelvic surgery/urogynecology at Northside Hospital, Southeastern Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Board certified fellow in obstetrics & gynecology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Roberts-Lopez is a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a member of American Urogynecology Society, American Medical Association and International Urogynecology Society. She is in practice with WellStar Urogynecology.

Lloyd Damon Weddington, M.D.
Dr. Weddington earned his bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and his medical degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He completed his residency at Naval Medical Center San Diego in San Diego.

Board certified, he is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Internal Medicine. Dr. Weddington is in practice with WellStar Internal Medicine.

Timothy S. Wong, M.D.
Dr. Wong earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., and his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. He completed his internship and his residency at the University of Florida and Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.

Board certified, he is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American Rhinologic Society. Dr. Wong is in practice with WellStar ENT Associates.

October 2013 CME Events

• Kennestone Surgical M&M: October 30; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cobb Surgical M&M: October 24; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: October 7, 14, 21, 28; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: October 2, 9, 23, 30; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: October  2, 9, 16, 23, 30; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: October 3, 17, 24, 31; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Physician Leadership Retreat: October 19; 7 a.m.; WellStar Development Center; 4 hours of CME credit

October 2013 Department Meetings

WellStar Cobb Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Oct. 1; noon	ABR
Medical Executive Committee	Oct. 15; noon	Jasmine/Wisteria Room
Pediatrics	Oct. 8; 12:30 p.m.	Magnolia Room
OB/GYN	Oct. 7; 12:30 p.m.	Auditorium
APP General	Oct. 30; 7 a.m.	Jasmine/Wisteria Room

WellStar Douglas Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Oct. 1; noon	Sycamore Room
Medical Executive Committee	Oct. 8; noon	Sycamore Room
QRC PI Committee	Oct. 3; 7:30 a.m.	Sweetwater Room
General Med. Staff & Medicine & Surgery Depts	Oct. 17; noon	Douglas Medical Center Community Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Oct. 2; 7 a.m.	KMR
Medical Executive Committee	Oct. 8; 6 p.m.	KMR
OB/GYN	Oct. 14; 5:30 p.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
Surgery	Oct. 16; 7 a.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
Advanced Practice Professionals	Oct. 30; 7 a.m.	KMR

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Oct. 10; 12:30 p.m.	Dogwood Room

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Oct. 15; 5 p.m.	Galleria

WellStar Welcomes Summit Surgical and Cartersville Surgical

Summit Surgical Specialists has recently joined WellStar Medical Group (WMG). The practice will be known as WellStar Medical Group, Summit Surgical, and will remain in their current office location of 590 Nancy Street, Marietta, Ga., 30060.

The newly named WellStar Medical Group, Summit Surgical includes Drs. Chris Andersen, Robert Holcomb, Gary Hathaway, Jeffrey Schwab, and Sahir Shroff, who specializes in surgical oncology. Joining the practice is Sartaj Sanghera, also a surgical oncologist. The group will continue to provide a full range of surgical services including general, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, as well as surgical oncology. 

“Summit Surgical is very excited to be joining WellStar Medical Group,” explained Chris Andersen, M.D. “The partnership has allowed us to bring in Dr. Sartaj Sanghera, a new Surgical Oncologist. Dr. Sanghera will be joining Dr. Sahir Shroff to assist with comprehensive surgical management for our rapidly growing WellStar Cancer Network. This alliance will help Summit Surgical to expand in new locations providing more convenient care for general surgery.”

In addition, Cartersville Surgical has recently joined WMG. The practice will be known as WellStar Cartersville Surgical, and will remain in their current office location of 10 Cloverleaf Drive, Cartersville, Ga. 30120.

“The WellStar Medical Group is very fortunate to establish partnerships with two extremely well-respected practices in the metro area,” said Robert Jansen, M.D., executive vice president, WellStar Medical Group president and chief administrative medical officer.

The newly named WellStar Cartersville Surgical includes Drs. Grant Taylor and Scott Daniel. The group will continue to provide a full range of surgical services including breast disease, gastrointestinal and endocrine surgeries, as well as imagery services.

“I am very excited about working for a world-class organization,” said Grant Taylor, M.D.  “WellStar is well positioned for any future changes in healthcare.”

WellStar Connect Video Minute

The latest WellStar Connect Video Minute highlights MyChart. Physician Champion Murphy Townsend, M.D., discusses how MyChart will change the patient experience by allowing patients access to test results, medication instructions, history, as well as email questions and pay their bills. Watch the video here:  http://youtu.be/kspzN7oEZnI

WellStar Connect’s Pilot Site went Live September 3!

On September 3, Dr. Thomas Gearhard and the WellStar Cobb Family Medicine practice made history by being the first to implement our WellStar Connect Epic® Electronic Health Record system.  All five providers were on hand to take part in this monumental event.


By close of business, these providers and their staff cared for 58 patients.  “By 10:30 a.m. the front office was humming along and by 2 p.m. the back office was doing the same,” explained  Cheryl Stephens, Office Manager.

“This was the smoothest Epic implementation she has ever been associated with,” Julie Lewis, Epic Ambulatory project manager commented.

At the end of the day, a Go-Live Leadership conference call was held with the project team and operational leaders to discuss the first day of operations; daily calls will continue to provide information about the pilot site’s progress.  All issues identified during this first day of operation were reviewed and most were resolved by the close of business today.

As a result of the pilot go-live, several tip sheets are now in development and will be shared with  CyberStars and team members.  Please feel free to reach out to any member of the project team or visit the WellStar Connect website for assistance.