Macon Magazine

population, she saw people who could either not afford medication or who did not know how to navigate the health- care system to find a way to afford the medication. "You see people forgo getting a colonoscopy because that would require having to drive to the next town over and they do not have someone to drive them," said Kearney. "Oftentimes, people simply don't know how to ask for help or don't want to, which is where physicians can play a huge role to bridge the gap of what this patient needs and the health-care system." Mercer School of Medicine is not only preparing tomorrow's physicians, but they are already bringing healthcare to rural areas. Mercer has opened rural clinics in Plains, Fort Valley, Fort Gaines and Eatonton. In January 2022, Mercer will open its fifth clinic in Hamilton, which will serve Harris County with a population of about 36,000. A location for the sixth clinic is already in the works. Dr. Sumner said the goal is to open 30 clinics across Georgia to fill the need in underserved areas. "Mercer is using every bit of resource and influence to change our state for the better," said Dr. Sumner. "We are serious about our mission." The School of Medicine also leads the Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities, which is one of only two rural-focused National Institute of Health Centers of Excellence in the nation, and operates several programs focused on eliminating disparities in maternal and infant mortality, opioid overdose and chronic diseases. In 2018, Mercer was awarded grant funds from the state and established Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center on its Macon campus. The Center focuses on the development of research programs, analyzes significant health system problems and proposes solutions to improve community health everywhere. Other schools, such as Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) and Middle Georgia State University (MGA) also are preparing future health-care workers to make a difference in our state. MGA's School of Health and Natural Sciences offers several programs such as nursing, occupational therapy and respiratory therapy. The school's 170-square-mile footprint has campuses in rural areas like Dublin and Cochran. The nursing program graduates about 260 students each year. "Those students are typically employed in rural communities," said MGA Provost Dr. David Jenks. "The vast majority of our graduates at Middle Georgia State University stay within 100 miles of our region in Middle Georgia. So, all of the students that we are graduating in healthcare are building resources for the Middle Georgia region." MGA is also working to expand and add programs such as physical therapy assistance, which will eventually be the launch pad for a doctorate in Physical Therapy. CGTC is also looking for new ways to better prepare future health-care workers. The school currently offers an associate of science degree in Nursing, which allows students to take the National Council Licensure Examination to become a Registered Nurse. CGTC graduates about 80 nursing students a year, many of whom Left: Dr. Jean Sumner, dean of Mercer University School of Medicine. Right: Third-year medical student Maggie Bridges Kearney plans to return to her hometown of Brinson to practice medicine. DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022 | maconmagazine.com 45

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