The remarkable people of South Georgia Medical Center pride themselves in giving back, not only in the service of health care, but also in the service of people. In FY22, employees volunteered more than 5,000 hours at various agencies and organizations throughout our community. Whether it was packing food boxes at the food bank for United Way's Day of Caring, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, donating blood, or participating in a 5K, our employees always are willing to step up and help where needed. 

The Volunteer Auxilians, or Pink Ladies and Red Coats as they are commonly called, volunteer in various areas of the hospital assisting with family, visitor, and patient care support as well as fundraising initiatives. The past year including achievements such as adding 13 new volunteers, hosting 6 fundraisers, and awarding two $1,000 scholarships.  

The volunteers have contributed nearly 6,000 hours of service in the past year to total more than 2 million hours since the program’s inception.  This year, the Auxiliary donated $45,000 to SGMC to help fund various patient care equipment needs.     

“Our dedicated volunteers are vital to the daily operations of our health system,” said Johnny Ball, Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs. “We are grateful that they choose to utilize their time and talents to serve patients and guests at SGMC.”  

South Georgia Medical Center hosted its inaugural Girls Just Wanna Have Brunch event to empower women to take charge of their health during Breast Cancer Awareness month. The inaugural brunch raised more than $11,000 to support women's health initiatives.   

The event consisted of a tasty brunch and opportunities for women to gather together and enjoy themselves. It was hosted at Hallabrook Hill and featured a waffle bar, mimosas, photo station, and build-your-own floral bouquets.  

SGMC has made remarkable strides in healthcare delivery specifically for women within the past two years. This is largely in part due to an increased focus on enhanced access, quality, and patient satisfaction across the health system.  

"Statistics show us that women make the majority of healthcare decisions. Women also play many other vital roles in their family unit, which may result in their own healthcare needs taking a backseat," says Emily Wetherington, Administrative Director of the Pearlman Cancer Center. "We at SGMC want to make it easy for women to prioritize their healthcare so they can be the best version of themselves to those around them."  

Women have varying health needs throughout their life stages. The Breast Center and the Birthplace are two cornerstones of SGMC's commitment to women's health in the region.

SGMC hosted its Inaugural Glow on the Green golf tournament in August to raise awareness and garner support for men's health. The tournament saw more than 110 participants and raised more than $13,000 to benefit Pearlman Cancer Center's educational outreach programs and screenings. 

Annual screenings and checkups declined as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, held at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, served as a reminder for men to make their health a priority. It consisted of nine holes of regular golf, dinner at The Oaks, and nine holes of glow-in-the-dark golf after sunset. Participants also had the option to enter a special Bullseye Challenge activity. 

 "Men face unique health challenges. Our goal is to improve men's health through raising awareness about preventive screenings and regular health care for men of all ages," shared Emily Wetherington, Director of SGMC's Pearlman Cancer Center. "It is crucial that men receive regular checkups and are aware of the risks for their age, ethnicity, and lifestyle." 

SGMC looks forward to continuing to engage with men in the community with future events supporting men's health.

The SGMC Foundation proudly invests in the future workforce of healthcare professionals by providing scholarships to deserving students in the region. 

• The Copeland Smart Start Scholarship was created in 2022 in partnership with Wiregrass Technical College to award postgraduate scholarships to the recipients of the Ben and LaVonne Copeland, Sr. Wiregrass LPN to RN Scholarship who become employed by SGMC as full-time RNs upon graduation. This scholarship was created out of a desire to assist SGMC in meeting the growing demands of the nursing workforce. 
• The Jay Shaw Scholarship was established in 2016 in memory of the late State Representative Jay Shaw. Mr. Shaw was a champion for rural healthcare, and advocate for the advancement of healthcare in South Georgia during his 18 years of service in the General Assembly. Since its inception, the Jay Shaw Scholarship has provided nearly $40,000 in scholarships to Lakeland High School seniors pursuing a career in the healthcare field. 
  

The scholarship helped to alleviate some of the burden of her college tuition at Valdosta State University, where she received both a bachelor's and master's degree. Livingston was able to graduate debt-free. 

She went on to begin medical school in August 2022 and is on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor. 

The future of healthcare can shift dramatically with developments in medical technology. The SGMC Foundation is committed to providing the latest advances to better care for patients, families, and staff.  

SGMC's tiniest patients, newborns and particularly those in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), have seen a great benefit from recent technological advancements. Contributions to the SGMC Foundation allowed for the purchase of 7 new infant warming units totaling nearly $140,000. The warmers are used to maintain the body temperature of the newborns and limit their metabolism rate, which is especially important if a baby is born premature. In addition, AngelEye video technology provides a live video feed of babies in the NICU, which allows parents and families to stay connected to their newborn when they are apart. 

Enhancing patient experience is another important feature of medical technology. The SGMC Foundation used $100,000 in donations to purchase Sonosites, an ultrasound device to find easy vein access for intensive care patients and those with hard-to-find veins. Sometimes, however, a hug from a teddy bear makes more of an impact on a patient's experience. That is why the Foundation purchased SGMC cuddle bears to give to pediatric patients who are in the emergency room or admitted to the pediatric wing. The stuffed animals serve to soothe the anxiety and fear that may result from a visit to the hospital. 

Finally, SGMC understands that the health and wellness of its caretakers is paramount to delivering to best quality of care. Fifteen state-of-the-art massage chairs were acquired to place in new relaxation spaces for nurses and staff to recharge.  

Donations to the SGMC Foundation provide technology and programs that otherwise would not be possible. Your donation will truly make a difference in the lives of our hardworking staff and the patients and families served by SGMC. Interested donors can learn more at foundation.sgmc.org or may make a gift by clicking here.