Dear Medical College of Georgia Friends,

House Study Committee on Cancer Care Access holds meeting on our campus

This week, we had the privilege of hosting the House of Representatives Study Committee on Cancer Care Access at our Georgia Cancer Center. Led by Chair Rep. Lee Hawkins, the committee is tasked with evaluating the current landscape of cancer prevention, screening, and treatment across our state. Their charge also extends to workforce development — exploring how we can better educate and deploy oncologists to the communities that need them most.

It’s an ambitious mission. Cancer remains one of Georgia’s leading causes of death — but it doesn’t have to be. With early detection and timely treatment, many of the most severe consequences of cancer become preventable or manageable. The true challenge is access: long distances to care, a lack of specialists in underserved regions, and economic hurdles. And this isn’t just a Georgia issue — it’s a national crisis. Around 32 million Americans reside in counties without a single practicing oncologist. Addressing these disparities is no small feat, but it is essential to improving outcomes and bringing equity to cancer care both here and across the country.

MCG is approaching gaps in cancer care on multiple fronts

At MCG, we are committed to closing the gap in cancer care through several critical efforts. At the center of those is our Georgia Cancer Center, which is expanding research initiatives, deepening community outreach, and improving access to clinical trials — especially for underserved populations. We also understand the need to grow the oncology workforce. We currently offer fellowship programs in hematology/oncology and gynecologic oncology, but demand continues to outpace supply. Every year, many highly qualified applicants remain unmatched simply because there aren’t enough training slots. Recruiting faculty in these specialized fields is also a challenge — and without them, we can’t prepare the next generation. Unless we address these barriers, the gap between patient needs and available providers will only continue to widen.

That’s one reason I believe the work of this committee is so important. We have to find long-term, sustainable solutions to cancer’s impact on Georgia families. In addition to Chair Rep. Lee Hawkins, the committee is made up of lawmakers and health experts from across the state: Rep. Gerald Greene, Rep. Karen Mathiak, Rep. Deborah Silcox and Rep. Jasmine Clark; our own Dr. Jorge Cortes, Director of the Georgia Cancer Center; Dr. Suresh Ramalingam, Director of the Winship Cancer Institute; Dr. Chris Kiker, Family Medicine Physician with Northeast Georgia Physicians; Dr. Kristin Higgins, a radiation oncologist and chief clinical officer at City of Hope Cancer Center in Atlanta; our good friend and educational partner, Jennie Wren Denmark, CEO of East Georgia Healthcare in Swainsboro; Spence Mullis, cancer survivor and President of Morris Bank in Dublin; and Dr. Doug Graham, Chief Physician at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

I am hopeful that their efforts will lead Georgia to a future where cancer care is more equitable, more accessible, and more effective.

New Lipidomics Group will support research and clinical needs for lipid analysis

There’s no doubt that the research being conducted here is changing lives. There is a spirit of collaboration here that I think truly defines this medical school and university. One of the newest examples of that comes with the launch of a Lipidomics Group — an initiative created to support advanced research and clinical care through lipid analysis. Lipids are essential to understanding how the body functions — and what happens when it doesn’t. Lipid profiling sheds light on the progression of diseases like atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Abnormal lipid metabolism is often a hallmark of chronic illness, and analyzing these patterns can lead to earlier detection, more precise diagnoses, and personalized treatment strategies.

This new group brings together Dr. Guido Verbeck, chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry at AU, and an expert in mass spectrometry; Dr. Meghan McGee-Lawrence, our chair of Cellular Biology and Anatomy and a biomedical engineer; Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, pharmacologist, physiologist, and Dean of the Graduate School; and from our Department of Physiology: Dr. Jessica Faulkner, vascular physiologist and biophysicist, and Dr. Daria Ilatovskaya, a biophysicist and physiologist. The formation of this group was made possible by two major developments: the acquisition of a state-of-the-art Q-ToF mass spectrometer — adding to our existing suite of three instruments — and a $4.4 million grant awarded to Dr. Sullivan by the American Heart Association to explore risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases in women.

I’m excited to see how this team strengthens and expands the reach of the incredible work being done here each day.

Department of Pathology’s summer internship program aimed at building future workforce

Continuing with the theme of innovation shaping the future of health care and research, I’m excited to share that our Department of Pathology has launched the inaugural Applied Molecular Epidemiology Summer Internship. The program is funded by the CDC’s Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence, which aim to build and sustain a strong pipeline of qualified laboratory professionals. This internship engages local high school and Augusta University undergraduate students in hands-on experiences that highlight the important role of laboratory science, genomic epidemiology, and bioinformatics – fields that are certainly critical to modern medicine. Through immersive learning, students not only explore the science behind these disciplines but also hopefully begin to see themselves as future leaders in public health and biomedical research.

Yesterday marked an especially exciting moment when Capt. Kevin Caspary of the U.S. Air Force visited campus to give these interns a tour of his mobile molecular testing lab — an innovative unit previously deployed by the Georgia National Guard during the COVID-19 response. Joined by students from the Georgia Cancer Center’s Summer Research Experience, they saw an example of these careers in action and hopefully created some enthusiasm around the potential for a future in one of these fields.

Governor Kemp names Dr. Dean Burke, ’81 MCG alum and OB/Gyn as incoming DCH Commissioner

I’m always heartened and proud to see the impact our faculty, students and alumni are making in this world. One of those examples is Dr. Dean Burke, a 1981 graduate and OB/Gyn, in Bainbridge. Dr. Burke is currently chief medical officer for Georgia’s Department of Community Health, but Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced this week that as of Aug. 1 he will become DCH Commissioner. Dr. Burke certainly has a deep understanding of both medicine and public policy, having spent nearly three decades practicing in rural Georgia, and serving in the state Senate before becoming CMO at DCH.

Dr. Burke has also remained a steadfast champion for MCG and the health of our state’s communities. He’s been a strong advocate for expanding graduate medical education programs, especially where they’re needed most. He saw early on how telehealth could transform care at rural hospitals — and pushed to grow those services during the pandemic and beyond. He’s also supported funding initiatives at MCG aimed at improving maternal health outcomes and continues to work toward building partnerships with hospitals across Georgia to strengthen access to care.

Congratulations, Dr. Burke and thank you for your commitment to a healthier Georgia and for representing your medical school so well.

My best to you always,

David C. Hess, MD

Dean, Medical College of Georgia

Upcoming Events

August 22 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium

September 19 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium

October 24 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium