Dear Medical College of Georgia Friends,

Ribbon cutting for MCG Atlanta marks official expansion of our statewide educational network

This Tuesday, we officially celebrated an exciting and important milestone in the 200-year history of MCG with a ribbon-cutting at our newest regional clinical campus located at Wellstar Kennestone in Marietta. This expansion of our statewide educational model establishes a long-awaited foothold in Georgia’s most populous region. As the state’s flagship medical school and the largest educator of physicians in Georgia, we have a responsibility to serve every corner of the state. MCG Atlanta is another powerful step toward fulfilling that mission. No doubt that Atlanta is a major health care hub and our students there will certainly benefit from Wellstar’s advanced facilities, strong telemedicine infrastructure, and access to a diverse patient population with a wide range of clinical cases – from routine care to complex procedures. This partnership not only enriches their hands-on learning but also strengthens the pipeline to Wellstar’s residency programs, which will help retain more physicians in Georgia. This was certainly a win for our students, a win for our partners at Wellstar, and most importantly, a win for the people of Georgia who will ultimately benefit from the health care these future physicians will provide to their communities one day.

USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue reminds us that this is an investment in health care, and a healthy state economy

It was an honor to be joined by University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, who reminded us that this is more than a health care investment – it’s a commitment to Georgia’s workforce and economic future. The American Medical Association estimates that each physician in Georgia contributes an average of $2.3 million in economic output to their communities.

We were also fortunate to have Augusta University President Dr. Russell Keen and First Lady Karen Keen there. Dr. Keen reflected on the moment as both a celebration of past achievements and a springboard for future impact – thanks to the vision and dedication of our faculty and clinical partners. Wellstar CEO Candice Saunders, who has been a determined partner and was key to establishing this campus, reminded us of the energy medical students bring to hospitals: their curiosity and optimism about the future.

Looking around the room, it was inspiring to also see leaders from all levels of government, and from MCG and Wellstar. And perhaps most special of all were the five medical students currently rotating at Wellstar Kennestone who were there to help lead tours and support the program: Stephanie Hayes, Mary Kate Flaig, George Jiang, Lukas Veltmaat, and Ahmed Shetewi – who was born at Kennestone!

Dr. Louis Lovett to serve as inaugural campus associate dean

Another highlight of Tuesday’s ceremony was getting to announce that Dr. Louis Lovett is the inaugural associate dean of MCG Atlanta. Dr. Lovett is no stranger to MCG or to many of us – he’s served as an adjunct clinical professor at MCG for 15 years and has been a cornerstone of graduate medical education at Wellstar for more than a decade. His leadership roles have included chairing the hospital’s GME committee, directing the internal medicine residency program, and serving as designated institutional official.

Dr. Lovett’s dedication to teaching has earned him recognition across every institution he’s touched – from Atlanta Medical Center to Wellstar to MCG. In 2024, he was named our Campus Community Faculty of the Year by students and colleagues at Wellstar, and in 2019, he received the J. Willis Hurst Outstanding Bedside Teaching Award from the Georgia Chapter of the American College of Physicians. There’s no doubt he will be an exceptional mentor and role model for our students in Atlanta.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Lovett has also been a great friend to me and to this medical school. I look forward to many more years of collaboration – and many more conversations about our shared love of Italian food (his family has deep Italian roots, and he attended medical school in Turin) and his college days on the court as a forward for Loyola’s basketball team.

Cobb County Medical Society gathering is another example to talk about the strength of MCG – with many MCG and Wellstar greats in the room

We were also joined at the MCG Atlanta ribbon cutting by Dr. Phil Gingrey, a 1969 MCG graduate, retired OB/Gyn, who grew up in Augusta. Dr. Gingrey has worn many hats over the years – including serving six terms in Congress – and now leads the Cobb County Medical Society as its president. I had the privilege of speaking Wednesday night at annual joint meeting of the Cobb County society and the Atlanta Medical Society the Cobb Energy Center, where the room was packed with MCG and Wellstar standouts.

Among them were Dr. Lovett; Dr. Jeff Tharpe, primary care service line director for Wellstar; Dr. David Gose, a ’99 MCG graduate and former Alumni Association president who practices internal medicine with Wellstar in Hiram, Georgia, and whose son Nicklas is currently a student at MCG Savannah; and Dr. Ducit Adstamongkonkul, a former MCG neurology resident – with possibly the longest name in the history of MCG GME – who is now serving as a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist at Wellstar. I also had the pleasure of sitting next to and chatting with Dr. Debi Dalton, who is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and serves as chief medical officer of Wellstar Paulding and president of the Medical Association of Georgia.

It was a wonderful opportunity to share the incredible progress we’re making at MCG with this group, who certainly understand the importance of advancing medical education and care across Georgia and beyond.

Growing partnership with St. Joseph’s Candler to help expand GME slots in Georgia

Over the past two weeks, we’ve had several chances to showcase how our medical school is impacting the entire state. Here’s another exciting announcement that came last week: We are partnering with our longtime teaching affiliate in Savannah, St. Joseph’s Candler Health System, to launch their first graduate medical education programs in internal medicine in 2027 and family medicine in 2028. These new primary care residency programs – which they hope to eventually grow to 48 residents – are supported by a $10 million grant from the State of Georgia to help cover startup costs. Plans are already underway to add a cardiology fellowship, bringing the eventual number of trainees at SJCHS to 60.

This milestone reflects more than a decade of strong collaboration between MCG and St. Joseph’s Candler, and it would not have come together so quickly without the tireless efforts of Dr. Natasha Savage, our senior associate dean for graduate medical education. Dr. Savage will serve as the designated institutional official for these programs while we work with SJCHS to conduct a national search for a permanent hire. We were also glad to partner and recruit Dr. John Cinicola as program director. Dr. Cinicola brings a wealth of experience and comes to us from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was program director for an internal medicine residency program affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to St. Joseph’s Candler President and CEO Paul Hinchey for his partnership in educating and expanding training opportunities for the next generation. Training location plays a powerful role in shaping where physicians ultimately practice – AAMC data shows that over half of surveyed doctors remain in the communities where they trained. But Georgia, one of the most populous and fasting growing states, still ranks 40th in residents per capita. This investment is an important step toward strengthening Georgia’s physician workforce long term. I’m also grateful to Speaker of the House Jon Burns, Chairman Butch Parrish, and the Chatham County delegation for recognizing this need and their leadership in securing this critical funding.

MCG researchers uncover how exercise reboots vascular health in diabetes

We can’t talk about the impact of MCG’s educational model without also talking about the impact of the research done here. Here’s an example. A new study out of our Vascular Biology Center, published in Circulation Research, has revealed how exercise restores blood vessel function in people with type 2 diabetes. Led by Drs. Masuko Ushio-Fukai, Tohru Fukai, and Sudhahar Varadarajan, the research team uncovered a novel biological pathway that helps compensate for impaired nitric oxide production – a key issue in diabetic blood vessels that prevents them from relaxing and allowing proper blood flow.

Their findings show that exercise triggers a chain reaction: it activates a protein called ATP7A, which transports copper and boosts the activity of an antioxidant enzyme known as SOD3. SOD3 helps neutralize excess oxygen in the blood, converting it into a signal that prompts blood vessels to relax and widen. Using genetically modified diabetic mice, the team demonstrated that disrupting any part of this pathway eliminated the vascular benefits of exercise.

This discovery not only deepens our understanding of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes but also opens the door to potential therapies that mimic the effects of exercise, especially for patients unable to be physically active. This is impactful work that has the potential to improve the lives of the nearly 39 million people in the US living with type 2 diabetes.

MCG scientists publish new research on improving muscle, bone health in aging

Here’s another example. A new study published in JCI Insight offers a promising strategy to combat age-related bone and muscle decline. Supported by a long-standing Program Project Grant now in its third cycle, MCG researchers have shown that blocking the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) – a protein activated by environmental toxins and metabolic byproducts – can significantly improve bone mass and preserve muscle function in aging mice. The team also identified kynurenine, a byproduct of tryptophan metabolism that increases with age, as a key driver of AhR activation and musculoskeletal deterioration.

This work is a true example of the type of team science this medical school is known for. These new findings are the result of nearly 15 years of collaboration among labs led by Drs. Meghan McGee-Lawrence, Sadanand Fulzele, Mark Hamrick, and Carlos Isales, and reveal a novel biological pathway linking metabolic changes to physical decline. By targeting AhR in a mouse model, they were able to reverse frailty indicators and enhance neuromuscular junctions, which are critical for movement and strength, especially in female mice. Given that bone fractures and muscle loss are among the leading causes of disability in older adults, this discovery opens the door to therapies that could help people remain mobile, independent, and healthier as they age. The timing of findings like these could not be better – the population aged 65 and older is projected to grow by 47% between 2022 and 2050.  This is not only about improving the lives of people as they age, but also about decreasing the stress on our health care systems.

We welcomed over 40 faculty at our first-ever new faculty reception

Those are just a few examples of why I believe the Medical College of Georgia is home to the most dedicated, innovative, and impactful faculty in the country. Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming 40 new faculty members to the MCG family during our first-ever New Faculty Reception. I know they will be no different.

Working in medical education is a calling. Educating the next generation of physicians and physician scientists is not just a profession – it’s a responsibility and a way to ensure the legacy of MCG remains strong. At MCG, we are fortunate to have faculty who pour their experience, insight, and passion into shaping our students – in classrooms, in labs and at patients’ bedsides. I want to give a special thanks to the MCG Office of Faculty Affairs and Success and associate dean Dr. Lara Stepleman and assistant dean, Dr. Lisa Leggio, for organizing this meaningful event, as a way to show these new faculty that we’re certainly glad they’re here.

Research Day planned for Sept. 5

One of the most meaningful ways our faculty invest in our students is through research mentorship. Next week, we’ll have the chance to celebrate that work during Research Day, where more than 140 students will present their findings, including several traveling from our regional campuses to share their projects. Every time I attend this event, I’m reminded of the incredible dedication our faculty bring to mentoring and I’m inspired by the curiosity, commitment, and drive our students show in their work.

I hope you’ll join us on September 5th from 2–4:30 p.m. in Harrison Commons to support them.

My best to you always,

David C. Hess, MD

Dean, Medical College of Georgia

Upcoming Events

September 5 – MCG Research Day, 2 pm, J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons

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

October 17 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium

November 13 – MCG Investiture Ceremony, 5 pm, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium

November 14 – Body Donor Memorial Service, 1 pm, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium