Dear Medical College of Georgia Friends,
Fourth-year student and Class of 2026 president, Ana-Sophia Chung named Pisacano Scholar
One of the most rewarding parts about serving as dean of this medical school is witnessing the extraordinary talent and compassion of our students. Time and again, I am reminded that the future of medicine is in excellent hands. Our students not only excel academically, but they also serve and inspire others. Here’s a great example of the caliber of students we are privileged to educate: Ana-Sophia Chung, who serves as president of our Class of 2026, has been named a Pisacano Scholar – one of the most prestigious honors in family medicine. I can attest that she is more than deserving of such an honor. She is deeply committed to community service, patient advocacy and leadership. An honors graduate of the University of Georgia in biology and Spanish, Ana-Sophia’s early clinical work with Spanish-speaking patients in Texas affirmed her calling to a career in family medicine and her dedication to people with limited access to care.
At MCG, she has served as executive vice president of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and a student delegate to both the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians and the Association of American Medical Colleges – using her position to elevate the voices of her fellow students and advance primary care. She has also dedicated her time here to service, from organizing large health fairs and leading MCG’s Body Donor Memorial Service to tutoring children and volunteering at free clinics.
I have no doubt that after she graduates, she will continue to lead and advocate for her fellow physicians, her community and her future patients. Congratulations Ana-Sophia. You make your medical school incredibly proud.
Second-year student Ryan Lee is our 13th 2025 Peach State Scholar
Here’s another great example of how our students remind us how remarkable they really are. Last month, I shared that 12 students had joined our newest cohort of Peach State Scholars – committing to complete their medical education in three years, enter a Georgia primary care residency program, and serve in communities where they’re needed most. Well, that number just grew to 13, making this our largest cohort yet. Ryan Lee, a second-year student from Lilburn, Georgia, is the newest member of the 2025 Class of Peach State Scholars. A graduate of Augusta University’s BS/MD program with a degree in cell and molecular biology, Ryan wants to pursue a career in emergency medicine. As a student, he has gained valuable experience through student-run clinics, cancer screening initiatives and pharmaceutical research, all of which have helped him better understand the healthcare landscape and strengthened his commitment to being a responsive, compassionate physician. He says he chose emergency medicine because he sees it as a way to meet patients in their most vulnerable moments and provide immediate, compassionate care when it matters most. I’d say that embodies what the Peach State Scholars Program is all about. Thank you for your commitment to serving the people of Georgia, Ryan.
GA General Assembly gets update on our education efforts, hospital partnership in Savannah
It goes without saying that educating the next generation of physicians, who continue to inspire us every day, is at the heart of what we do. Since 2007, we’ve been fortunate to have strong partners in Southeast Georgia, especially at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, who help us carry out that mission. As I shared recently, our partnership continues to grow, with plans for new residency programs in internal medicine (in 2027) and family medicine (in 2028) underway and plans for a cardiology fellowship in the coming years. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of joining President Russell Keen, MCG Savannah Campus Dean Dr. Elizabeth Gray, and SJCHS President and CEO Paul Hinchey in Savannah to update members of the Georgia General Assembly on the progress of our four-year campus and the expansion of graduate medical education in the region.
We were honored to be joined by several longtime champions of medical education and health care access in Georgia: Representatives Butch Parrish, his wife Carol; Darlene Taylor; Ron Stephens, his wife Janice; Senator Ben Watson (a 1985 MCG graduate); and Speaker Jon Burns, who, along with his wife Dayle, who joined us for dinner. Their presence and support are a great example of their commitment to improving health outcomes across the state.
It was a great visit and a reminder that our work in Savannah is not just helping educate the next generation but about improving the long-term health of that region and the entire state. My thanks, as always, to our Government Relations Staff, including Vice President Margie Miller, Monty Philpot Brock, Ashton Blackwood Paine and Luke Ray.
Collaborative study between MCG, Mass General Brigham, and Brigham and Women’s finds cocoa could slow aging
No doubt that the incredible work you all do daily is helping improve people’s lives, and here’s a great example. New findings from the ongoing COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), which first began in 2014, offer promising evidence that cocoa extract supplements rich in flavanols may help reduce inflammation and support cardiovascular health as we age.
Led by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the study found that participants taking daily cocoa extract experienced a consistent decrease in hsCRP, a key inflammatory marker linked to cardiovascular disease risk. These results build on earlier COSMOS findings, which showed a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality among more than 21,000 adults over age 60 who took cocoa extract. This latest analysis, published in Age and Ageing, focused on five biomarkers of “inflammaging.” While hsCRP levels declined significantly, other markers remained stable or showed modest changes. Dr. Yanbin Dong, director of our Georgia Prevention Institute served as senior author on the study. He tells us that while cocoa extract is not a substitute for healthy lifestyle choices, its potential to modulate age-related inflammation is worth exploring.
As you well know, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, and inflammation is a major contributor. This important work could be one way we can help people stay healthier longer.
Annual Rinker-Witherington Society meeting starts today
Another important way we help the people we’re privileged to care for live healthier, longer lives is by staying current – and helping each other stay current – on the latest advances in our fields.
A great example of that is happening today: the start of the annual Rinker-Witherington Urologic Society meeting. This long-standing tradition, named after two MCG legends, Dr. John Robert Rinker and Dr. Roy Witherington, has brought urologists together from across the country for more than 50 years to connect, share knowledge and push the field forward.
The meeting runs through tomorrow in the Health Sciences Building and once again features Dr. Rafael E. Carrion from Tampa as guest speaker. With over two decades of experience in general urology and subspecialties like neuro-urology, Dr. Carrion brings great clinical insight, especially in areas like prostate cancer and kidney surgery.
This gathering isn’t just about tradition. It’s about making sure practicing physicians have the latest tools and knowledge to deliver the best possible care. Huge thanks to department chair, Dr. Martha Terris, associate professor Dr. Sherita King (another amazing MCG graduate), and the entire urology team for always making this such a meaningful and impactful event.
PaceDay 2025 is next Sunday, Oct. 5
As we finish today, I wanted to share another major effort that helps move science and patient care forward. PaceDay, the annual walk, run or ride that benefits research at our Georgia Cancer Center, is planned for next Sunday, Oct. 5. This fun event (I’ve pedaled through the 25-mile ride more than once!) is so important because the funds raised mean that each year MCG researchers with ideas that might not get traditional funding but could lead to breakthrough discoveries in cancer treatment and prevention have those ideas funded. In just six years, supporters across our community have raised $1.7 million, funding 26 research projects. Even better, four of those have resulted in NIH grants totaling over $9 million. Hope you can be there.
My best to you always,
David C. Hess, MD
Dean, Medical College of Georgia
Upcoming Events
October 21 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium
October 24 – MCG Raft Debate, 6 pm, J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons
October 25 – MCG White Coat Ceremony, 2 pm, William B. Bell 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
November 17 – MCG Savannah Community Research Conference, 9 am, MCG Savannah Georgia Southern Armstrong Campus
November 21 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium
