Dear Medical College of Georgia Friends,

MCG/AU rank among top 10 nationally in American Heart Association funding

As I hope you all know, I believe that MCG has the best faculty among any medical school in this country. This week we received more news that speaks volumes about their impact. The Medical College of Georgia and Augusta University have been ranked among the top 10 research organizations in the nation in American Heart Association funding this year, with 50 active grants totaling nearly $16 million. While our medical school routinely ranks at the top here in Georgia, this national recognition is further proof of the dedication, talent and impact of our faculty.

I know you all know that MCG consistently outpunches its weight. For a medical school faculty our size, being listed alongside institutions like Stanford, UAB, and Johns Hopkins in the rankings is an extraordinary accomplishment. What makes this even more remarkable is that we educate more medical students than most schools across the nation.

An additional $1.3 million in pre and postdoctoral AHA fellowships means more jobs for Georgia

We also learned this week that MCG has been awarded 10 pre‑ and postdoctoral fellowships from the American Heart Association, totaling more than $1.3 million in funding. Because these fellowships cover 100% of salary, they represent not only a major investment in cardiovascular research, but also new jobs brought into Georgia – earned through highly competitive, nationally reviewed awards. Each fellow will be mentored by one of our faculty members – in our Vascular Biology Center and Department of Physiology – ensuring that this funding directly strengthens the pipeline of future physician-scientists.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Georgia and across the nation. The work our physicians, scientists, and trainees are doing to uncover new treatments and cures is essential to changing those statistics. Their discoveries advance science, improve patient outcomes and bring hope to families who depend on us.

These achievements also speak volumes about the caliber of our faculty. Balancing patient care, teaching, and groundbreaking research requires extraordinary dedication, and our faculty consistently rise to the challenge. I often say MCG has some of the hardest working faculty anywhere, and this recognition affirms that truth. Together, your efforts position us as leaders in the fight against cardiovascular disease, which affects more than 120 million people in the US alone.

MCG Savannah awarded grant to implement AI-powered clinical readiness platform

MCG is leading the nation in innovation – in research and education. Here’s another example of how: MCG Savannah has been named one of only 12 U.S. medical schools selected to receive a grant through Sketchy’s Clinical Reasoning Catalyst program. The funding will support the use of DDx by Sketchy, an AI-powered clinical readiness platform designed to strengthen diagnostic reasoning skills across every stage of medical education. Many of you know Sketchy as a widely used tool medical students rely on for its creative, visual approach to learning and retention. Now, with DDx, they’re expanding that mission to help educators deliver immersive cases, personalized feedback and real-world medical complexity to students, residents and practicing physicians.

Our Savannah team will use this grant to develop DDx cases focused on rural and underserved health, ensuring our students are trained to recognize and respond to the unique challenges people in these communities often face. Led by Dr. John Rowlett, Dr. Folami Powell and Kat Light, this is another great example of our faculty’s commitment to preparing future physicians who are not only clinically skilled but also deeply attuned to the needs of Georgia’s most vulnerable populations.

Program equips medical educators to deliver real-world, future-ready clinical reasoning training across medical school curriculum

As I often say, I prefer to think of AI as augmented intelligence rather than artificial, but whatever you call it, there’s no doubt it will be a defining part of health care’s future. By embedding tools like DDx into our curriculum, we’re giving our students the critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills they’ll need to thrive in the rapidly evolving health care landscape. This award also places MCG Savannah alongside institutions such as Yale, Weill Cornell and Washington University, and it underscores the national impact of our faculty’s vision and dedication. Most importantly, it also helps equip our students with the skills they’ll need to lead in the future of medicine, where augmented intelligence and human compassion will have to work hand in hand to improve patient care.

This week brought a great opportunity to meet with state legislators ahead of the 2026 Session

Our Savannah campus is a powerful example of how MCG’s mission reaches across the entire state, and that mission was an integral part of my message this week when I joined President Russell Keen, Dental College of Georgia Dean Dr. Nancy Young, and Drs. David Munn and Sharad Ghamande for an important meeting with our state legislators ahead of next year’s session. We highlighted the growth of our graduate medical education programs and partnerships with hospitals across Georgia, including Wellstar, St. Joseph’s Candler in Savannah, and Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville. Legislators also heard about the progress of our pediatric immunotherapy program, which is giving the gift of more time to children and families facing recurrent brain tumors; the latest advances in patient care and research at the Georgia Cancer Center; and Dr. Young’s update on the Dental College of Georgia’s plans to open its second campus in Savannah. These conversations are essential for keeping our work top of mind with decision makers and policy leaders, and they give us the chance to show firsthand the impact of our mission across Georgia.

Dr. Dean Burke, an MCG alum and DCH commissioner, was on hand with other DCH leaders this week

In addition to our conversations with legislators, we were also honored to welcome the Department of Community Health to campus for two days this week. MCG’s own Dr. Dean Burke, a 1981 alumnus, OB/Gyn who practiced for nearly three decades in rural Georgia, now serves as commissioner of DCH. He was joined by Emily Yona, chief of staff; Chad Purcell, chief information officer; William Monahan, chief information security officer; and Hudson Reynolds, special legal assistant to the commissioner. Their visit highlighted the breadth of our work: Wednesday’s discussions centered on MCG, including our expanding digital health initiatives, updates on graduate medical education, the launch of our newest department, AI and Health, and the latest progress at the Georgia Cancer Center. Matt Lyon and his team at the MCG Center for Digital Health demonstrated our technology in action, connecting with Dodge County Hospital through our Digital Health Network, showcasing our commitment to advancing rural health care. Thursday was focused on the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, where leaders discussed how the center is already improving the health and lives of Georgians — and how its role can continue to expand in the years ahead.

Visits like these are so important and a great opportunity to demonstrate the amazing work going on at this medical school and university. My thanks to our government relations team – Margie Miller, Monty Philpot, Ashton Blackwood Paine, and Luke Ray – for always working to ensure we have opportunities to build these meaningful relationships and keep our mission front and center.

Half-time ad during state rivalry game featured some familiar MCG faces

Speaking of showcasing our impact, I know many of you were tuned in to the state rivalry game between Georgia and Georgia Tech — a contest that was admittedly slow-paced and not especially thrilling. The real highlight came at halftime, when AU was featured on the national stage through a commercial focused on how we are Changing the Game and Saving Lives. The spot showcased our university and medical school’s mission and included some recognizable MCG faces: Drs. Monte Hunter, Renee Hilton, Sherita King, Ted Johnson and Scott Rahimi, along with Greg Griffin, DCG faculty member, and several DCG and CON students.

Not only did they represent us well on a national stage, these physicians and learners gave up a Sunday they could have spent with their families to come to campus and film a message that ensured the nation knows the difference our work is making in people’s lives. I am incredibly grateful for their commitment.

My best to you always,

David C. Hess, MD

Dean, Medical College of Georgia

Upcoming Events

January 16 – MCG Faculty Senate Meeting, noon, Natalie and Lansing B. Lee Jr. Auditorium