Left Photo: State Senator Renee Unterman
Right Photo (L-R): Jeffrey Nasworthy, M.D., Christopher Thaver, M.D., Amanda An, M.D., Nguyet Nguyen-To, M.D., Tarah Henderson, M.D., Keylon Glawson, M.D., Kyle Libbey, M.D., Travisha Vaughns, M.D.
(Photos courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System)
By Walter L. Johnson II
The Family Medicine Residency program at Phoebe Putney Health System welcomed its largest class of residents Wednesday. Eight doctors received their white coats during the annual ceremony at the main entrance of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, marking the most residents that the residency program has had during its 25-year history.
State Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford), who served as the keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony, explained that the Family Medicine Residency fills a critical need not only for qualified and trained doctors, but also for the healthcare workforce for Southwest Georgia in general.
“It’s a great day to be in Albany, but it’s also a great day to improve the workforce of people who are able to take care of people in need, sick people,” Unterman said. “So it’s just an exciting to be able to see the community input. (The residents) are just overwhelmed with love and support. It’s a three-year program and I know they’re going to be very successful.”
Travisha Vaughns, M.D., one of the eight residents to be a part of the history-making Class of 2021, shared in Unterman’s excitement of being in Southwest Georgia.
“I’m really excited to be at Phoebe (to) start as a medicine doctor,” Vaughns said. “It’s really intriguing to be in this specific situation.”
The opportunity to serve the mostly rural population that Phoebe serves drew Vaughns, a graduate of the Florida State University College of Medicine, to the Family Medicine Residency program.
“I was in the same situation (while) growing up,” Vaughns added. “As a physician, I always wanted to deal with a population of people who are under-served.”
Additionally, Vaughns wants to learn as much as possible about family medicine during her time in Southwest Georgia.
“I want to look into all avenues of family medicine, since it is so broad, to make that I’m able to focus on the practice.”
Aside from Vaughns, seven other doctors earned their pagers, as well as their white doctor’s coats. The remaining members of the Class of 2021 are as follows:
- Amanda An, M.D., Ross University School of Medicine
- Keylon Glawson, M.D., Meharry Medical College
- Tarah Henderson, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Kyle Libbey, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
- Jeffrey Nasworthy, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
- Nguyet Nguyen-To, M.D., Ross University School of Medicine
- Christopher Thaver, M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine
More Information: Phoebe Putney Health System Family Medicine Residency
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