
When the “stakes” are high…
Over 100 local employees of a nationwide restaurant chain have been let go. Mike Petchenik shares the latest in this edition of Biz Bits.

Over 100 local employees of a nationwide restaurant chain have been let go. Mike Petchenik shares the latest in this edition of Biz Bits.

ABD has consistently reported about the shortages in the medical profession. A new public/private partnership could be the answer for the CSRA’s future in providing healthcare. Mike Petchenik has more in today’s Biz Bits.

Medical illustration students at Augusta University got a taste of what it is like for competitors on the “Shark Tank” television program. Amanda Behr, chair of the department in the College of Allied Health Sciences, wanted to find a way to help students step out of their comfort zone. She turned to Lynsey Steinberg, a licensed medical illustrator at AU who created the Innovate Competition. It breaks students into smaller groups to create presentations and then pitch them to a panel of judges. Behr came up with the idea of

Wellstar Health System and Augusta University Health System started their first day yesterday (AUHS) as a unified system. AUHS will now be known locally as Wellstar MCG Health. Together, Wellstar and Wellstar MCG Health are committed to investing in cutting-edge medical facilities and infrastructure, strengthening collaborations with rural hospitals, and providing greater access to digital health services and top-notch clinical care, such as pediatric care offered by Wellstar and Children’s Hospital of Georgia. This partnership also represents an alliance between Wellstar Health System, the University System of Georgia, Wellstar MCG

A public-private partnership will soon be providing hundreds of new potential employees for the healthcare industry. The first cohorts of students studying at Augusta Technical College’s School of Health Sciences are nearing the end of their training in disciplines ranging from medical assistants, to radiology, to nursing and more. These will be the first students to graduate from Augusta Tech’s partnership with Piedmont Hospital, creating a new health sciences campus at University Hospital Summerville on Wrightsboro Road. That was previously known as Trinity Hospital and began serving Augusta in 1952

Mental health continues to become a more significant issue in our society. It is clearly having an effect on people of all ages and it is having a profound impact in the workplace. While no age group appears immune to these issues, anecdotally, it seems to me that it is having its greatest impact on young people, particularly those in college and those who are early in their careers. As the father of two daughters in their early to mid-twenties, this was particularly concerning to me. About nine months ago,

Augusta University, both the Health Sciences campus and the Summerville campus, are educating the workforce of the future while pumping millions into the state and local economies. The latest report by the University System of Georgia found Augusta University and AU Health, including the campus in Athens, are responsible for a $2.94 billion economic boost to the Georgia economy in 2022 and employed 21,250 people. Add to that, the $8.6 million and 69 jobs from campuses in Albany, Savannah, Brunswick, Rome, and Dalton. “Augusta University and AU Health are not

While the nursing industry continues to struggle nationwide to hire and retain personnel, other medical fields are also facing challenges. A ceremony at Aiken Technical College on Aug. 11 will provide a measure of relief. A pinning ceremony was held for 64 graduates of the college’s health science programs. This cohort was for students in the expanded duty dental assisting, medical assisting, medical coding, and surgical technology programs. “We gather to celebrate not just your accomplishments graduates, but also the profound impact you’re poised to make in the fields of

What propels someone to open three businesses including one that sells to 600 retailers across the country and around the world? Pain and suffering. You’re a senior in high school, enjoying the prom, pulling an all-nighter for final exams, and creating all those memories for that rite of passage. Now, imagine instead of having the time of your life, you suffer from debilitating headaches, fatigue, and brain fog, so harsh you can’t drive. “I went to doctors and specialists. I had MRIs, CT scans, and a multitude of tests but

A cohort of nine students at the Medical College of Georgia have had their pinning ceremony after finishing medical school in three years, instead of the usual four years. The students are part of the Peach State Scholars program, which began in 2020. This is the third cohort of students to graduate under the program. To be part of the program, the students must agree to serve in a rural or underserved area. In return, they receive a scholarship. “They have just as many credit hours and it’s just as