Georgia lawmakers invest millions to expand healthcare training in the Coastal Empire

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia lawmakers are investing millions of dollars into the Coastal Empire’s healthcare system, funding a new residency program designed to address the state’s growing physician shortage.

The $16.7 million investment is intended to create a pipeline that encourages medical residents to train in the region and remain in the community to practice medicine.

Paul Hinchey, CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler, said the initiative will create the largest new residency site in Georgia.

“This is the largest new residency site in the state of Georgia,” Hinchey said. “And it’s 103 residents. And there aren’t any other cities in Georgia that can form a program like that.”

Georgia leaders, St. Joseph’s/Candler, and local medical schools are teaming up in an effort to improve access to healthcare across the region.

Hinchey said Southeast Georgia faces significant challenges when it comes to physician recruitment, especially in rural communities.

“Southeast Georgia, there’s a hole in the donut on physician recruitment,” Hinchey said. “And it’s particularly acute as one gets outside of Chatham County, because outside of Chatham County, it’s a very rural area.”

St. Joseph’s/Candler plans to launch the residency program for 103 medical students starting in July 2027. Hospital leaders say they plan to recruit top academic performers from medical schools across the country.

“We are going after the top academic students in all the medical schools,” Hinchey said. “And we’re after the top two percent of the United States. Come here, get trained here, and stay here. And we can do that.”

The program will offer four areas of medical training: internal medicine, family medicine, cardiology, and general surgery.

Hinchey said the program is necessary because the current supply of doctors is not keeping up with population growth and upcoming retirements.

“What the issue is is that there’s not enough physicians in the pipeline to service the population growth here and also succession planning for the doctors that are going to retire,” Hinchey said.

Hospital leaders say the residency program could also change how healthcare is delivered in rural communities.

“It’s not only changing the dynamics of how medical care is delivered out in the rural areas,” Hinchey said. “It’s also looking at where are the medical oases, like the food oases that are here, and how can we make access to care more accessible for people that already live here.”

Lawmakers are also continuing to invest in local hospitals. Additional grant funding will help Memorial Health expand its pediatric and internal medicine residency programs.