Watching his brother’s health journey sparked Michael McGrath’s interest in a career in medicine.
“My brother was born with a heart condition, and from there, that inspired an interest in what medicine could do for him and what it could do for others,” said McGrath, an Augustan who is one of 12 Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University students to be selected as a Peach State Scholar.
On Friday, the group, which is the largest cohort since the program began in 2021, was part of a pinning ceremony at the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons.
The goal of the program is to reach underserved communities in Georgia by training physicians who agree to go into these areas to provide needed care.
“Of the state’s 159 counties, nine have no physician; 18 no family medicine physician; 32 no internist; 60 no pediatrician; 76 no OB/GYN; 74 no general surgeon; 77 no psychiatrist; and 58 no emergency medicine physician,” according to data at the Medical College of Georgia Foundation’s website.
Peach State Scholars declare a specialty earlier than other medical students without the opportunity of rotating through them before making that decision, according to Dr. Erin Latif, Assistant Dean of Curriculum.
“It’s an Incredible commitment at an early time in your medical careers,” she said.
The students’ tuition is covered for their second and third years of medical school. As part of the MCG 3+ Primary Care Pathway, which “offers students who want to serve Georgia a quicker path to primary care residency and practice. Those students can graduate medical school in three years and immediately enter a primary care residency program in Georgia,” according to the MCG Foundation website. The Foundation is one of the funding entities for the program.
McGrath believes the pathway is the right choice for him.
“For me, it just makes sense in a way nothing else did. It allows me to be able to serve the underserved in a way that’s truly unique to the area. I grew up in a Spanish-speaking home, and having grown up in our community I’ve been able to see the ways in which language barriers and other socio-economic factors have inhibited those around us in the community from getting the health care they deserve, and I’ve seen that in my own family too,” said McGrath, who also received his undergraduate degree from Augusta University.
The Peach State Health Plan, a subsidiary of the Centene Corporation, is another of the program’s sponsors.
“You‘re going to make a tremendous difference in the communities you serve,” said Wade Rakes, Centene’s Chief Growth Officer. “You are for us the manifestation of dreams. When we look at what we can do for communities, you all are it. The folks you are going to serve in Peach State Health Plans or with other insurers across the state are just going to make state stronger and healthier for others.”
Centene and the Peach State Health Plan also presented a check for $2.2 million at the ceremony.
Other students in the cohort are Caleb Bazel, Moultrie, Ga., internal medicine; Hermela Beyene, Johns Creek, Ga., pediatrics; Silas Howerton, Alpharetta, Ga., general surgery; David B. Kotter, Lilburn, Ga., psychiatry; Carrington M. Moore, Suwanee, Ga., family medicine; Sweta Mungapati, Cumming, Ga., surgery; Kaley Reid, Armuchee, Ga., family medicine; Avni A. Sawant, Marietta, Ga.; Dhruti J. Trivedi, McDonough, Ga., internal medicine; Ayanna N. Turner, internal medicine; and Madison White, Douglasville, Ga., OB/GYN.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
