MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) - The next generation of women’s health professionals could soon call South Georgia home.

That’s a big deal – because maternal care is scarce in many rural areas.

Wellstar Kennestone’s OBGYN Residency Program has been approved for the rural track at Colquitt Regional.

Each resident in training involved in this new program will split their time between two hospitals. Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Marietta and Colquitt Regional in Moultrie.

“In a region like Southwest Georgia that’s largely agriculturally based, women just don’t have access to care they deserve to have... Quality and compassionate care. That’s what we are trying to provide,” said Jessica Rivenbark, Vice President of Medical Education at Colquitt Regional.

Studies have shown Georgia consistently ranking among the worst in the nation for maternal care. March of Dimes found that more than one-third of Georgia counties are considered maternity deserts and do not have a single obstetric provider.

According to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, there are less than 130 practicing OB/GYNs in rural Georgia. That translates to roughly seven physicians for every 100,000 residents.

“Obviously access is one of the big issues we have here in Georgia. But also, when they do have the access, it’s being able to listen to your patient and make sure they are being heard,” said Dr. Daniel York.

Both Wellstar Kennestone and Colquitt Regional hope that this expansion program will bring more physicians to rural Georgia. And keep them here.

“We hope that once they start to train in a rural area, they will fall in love with their patients, they will have a chance to build those relationships in patient care that sometimes in larger metro hospitals they don’t get, so they will want to stay here and practice,” continued Rivenbark.

The official launch date for this expansion program is set for July 2026. However, current resident physicians in training will begin to split time between the two hospitals during this academic year.

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