Skip Navigation
Book Now! Find care near you Find care near you Find care near you
wellstar-logo
Wellstar Go Back
Go to MyChart

Questions? We can help!

Call (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Us
For Patients & Families For the Community For Providers About Us Careers
  • Start Your Care

  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Our Services
  • Virtual Visits
  • Planning

  • Accepted Insurance
  • Hospital Payment Planning
  • Financial Assistance
  • Pricing Information
  • Before Your Visit

  • Sign Up for MyChart
  • Visitation Guidelines
  • While You're Here

  • Support & Entertainment
  • Join an Event
  • After Your Visit

  • Pay Your Bill
  • Get Medical Records
  • Contact us
  • COVID-19 Support

  • COVID-19 Information
  • Vaccines
  • Testing Information
  • Foundation Relief
  • Community Care

  • In the Community
  • Health Highlights
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Latest News
  • Center for Health Equity
  • Wellstar Find Help
  • Events & Programs

  • Events Calendar
  • On-Demand Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Give

  • Wellstar Foundation
  • Donate
  • Ways to Give
  • Thank a Caregiver
  • West Georgia
    Health Foundation
  • Volunteer

  • PeopleCare Advisory Council
  • For Adults
  • Care

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Cures Act
  • Refer a Patient
  • Lab Test Directory
  • Request to Conduct Research
  • Connect

  • Physician Relations
  • Request Imaging Services
  • Wellstar Clinical Partners
  • Wellstar Medical Group
  • Mayo Clinic Care Network
  • Medical Staff Services
  • Provider Recruitment
  • Log In

  • EpicCare Link
  • Lawson Connect
  • MyID Password Reset
  • Citrix Access
  • Leadership

  • Authority Board
  • Board Of Trustees
  • Foundation Board
  • Regional Health Boards
  • Executive Leadership
  • Awards, Recognition & Safety

  • Accreditation & Certifications
  • Awards & Recognition
  • Safety First Program
  • Nursing
  • Careers at Wellstar

  • Apply now
  • Upcoming virtual events
  • Why Wellstar?
  • Nursing Careers

  • Nursing (Direct Care)
  • Nursing Leadership
  • Nursing (Non-bedside)
  • Nursing Support
  • Physician, APP & Clinical Careers

  • Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)
  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Homecare & Hospice
  • Physicians
  • Support Team Careers

  • Administrative & Clerical
  • Coding, Compliance & HIM Systems
  • Facility, Environmental & Nutrition/Food Services
  • Information Technology & Systems
  • For Patients & Families
  • For the Community
  • For Providers
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Search Search Search
  • MyChart MyChart MyChart

Start Your Care

Find a DoctorFind a LocationOur ServicesVirtual Visits

Planning

Accepted InsuranceHospital Payment PlanningFinancial AssistancePricing Information

Before Your Visit

Sign Up for MyChartVisitation Guidelines

While You're Here

Support & EntertainmentJoin an Event

After Your Visit

Pay Your BillGet Medical RecordsContact us

COVID-19 Support

COVID-19 InformationVaccinesTesting InformationFoundation Relief

Community Care

In the CommunityHealth HighlightsCommunity Health Needs AssessmentLatest NewsCenter for Health EquityWellstar Find Help

Events & Programs

Events CalendarOn-Demand ClassesSupport Groups

Give

Wellstar FoundationDonateWays to GiveThank a CaregiverWest Georgia
Health Foundation

Volunteer

PeopleCare Advisory CouncilFor Adults

Care

Transfer a PatientCures ActRefer a PatientLab Test DirectoryRequest to Conduct Research

Connect

Physician RelationsRequest Imaging ServicesWellstar Clinical PartnersWellstar Medical GroupMayo Clinic Care NetworkMedical Staff ServicesProvider Recruitment

Log In

EpicCare LinkLawson ConnectMyID Password ResetCitrix Access
About Wellstar

Our patients are the center of everything we do. We're nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care, inclusive culture, exceptional doctors and caregivers, and one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia.

About Us

Leadership

Authority BoardBoard Of TrusteesFoundation BoardRegional Health BoardsExecutive Leadership

Awards, Recognition & Safety

Accreditation & CertificationsAwards & RecognitionSafety First ProgramNursing

Careers at Wellstar

Apply nowUpcoming virtual eventsWhy Wellstar?

Nursing Careers

Nursing (Direct Care)Nursing LeadershipNursing (Non-bedside)Nursing Support

Physician, APP & Clinical Careers

Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)Allied Health ProfessionalsHomecare & HospicePhysicians

Support Team Careers

Administrative & ClericalCoding, Compliance & HIM SystemsFacility, Environmental & Nutrition/Food ServicesInformation Technology & Systems
Questions? We can help!

Call (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Us
Close
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Emergency Care
Close Close Close Book Now Menu
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Emergency Care

Introducing

Wellstar Virtual Care

Access Wellstar healthcare providers
wherever you are.

Get started

Warning Warning Our "Book Now" feature should not be used for life threatening conditions such as heart attack, severe injury, poisoning, chest pain, or stroke. If you are experiencing such conditions, STOP and CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or visit your nearest Emergency Department.

I Understand
  • Home
  • Articles
  • GregCare
Article Category: PeopleCare

GregCare

Cancer survivor shares story to advocate for prostate screening

Published on September 22, 2023

Last updated 11:01 AM September 22, 2023

Greg Rodgers with his wife ringing the cancer bell

Picture a big swath of land out in West Georgia. It’s a little wild and a little cultivated, but it’s well cared for thanks to the Rodgers.

“My wife and I are blessed to live on this land,” Greg Rodgers said. “God instructs us to be good stewards of the land and we are dedicated to doing just that. We’re always mowing, planting and tending to fallen trees.”

Photo collage of Greg Rodgers on a tractor and his land

Much like their acreage, Greg sees his body as something that deserves to be maintained with care. And he’s an advocate that other men do the same. Seeing a doctor regularly and getting screened can help identify conditions earlier so they’re more treatable. Greg learned that from his personal experience with prostate cancer, and the team at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center who helped him overcome it.

“It’s not so much my story as the story of the professionals at Wellstar—they’re tremendous people,” he said.

The right tests for an accurate diagnosis

Prostate health is not something to ignore. Greg understands this now after a routine PSA test—a simple blood test—came back abnormal in 2020. When PSA levels are checked regularly and rise over time, they can be a sign of prostate cancer.

Because of his elevated PSA, Greg began monitoring his prostate health and eventually, connected with Wellstar Urologist Dr. Richard Jadick in LaGrange. Dr. Jadick performed a UroNav fusion biopsy to investigate his climbing PSA. During the procedure, an MRI helps accurately target the biopsy location. This biopsy has a low false negative rate, meaning the results are more trustworthy than in the past. Greg’s results came back positive for prostate cancer.

Pursuing personalized, expert care

Because every case of prostate cancer is different, there are a range of options for treating it, from active surveillance (monitoring with imaging) to advanced treatments like robotic surgery and targeted radiation therapy that have fewer side effects than traditional treatments. 

Greg and Dr. Jadick discussed several options, but before Greg made any decisions, Dr. Jadick recommended he see Dr. Robert Taylor, a Wellstar radiation oncologist. 

Greg remembers having reservations about radiation therapy. But once he arrived for the appointment, he felt immediately at ease. “Dr. Taylor is a quiet, confident person with a kind smile,” he said. “He was really good at explaining everything, going through studies and the different procedures. He’s so methodical, so good at answering questions and so patient.”

The option they settled on was a high dose of targeted radiation aimed at the prostate during a shorter treatment course (20 days versus 44). A newer technology called SpaceOAR Hydrogel would separate the rectum from the prostate during treatment, preventing unnecessary radiation exposure—and side effects.

“When it comes to choosing the right treatment, everything is a balance between the risk level and a variety of other personal factors,” Dr. Taylor said. “We want to provide treatment that is the least disruptive and most effective.”

To be sure this was the best plan for Greg, Dr. Taylor requested a second opinion from Mayo Clinic. Wellstar experts have a direct connection to Mayo Clinic specialists through its Mayo Clinic Care Network membership. Wellstar physicians and patients can access eConsults—virtual second opinions—at no additional cost to patients.

Some additional imaging was recommended, which validated Dr. Taylor’s treatment plan. Greg moved forward with his cancer treatment with pure confidence.

They never treated me like a number—rather like I was the only person around. The availability of having such a tremendous facility as the Wellstar Enoch Callaway Cancer Center right here in LaGrange, Georgia was such a blessing. I want people to know that while there are fine facilities elsewhere, I believe this center is among the best.

- Greg Rodgers

Prostate Cancer Survivor

Customized care for a full schedule

Because Greg is heavily involved in his family’s steel fabrication business, he had a shorter radiation course. He began at 8:30 each morning, got to work quickly and never had to miss a day of work.

“With a team of experts completely focused on Greg, we were able to customize care because we understood his situation intimately,” Dr. Taylor said.

Greg said he felt the utmost kindness from all the team members throughout his treatment and that “they never treated me like a number—rather like I was the only person around. The availability of having such a tremendous facility as the Wellstar Enoch Callaway Cancer Center right here in LaGrange, Georgia was such a blessing,” he continued. “I want people to know that while there are fine facilities elsewhere, I believe this center is among the best.”

Honoring his care team

There’s a tradition for patients who complete radiation therapy to ring a bell. When it was Greg’s turn for this memorable moment, he showed up with an armful of roses.

“If you look at the rose, the beauty of the flower distracts you from the thorns on the stem,” Greg told his care team as he handed each a flower. “Your treatment, care, professionalism and kindness served to distract me from the reason for why I was here.”

Greg hopes roses will always remind his Wellstar team of how empathetic, supportive and important they are.

After handing out the flowers, Greg rang the bell. No more prostate cancer.

Photo collage of Greg Rodgers with nurses and family
Pictured on left: Greg presents a rose to Mekissa Strickland, a radiation oncology medical assistant. Middle picture: Sarah Hersey, nurse navigator; Deidre and Greg Rodgers; Kathy Derry, RN, radiation therapy nurse; and Tonya McWaters, clinical administrative assistant, radiation therapy. Pictured on right: Greg hugs Holly Stanelle, radiation therapist.

Advocating for prostate cancer screening

Along with tending the land and working in the family business, Greg has one more role now: advocating for prostate health. He wants men to know that treating prostate cancer is an “easier fix” when it’s found early. That’s why men should meet with their doctor for regular check-ups and PSA blood tests.

“Prostate cancer is a wide spectrum of disease, and sometimes treatment is the best thing to do,” Dr. Taylor said. “The goal is to get screened, assess the risk level and have a conversation with your doctor.”

Take charge of your health with a team of prostate specialists near you.

Tags

West Georgia Medical Center Richard Harris Jadick Robert B Taylor Jr
Urology - 1555 Doctors Drive PeopleCare Cancer Care Mens Health
Related Articles
At 26, Maria receives chemotherapy as part of her breast cancer treatment plan, determined to complete her interior design degree on time.

PeopleCare

MariaCare

Maria Fernanda Ortiz was a college junior, pursuing a degree in interior design. But at just 26 years old, her life took an unexpected turn. She discovered a lump in her breast, which led to a cancer diagnosis and expert, multidisciplinary care at Wellstar that would shape her professional aspirations in the future. Maria feels her hopeful attitude and compassionate care team at Wellstar helped her come through treatment with positive outcomes.

Feeling heard in healthcare

After Maria discovered a lump, she initially saw a doctor who went through the motions but didn’t seem to take her concerns seriously. 

“He was so sure it was nothing because I am so young,” she remembered. “I didn’t think it was cancer, but I wanted someone who would get to the bottom of it.”

She then saw her OB/GYN who referred her to Dr. Laura Pearson, a Wellstar breast surgeon at Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center, for a second opinion. 

Maria got what she was looking for: a doctor who listened and would help her find answers. 

“Maria is the perfect example of a patient advocating for themselves,” Dr. Pearson said. “She did exactly what she was supposed to do for someone her age who finds a lump. When it didn’t go away, she got it looked at. When she didn’t feel like she was being heard, she didn’t let it go.”

 

A surprising cancer diagnosis

Dr. Pearson immediately performed an ultrasound in the office, followed quickly by a biopsy, which came back positive for cancer. 

"The diagnosis was scary," Maria said. “Dr. Pearson made it as simple as possible to understand by making sketches. She took the time to answer my questions—and she gave me hugs.”

Dr. Pearson added, “I try hard to be methodical and build a story: ‘This is what this means. This is how it applies to you.’ It’s important for patients to understand their plan and how it’s based very specifically on their situation.”

Maria was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer, meaning it was a small tumor but had spread to a nearby lymph node. 

“The stage helps us understand how the patient is going to do with standard treatment,” Dr. Pearson explained. “At stage 2A, we’re looking at a 90% survival rate.”

Keep reading
A healthcare provider holds the hand of her patient to encourage and comfort her

PeopleCare

KatieCare

When Katie Fox walked into Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center nearly a year after her devastating car crash, she felt the weight of the full-circle moment.

Across the atrium stood the people who had helped save her life—doctors, nurses and first responders who had seen her at her most critical and were now seeing her fully herself.

Katie had no memory of the three weeks she spent at Wellstar North Fulton—but her family remembered everything. So did her care team, who had been there through emergency surgery, intensive care, multiple procedures and round-the-clock support.

Now, just 10 months later, Katie was back—walking, smiling and thriving—thanks to her own resilience, an unwavering support system and the highly skilled trauma team at Wellstar North Fulton.

The crash that changed everything

Katie was involved in a car accident on Georgia State Route 400 that sent her to Wellstar North Fulton in critical condition. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury, a lacerated spleen and multiple fractures—including to her ribs, left ankle and pelvis.

Wellstar North Fulton is specially equipped to care for patients like Katie. Designated a Level II Trauma Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health and American College of Surgeons, the hospital serves the Northeast Atlanta community with immediate surgical intervention, 24/7 trauma coverage and seamless coordination across specialties.

“When they first brought her in, she was obviously severely injured in multiple areas,” said Dr. Stephen McBride, a trauma and general surgeon at Wellstar. “She had a large scalp laceration that was bleeding. We also noticed significant internal bleeding from her spleen and multiple pelvic fractures.”

A CT scan revealed a buildup of fluid in Katie’s abdomen, likely blood. She was taken straight to the operating room for what Dr. McBride called a “damage control operation.”

“We opened her abdomen and took her spleen out, which was very severely injured,” he said. “Then it was a matter of getting her stable.”

The surgery was a success—but it was only the beginning. Katie spent the next 10 days on a ventilator in the ICU. During her 19-day stay, she underwent multiple procedures and received care from a collaborative, multidisciplinary team: trauma surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, therapy and nursing.

Finding clarity and compassion

Katie’s parents, Mary Lou and Jeff Fox, flew in from Virginia as soon as they learned about the accident—first alerted by a message from Katie’s smart watch.

Jeff recalls speaking with Dr. McBride before takeoff and again after landing. “He was keeping us updated with what was going on with Katie from the start,” he said.

At Wellstar North Fulton, the couple were met with empathy and reassurance under unthinkable circumstances.

“When we got in, they took us straight to Katie,” Jeff said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It was probably the hardest moment of my life—seeing my baby there.”

Katie was unconscious and on a ventilator, but her care team made space for both expert treatment and emotional support. Jeff remembers nurses and even the front desk team checking on them constantly—offering updates, comfort and prayer.

One quiet act of compassion stood out. “The night of Katie’s accident, we stayed in the room with her,” said Mary Lou. “But her boyfriend, her roommate and a friend stayed in the waiting room. We don’t know who it was, but one of the caregivers placed blankets over each of them while they slept.”

That moment—and so many others—confirmed they were in the right place. “I’ll never forget the love and care we received,” Mary Lou said.

Milestones that mattered

Amid the uncertainty of Katie’s condition, small moments brought glimmers of hope. From the way her vital signs responded to blood transfusions to the subtle movements that followed, each step forward reminded her care team and loved ones that she was still fighting.

One emotional turning point came when her boyfriend, Will Henley, sat with her for the first time since the accident.

“I started talking to her about my day, and she opened her eyes,” he said. “I immediately asked her nurse if she had done that for anyone else and she said no. It wasn't much, but it was all I needed to keep my faith.”

Even while unconscious, Katie’s team spoke to her directly. “That was very special,” Mary Lou said. “Her doctors always included her in conversations about her care.”

Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Zussman became one of her biggest cheerleaders, celebrating every sign of progress.

“We were exhausted and reality was beginning to set in,” Mary Lou said. “His enthusiasm helped us so much.”

Slowly, Katie began following motion with her eyes. At one point, she mouthed lyrics to Taylor Swift songs when Will played them at her bedside.

Throughout her time in the ICU, Katie’s care extended far beyond medicine. Nurses Sarah Kozarcanin and Sydney Dawson spent hours gently washing Katie’s hair to carefully clean around her head wound.

“That was an act of love that was above and beyond to me,” Jeff recalled.

Care united by purpose

As Katie came off the ventilator and slowly regained strength, the therapy team stepped in to help her sit up and begin basic movements. Her parents saw how seamlessly everyone worked together.

Dr. McBride credits the hospital’s collaborative approach. “Our hospital does a great job having the appropriate consultants available—neurosurgeons for severe brain injury, orthopedic surgeons for severe musculoskeletal injury and, of course, trauma surgeons, physician assistants (PA) and nurse practitioners who care for our patients from start to finish,” he said. “And then there are the therapists, social workers and case managers—all of whom play a key role in recovery.”

Jeff especially appreciated how the team included him and Mary Lou in the process. “Every morning, all the departments involved in Katie’s care would meet,” he said. “They’d always ask, ‘Do you want to join us?’ They valued our input.”

Looking ahead with hope

Katie was discharged and transferred to inpatient rehabilitation, where her memory gradually returned. She and her family celebrated every milestone—especially the day she no longer needed a wheelchair.

“Walking again felt like I gained a lot of freedom back,” Katie said.

Just over four months later, she was back to work, driving and living independently. She credits her recovery to her care team, family and Will—now her fiancé.

“His unwavering support and love during those months showed me that he would be the perfect husband,” Katie said. “If he could be my anchor and love me through that, I knew he would love me through anything.”

Katie also discovered a new sense of purpose. “This confirmed every desire I had to become a PA,” she said. “I think it will give me a different connection to patients.”

In the months after her discharge, Katie returned to the ICU several times to meet the people she had heard so much about—but hadn’t been able to remember.

“Each time we visited, they’d say, ’You can go in the back way—you’re like family now,’” Mary Lou said with a smile.

For Katie’s family, the hospital’s trauma survivor reception brought closure and gratitude. “We had always wanted to meet the first responders who got her out of the car and to the hospital,” said Jeff. "It was awesome that we finally had that opportunity.”

“Seeing good outcomes is the best part of my job, without a doubt,” said Dr. McBride, who attended the event. “For someone like Katie—young, healthy and just in the wrong place at the wrong time—it’s rewarding to see her get her life back.”

Katie’s story is a testament to the power of expert trauma care, teamwork and hope.

“I will forever be grateful for the care, kindness and love the people at Wellstar North Fulton gave my family and me,” Katie said. “We will never forget any of them.”

Learn more about trauma services at Wellstar.

KatieCare
Keep reading
Illustration of group of men

Highlights

Prostate Cancer Screening in Black Men

Screening for prostate cancer is crucial for early detection and to help provide the best possible outcome. It is especially important for Black men to be vigilant about screening, as they are disproportionately impacted by this cancer.

About 1 in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 8 white men, according to a report from the American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Black men.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at an average risk of developing prostate cancer begin screening when they are 50, but Black men should start earlier—at age 45 if they have no family history of prostate cancer, and at age 40 if any of their male relatives have had prostate cancer. Wellstar takes a personalized approach to cancer screenings, with clinicians discussing benefits versus risks of screening and helping patients evaluate their risk.

“Despite many physicians being aware of this and following this practice, Black men continue to be diagnosed with and die from metastatic prostate cancer. This is a trend that desperately needs to be reversed,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Earl Stewart. “We have adequate screening tools that do not even require a digital rectal examination.”

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is more accurate than the digital rectal examination in helping to detect prostate cancer, according to Dr. Stewart. Patients should also discuss family history with their relatives. “Patients knowing their family history is so crucial in having those discussions with primary care physicians to determine the best age at which to start screening,” Dr. Stewart said.

Screening for prostate cancer is as simple as making a preventive appointment with your primary care physician, discussing your family history with him or her, and having a PSA blood test. This test may be performed during an annual physical or wellness visit. Shared decision making between physician and patient is important to discuss your risk, your need for testing and next steps to take if your PSA level is elevated and concerning. Knowing your risk can save your life.

“I know many personally who are near and dear to me who had the disease and who unfortunately died from complications of metastatic prostate cancer,” Dr. Stewart said. “I know many more who lived because they had the conversation and dared to move forward with appropriate screening at the appropriate age.”

Learn more about prostate cancer care at Wellstar.

Keep reading
Back to Top
Branding illustration
Wellstar Logo
More than healthcare. PeopleCare.
Branding illustration
For Job Seekers & Team
Careers Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Onboarding
For Students
Students Portal
Graduate Medical Education
Medical Residency Pharmacy Residency
For Business
Corporate Purchasing
For the Media
Media Room Community Health Needs Assessment
Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency
For Job Seekers & Team
Careers Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Onboarding
For Students
Students Portal

Graduate Medical Education
Medical Residency Pharmacy Residency
For Business
Corporate Purchasing
For the Media
Media Room Community Health Needs Assessment
Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency

Copyright © 2025 Wellstar Health System. All Rights Reserved.

Wellstar does not discriminate on, exclude people or treat them differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression or any other type of discrimination prohibited by law.

Cookie Preferences

We use cookies for booking and general analytics. Learn more about or internet privacy policy.