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Leaders from Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia visited Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center June 24 to highlight the continued growth of a metro Atlanta training program focused on preparing the next generation of physicians—and to hear directly from the students experiencing it.

The visit, part of Augusta University President Russell T. Keen’s Summer Tour, included conversations with third- and fourth-year medical students completing clinical training at the MCG Atlanta campus. Leaders checked in on student progress and gathered feedback on their day-to-day experiences working alongside physicians in one of the state’s busiest hospitals.

For Adrian Bozocea, a third-year medical student and a 2020 graduate of Wheeler High School, the experience carries special meaning. He was born at Wellstar Kennestone.

“It’s a crazy, full-circle moment, knowing that the culmination of my hard work has allowed me to serve in the community that’s built me up and made me who I am,” he said.

Bozocea said training in a familiar community adds a personal connection to patient care.

“It’s a nice feeling knowing you’re helping someone who has potentially served you at a restaurant or helped you find an item in a store,” he said.

Students at Wellstar Kennestone rotate through multiple specialties and locations as part of their training. Bozocea has already completed rotations in family medicine and obstetrics and is now in internal medicine, describing the experience as both rigorous and rewarding. He said what sets the Atlanta campus apart is its strong culture of learning.

“Every clinician is great at teaching. They’re passionate about what they do, and there’s a real culture of learning here,” he said.

Since opening in 2025, the Wellstar Kennestone campus has expanded its reach and capabilities. Dr. Louis Lovett, associate dean of the campus, said the program has strengthened its faculty by appointing Wellstar physicians to clinical teaching roles and adding new electives in surgical and medical subspecialties to complement six core rotations required of all students.

“We’re building a comprehensive training environment that prepares students to meet real-world healthcare needs,” Dr. Lovett said. “By combining strong core rotations with expanded electives and simulation-based learning, we’re giving them the skills and confidence to step into practice ready to care for patients.”

Dr. Lovett has also taken a hands-on approach with students, Bozocea said, frequently checking in and helping connect them with physicians in their areas of interest.

“He’s dedicated to students and passionate about his job,” Bozocea said.

Students gain experience across disciplines, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology and psychiatry, while also training in simulation labs that allow them to practice procedures and patient interactions in a supervised setting.

Several students training at Wellstar Kennestone have ties to Cobb County and have expressed interest in returning to the area after graduation—an outcome leaders say reflects the value of training physicians in the communities they may one day serve.

For Bozocea, that path feels especially fitting: a future physician gaining hands-on experience in the same hospital where his own story began.

CLAYTON, Ga. (June 5, 2026) — Wellstar Health System and Mountain Lakes Medical Center (MLMC) today announced that they have finalized an agreement for Wellstar to acquire the northeast Georgia-based hospital. The transaction is expected to close August 1, pending the conclusion of regulatory requirements and customary closing conditions.

Mountain Lakes Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving Rabun County and surrounding northeast Georgia communities. After the acquisition, MLMC will become Wellstar Mountain Lakes Medical Center and join Wellstar’s integrated health system network across Georgia.

“From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Mountain Lakes Medical Center was a special organization with a talented team, deep community roots and tremendous potential,” said Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel. “We collaboratively pursued this opportunity to build on the hospital’s strong foundation and create new possibilities for patients, clinicians and communities in Rabun County and beyond.”

Patel said the acquisition reflects Wellstar’s broader vision of enhancing patient care across Georgia and the Southeast.

“At Wellstar, we’re building a connected healthcare ecosystem that links community hospitals, physicians, specialists, advanced clinical programs and digital capabilities into a seamless experience for patients. We believe MLMC has an important role to play in that future.”

MLMC leaders said becoming part of Wellstar positions the hospital to continue growing while preserving its commitment to serving the local community.

“MLMC has long served as an important healthcare resource for Rabun County and the surrounding area,” said Mountain Lakes Medical Center CEO Kristy Hall. “We believe joining Wellstar creates exciting opportunities to build on that success while connecting our patients and clinicians to additional expertise, technology, specialty resources and healthcare capabilities that can help support the future of healthcare in northeast Georgia.”

Wellstar and MLMC emphasized that patients will continue to have access to the clinicians and care teams they know and trust. Wellstar intends to take a phased and thoughtful approach to integration that prioritizes continuity for patients, clinicians and team members.

As part of Wellstar, MLMC will gain access to broader clinical expertise, advanced clinical programs, technology resources and operational support. Over time, patients and clinicians will also benefit from Wellstar’s Digital Care Network, which connects local care teams with specialists and advanced clinical programs across the system in real time, helping accelerate diagnosis, treatment planning and coordinated care.

The organizations also believe the acquisition will strengthen healthcare access throughout northeast Georgia and the region. Wellstar views MLMC as an important healthcare access point uniquely positioned to help connect patients and communities to specialists, advanced treatment options and healthcare resources while allowing patients to continue receiving care close to home.

For team members and clinicians, the transaction represents an investment in the people and relationships that have made MLMC what it is today. Wellstar intends to retain current MLMC team members at the point of transition and anticipates continuity in local operations throughout the process.

Additional information and updates will be shared with team members, clinicians, patients and the community.

About Wellstar Health System

Wellstar Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast and a growing destination for care across Georgia and beyond. Guided by its PeopleCare culture, Wellstar is advancing a bold vision to deliver exceptional quality, safety and patient experience while expanding access to world-class medicine.

Today, more than 35,000 team members, one of the region’s largest physician networks and 11 hospitals serve communities through more than 400 care locations, including cancer centers, rehabilitation facilities, urgent care centers and a digital care network that extends specialty expertise to community and rural hospitals. Wellstar’s nationally recognized programs span cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics and other specialties, bringing advanced treatment closer to the people who need it.

Through partnerships that include Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, Wellstar helps educate future clinicians, accelerate discovery and translate research into real-world impact. Recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Wellstar combines clinical excellence, innovation and collaboration to improve the health and well-being of every person it serves.

About Mountain Lakes Medical Center

Mountain Lakes Medical Center believes in providing the highest quality, compassionate care in a world-class hospital setting. As a Level IV Trauma Center and full-service, 25-bed acute care hospital, Mountain Lakes Medical Center is staffed by highly trained medical professionals who are passionate about improving healthcare and redefining how our community thinks about health and wellness.

Our dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff are committed to a truly person-centered approach—serving patients, families, our local community, and employees with kindness and respect every day. Serving the Northeast Georgia and the Western Carolinas, our hospital represents a bold step into the future of healthcare. We are committed to creating a healing environment that fosters collaboration and puts people first.