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Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia dedicates new lobby to pioneering Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Charles Howell
Published on October 15, 2025
Last updated 08:43 AM October 15, 2025
AUGUSTA, Ga. (Oct. 13, 2025) –
Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia
officially cut the ribbon on its updated lobby Monday with a ceremony attended by donors, dignitaries from Wellstar, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, Augusta University and the city of Augusta.
There was also a very special guest in attendance, Dr. Charles Howell, who throughout his career has been one of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia’s biggest advocates. From the stage, he watched, visibly touched, as a giant purple curtain fell, revealing the words “Dr. Charles G. Howell Jr Lobby” stretching across the lobby wall, greeting guests as they enter.
“I’m a little embarrassed,” Dr. Howell said as he took the podium.
He went on to say that many times over the years, patient families told him they didn’t know where to go for care, and now any patient who walks through the door of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia will find physicians who are board-certified in many specialties.
“You get the best care without saying anything, and for that I am very proud,” he said.
The moment had been kept top-secret, even from many event organizers. Planners knew they were organizing a special recognition, but the identity and exact nature of the surprise was revealed to leaders on a need-to-know basis to avoid spoiling the surprise. Leaders who knew, agreed that this was just as it should be. After all, Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia would not exist without Dr. Howell’s steadfast advocacy.
There’s a well-known story that Dr. Howell offhandedly mentioned the need for a children’s hospital to a patient’s father—a spark that would lead to securing the necessary funding only a few years later. Dr. Howell did not know the comment was made to the chief aide to Rep. Tom Murphy, then Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. Ten years later, the children’s hospital was a reality.
Dr. Howell was also instrumental in designing the hospital, involving children and families in the process to ensure their needs were met. Children’s Medical Center, now Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, opened in 1998 and expanded pediatric inpatient capacity from 32 to 154 beds. Dr. Howell is one of Georgia’s greatest advocates for children’s healthcare.
As part of the celebration, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson read a proclamation declaring Oct. 13 “Dr. Charles Howell Day,” and presented him with a plaque.
Wellstar MCG Health President Ralph Turner also thanked Dr. Howell for his dedication and service to Georgia’s children.
“When someone dedicates their lives to taking care of our children and only makes one profound statement that grows into an entire facility—and he dedicates 40 years of his life taking care of children—this, today, just feels right,” Turner said.
As a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Howell has performed more than 16,000 procedures. He graduated from Medical College of Georgia in 1973 and, following a pediatric surgery residency at a children’s hospital in Philadelphia, returned to Augusta to practice.
In addition to operating on nearly 400 children each year, Dr. Howell started a pediatric ECMO program and a pediatric trauma program. He also served as capital campaign co-chair to assist in bringing Ronald McDonald House to its current location—only steps from Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia.
In 2018, following his 40-year surgical career, Dr. Howell retired as surgeon-in-chief of the children's hospital and chief of the department of surgery for Wellstar MCG Health. He returned to the health system in 2019 as the head of the hospital’s physician practice group.
The lobby of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia was the first large renovation project at the children’s hospital since it was built in 1998. The renovation includes new flooring, removal of an old fountain and updated furniture. A donor wall has also been installed to recognize the generous donors who help the hospital fulfill its mission of providing patient- and family-centered care for every family who seeks care at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia.
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Newsroom
Wellstar Health System to Acquire Mountain Lakes Medical Center
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.
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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.
Newsroom
Precision treatment advances cancer care with new non-invasive technology
Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center and Wellstar Georgia Cancer Center have begun treating patients using the new Gamma Knife Esprit, the latest state-of-the-art system for non-invasive treatment of neurological and oncologic conditions. The new technology provides patients with the gold standard for non-invasive brain tumor and cancer treatments, underscoring Wellstar and Wellstar Georgia Cancer Center’s dedication to innovation and patient-centered care.
The Gamma Knife Esprit delivers highly precise radiation therapy—to within 0.15 millimeter accuracy—which allows physicians to better treat complex or previously inoperable conditions while preserving surrounding healthy brain matter without the need for traditional surgery. This advanced technology minimizes risk, reduces recovery times and offers hope to patients who may not be candidates for more traditional procedures.
“Bringing the Gamma Knife Esprit to Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area represents a transformative leap in neurosurgical care for our region,” said Dr. Fernando Vale, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Wellstar MCG Health and the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University. “With its pinpoint accuracy, we can better treat complex brain conditions while further improving quality of life and reducing patient discomfort.”
Gamma Knife Esprit can target the smallest tumors and lesions with sub-millimeter precision— smaller than the size of a pencil tip—to treat brain lesions, tumors and vascular abnormalities without incisions or general anesthesia. This non-invasive approach results in shorter hospital stays, fewer side effects and faster recovery, making it a powerful resource for patients and their families.
Dr. John Barrett, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at MCG, added, “This technology allows us to provide effective, non-invasive treatment options for patients with brain tumors, vascular malformations and other neurological disorders. It’s a significant step forward for our patients and our clinical teams.”
“It is a privilege to serve our community by bringing leading-edge care to the CSRA,” said Ralph Turner, president of Wellstar MCG Health. “This cutting-edge technology strengthens our Neuroscience Center of Excellence and Wellstar Georgia Cancer Center, but most importantly, it ensures that patients from across the region have access to world-class, non-invasive treatment options close to home.”
The addition of the Gamma Knife Esprit further reinforces Wellstar MCG Health’s position as a leader in advanced neurological and cancer care. Through continued investment in technology and partnerships, Wellstar MCG Health remains committed to excellence, innovation and the well-being of every patient we serve.
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Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center Expected to Open in Late August
Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center is nearing completion and is scheduled to open Aug. 26. The six-story, 100-bed hospital is located at 5000 Gateway Blvd. in Grovetown.
“It’s phenomenal to get to this level of substantial completion with construction because it means we’re that much closer to increasing access to care across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA),” said Ralph Turner, president of Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center.
The new medical center expands healthcare services already offered in Augusta for more rural counties like McDuffie and provides additional learning opportunities for students at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Students will train using the latest technologies in healthcare.