Wellstar Community Outreach
At Wellstar, community outreach is an important facet of our mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.
- Community Outreach
Community Outreach at Wellstar
Wellstar Health System is a nonprofit organization and is committed to being an engaged community partner. At Wellstar, we are more than healthcare, we are PeopleCare, and our passion for people extends into the communities we serve. We are committed to elevating the health and well-being of our community through outreach and partnership that honors all voices. Wellstar relies on and values our community partners and the role they play in positively impacting the health and well-being of every person we serve. Wellstar partners with mission-aligned and other non-profit organizations to address priority health needs and social determinants of health as defined through our Community Health Needs Assessments, and that also further a social cause and provide community benefit. We work alongside our business and civic partners and leaders to amplify health awareness, contribute to economic development and growth, and to help our communities thrive through service. We also partner with both academic and other organizations dedicated to career development to help prepare the next generation of caregivers and healthcare workers in both clinical and non-clinical capacities. In addition to community partnerships, Wellstar also engages in our community through corporate volunteerism, sponsorships, event participation and speaking engagements that align with our areas of focus. Each request for Wellstar to provide community support is carefully considered. Please contact us about speaking engagements, sponsorships, events, and other partnership opportunities. If you would like to receive our monthly Community Update eNewsletter, please submit your request here: [email protected]Just a few outreach examples
Wellstar supports our partner organizations such as those providing access to food and housing by engaging our team members in volunteerism and community service through Wellstar’s CommunityCare initiative. Wellstar also provides health education and awareness on important health and wellness topics such as cardiac health and stroke prevention, breast and prostate cancer prevention, and mental health including suicide prevention, and substance abuse prevention and treatment.
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Highlights
Planting Seeds of Change: Wellstar Community Health Partnerships Launch School Garden
In a powerful example of what community collaboration can achieve, Wellstar Community Health has partnered with Yah Rootz, Woodland Middle School and Mount Olive Seventh-Day Adventist Church to bring a vibrant, sustainable community garden to life on the grounds of Woodland Middle School in East Point. This exciting initiative is more than a garden—it's a living classroom, a hub for healthy living and a beacon of hope for the entire community.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held in October on the school campus, marked the beginning of the project. Community members, students, staff and representatives from each partnering organization came together to celebrate the milestone. Shovels in hand and hearts full of hope, the group officially broke ground, symbolizing the planting of not just crops, but seeds of knowledge, health and community empowerment.
Empowering students through hands-on learning
The community garden offers Woodland Middle School students an opportunity to engage in hands-on learning that connects directly to science, health and environmental studies. Gardening teaches responsibility, patience and teamwork while providing students with a deeper understanding of nutrition and food systems. As they learn to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs, students develop a stronger appreciation for where food comes from and how it impacts their well-being.
“This garden is going to help us learn in ways we can't always do in the classroom,” said one student at the groundbreaking event. “It’s cool to be outside, getting our hands dirty and knowing we’re doing something good for the Earth and our school.”
Strengthening community roots
The benefits of the garden extend beyond the school. With support from Yah Rootz—a local organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and food justice—the garden will serve as a fresh produce source and educational tool for families and community members. Workshops, volunteer days and harvest events will create ongoing opportunities for residents to connect, learn and grow together.
Mount Olive Seventh-Day Adventist Church has played a vital role in supporting the vision through outreach and coordination. Their involvement helps ensure the garden will be a lasting resource that promotes wellness, unity and service.
“We believe health and healing happen when communities come together,” said a representative from Mount Olive. “This garden is a way to nurture not only the soil, but our children, our families and our shared future.”
Model for community health
For Wellstar Community Health, this project exemplifies our mission to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health in a meaningful, grassroots way. Access to nutritious food, safe green spaces and educational resources are critical components of a healthy community. By investing in initiatives like this, Wellstar and its partners are laying the groundwork for long-term wellness.
“We are incredibly proud of this partnership,” said Nurse Manager, Community Resource Community Health and Center for Health Equity Nina Gilmore. “It represents what’s possible when healthcare, education, faith and grassroots organizations work hand in hand. The success of this groundbreaking is only the beginning of what we hope will be a thriving, sustainable garden and a source of pride for this community.”
As the seasons change and the garden grows, so will the relationships, knowledge and health of all who are touched by this initiative. The Woodland Middle School community garden stands as a testament to the power of partnership, the strength of local action and the promise of a healthier future—one seed at a time.
Highlights
Make Lung Health Your Habit
Whether you’re running a marathon or simply running errands, having healthy lungs helps you to live comfortably and do the activities you enjoy.
Lung health is an important part of overall wellness. It’s best to prevent health issues before they start, and Wellstar experts will partner with you to personalize a plan to keep your lungs healthy.
Book an appointment online to check in with a clinician about your lung health and follow these tips to breathe a little easier.
Don’t smoke or vape
If you are a smoker, keep in mind that there are both short-term and long-term benefits to quitting. One to nine months after the last cigarette, your shortness of breath should decrease. Within 10 years of quitting, a former smoker's risk of developing lung cancer is 30% to 50% below that of a person who continues to smoke.
Also, if you don’t smoke, do not pick up the habit. Nicotine is highly addictive, even more so than many other drugs including narcotic opiates, according to Wellstar Pulmonologist Dr. Hitendra Patel.
Dr. Patel said that vaping is gaining popularity, especially among younger people. However, vaping irritates a person’s airways and increases their risk of asthma.
“Nothing but air should go in and out of the lungs,” Dr. Patel said. “Any other chemical or substance, or inhalation of smoke of any kind, is going to be detrimental and harmful.”
Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Jignesh Dholaria said misinformation about vaping is common.
“People have the notion that vaping is somehow safer and that it doesn’t have the same chemicals that cigarettes do,” Dr. Dholaria said. “We’re seeing a lot more harmful effects from vaping just because we don’t always know all the chemicals that are in these vapes. That has caused a lot more lung-related injuries.”
Get your exercise and sleep
While staying active is a critical component of overall wellness, it’s especially important to keep your lungs in top shape.
“As you’re breathing in and out, getting rid of carbon dioxide and inhaling more oxygen, that helps your tissues, which helps you feel better overall,” Dr. Dholaria said.
Even if it is raining—or if pollutants are especially high that day and you’re worried about lung irritation—there are ways to get your steps in. Dr. Patel recommends going to an air-conditioned shopping mall or store to get some exercise if being outside is not an option.
“Continuing to exercise to the fullest of your body’s ability is an important step of maintaining whatever lung health you have,” Dr. Patel said. “If you start with healthy lungs, staying on an exercise program and regimen is vital.”
Balance that exercise with some rest, too. Dr. Patel, who is also the medical director of the Wellstar sleep program, said being well-rested can ward off sickness, including some respiratory illnesses.
“If you don’t sleep well, that means your immune system is not going to function as well as it should,” he said.
Try breathing exercises
In addition to getting your sleep, some relaxation and breathing techniques can have benefits for both mental wellness and lung health.
Dr. Patel recommends “4-7-8 breathing,” which involves inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds and then exhaling for eight seconds.
Benefits of breathing exercises may include lower stress and anxiety levels, lower blood pressure and better sleep.
Manage your asthma
If you have asthma, know your lungs and avoid the environmental triggers that cause the condition to flare up, Dr. Patel said. Common triggers include pet dander, seasonal changes, allergens like perfume and smoke inhalation.
Asthma can also run in families, although there is often no specific reason why a person develops asthma, Dr. Patel said.
“Sometimes people underestimate how bad asthma can be,” Dr. Patel said.
If you have asthma, see your primary care physician to monitor your lung health. Pulmonologists specialize in caring for people’s lungs, and they often collaborate with primary care clinicians to create personalized plans to manage their patients’ asthma.
Ask your care team about screenings
Early detection is key in cancer treatment, but many lung cancers present in later stages, Dr. Patel said.
“In that area in the middle of the lungs and the middle of the chest, there are no pain fibers or pain sensors in there,” Dr. Patel said. “If a tumor occurs there, patients don’t know it. They don’t feel it, and it doesn’t hurt them.”
Lung cancer is sometimes found when it spreads and causes complications, Dr. Patel said.
If you are at increased risk for developing lung cancer, ask your care team about screenings. You should consider screenings if you are a current or past smoker. Visit our lung cancer screening page to learn more about if screening, which involves low-dose CT scans, could benefit you. To keep up with your lung health, find a Wellstar physician near you.
Highlights
Minimally Invasive Care for an Enlarged Prostate—With Lasting Relief
Understanding BPH
The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. As men age, it can enlarge and obstruct the urethra—the tube that carries urine out of the body. This can lead to symptoms such as:- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- Weak urine stream
- Urinary retention (feeling that the bladder doesn’t completely empty)
How HoLEP works
During HoLEP, your surgeon uses a holmium laser—a precise and powerful tool—to carefully remove the prostate tissue causing the blockage. The tissue is separated into sections (called lobes), broken into smaller pieces and removed from the bladder. Because the procedure is performed entirely through the urethra, no external incisions are needed—making it less invasive than traditional surgery.Benefits of HoLEP
HoLEP offers several important benefits, including:- Less bleeding: The laser minimizes bleeding, making it a safer option for many patients, including those on blood thinners.
- Lasting results: Studies show HoLEP provides durable relief of BPH symptoms, with a recurrence rate of less than 1%.
- Stronger urinary flow: Most patients notice significant improvement in urinary flow and comfort.
- Effective for large prostates: HoLEP works well for men with larger prostates that may not be suitable for other minimally invasive procedures.
What to expect
Knowing what to expect before, during and after your procedure can help you feel prepared and confident. Your care team will guide you every step of the way.- Anesthesia: HoLEP is performed under general anesthesia.
- Procedure time: Typically lasts one to two hours
- Hospital stay: Most patients go home the same day.
- Recovery: Some mild discomfort or urinary symptoms—such as frequent urination, temporary incontinence or urgency—may occur for a few weeks while healing.