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
Let’s Talk About Mom’s Mental Health
Being a mom* is hard. From the moment your baby is born, everything changes. New moms often feel tired, worried and overwhelmed. But sometimes, the feelings go beyond just being tired. Some moms experience serious mental health concerns—and we need to talk about it.
Maternal mental health means how a mother feels in her mind and heart during pregnancy and after giving birth. Many moms go through things like depression, anxiety or even scary thoughts. This is more common than people think. 1 in 5 moms experience perinatal depression. Mental health disorders—including substance overdose and suicide—are now the No. 1 cause of maternal death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are some factors that can make it more likely for a mom to struggle with her mental health, including:
- History of depression or anxiety
- Difficult pregnancy or birth
- Not having support from family or friends
- Money problems or job stress
- Feeling alone or not having time to rest
- Race as a social construct (1 in 3 Black women may experience a mood disorder during or after pregnancy)
Even though many moms need help, it can be hard for them to access it. There are barriers to care, or things that can get in the way. Some moms are afraid to speak up because they worry people will think they are a bad parent. Others may not know where to go for help. Some moms don’t have health insurance or live far from a doctor. These problems can make it harder to get better. In addition, not all obstetrics clinicians have had sufficient training on the diagnosis and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and management of mental health medications during pregnancy and/or lactation.
The good news: Help is out there. Mental health challenges after having a baby are treatable. And there are options that really work. Talking to a therapist—virtually or in person—can help moms feel heard and understood. Sometimes medicine can help too. Support groups, where moms can talk to each other, are also helpful. Getting rest, eating healthy and having help with the baby can make a big difference.
It’s very important that moms—and the people around them—know the signs of a mental health concern. Some signs to look for include:
- Feeling very sad, angry or empty for days
- Not wanting to eat or sleep
- Feeling like you can’t bond with your baby
- Having scary thoughts or feeling like you might hurt yourself or others
If you notice these signs in yourself or someone you love, speak up. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength to ask for help. Every mom deserves to feel well and cared for.
Let’s be honest: Moms are superheroes. But even superheroes need support. We need to make sure that every mom knows she’s not alone. We must make it easier to talk about mental health. We must listen without judgment. And we must make sure help is easy to find.Healthy moms mean healthy families. When we take care of mothers, we take care of our whole community.
If you’re a mom who’s struggling, please know this: You are not alone. You are not to blame. And you can get better. Speak up, reach out and know that there are people who care and want to help. Ask your obstetrics care team and see these resources for moms and families.
Resources for patients and families
1. Postpartum Support International (PSI)
PSI offers education, training and resources for professionals working with families during the perinatal period. They also provide a clinician directory, helpline and certification programs.
Helpline: (800) 944-4773 (Text “HELLO” to (800) 944-4773)
This project focuses on maternal mental health support for Black and brown birthing people. They offer culturally competent resources, education and support groups and provide training opportunities for clinicians looking to improve care for underserved populations.
3. MotherToBaby
This organization provides expert, evidence-based information about medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Their team also offers live chat and phone consultations.
Helpline: Call or text (866) 626-6847
Resources for clinicians
This is a free psychiatric consultation service for Georgia clinicians caring for pregnant and postpartum patients. They offer provider-to-provider support on screening, diagnosis and treatment of perinatal mental health conditions.
2. Postpartum Support International Professional Resources
This group provides clinician training, consultation and certification in perinatal mental health. They also offer a perinatal psychiatric consultation service.
3. LactMed (Drugs and Lactation Database)
This is a National Institute of Health resource for up-to-date, evidence-based information on medications and their compatibility with breastfeeding.
Find a Wellstar behavioral health specialist near you or find a Wellstar OB/GYN.
*Mom and mothers are used throughout this article. However, I recognize and respect that not all birthing parents identify as female. At Wellstar, we believe in honoring every voice.
Highlights
Aortic Experts & AI Identify Thousands with Hidden Aneurysms
Wellstar’s Comprehensive Aortic Program has identified thousands of hidden aneurysms in the past two years. The goal of the program is to help people before their conditions become life-threatening.
Aortic aneurysms are bulges in the body’s largest blood vessel. They can burst and cause severe damage or death if they become too big. Unfortunately, most people never know they have one because they are typically asymptomatic until they rupture.
However, the aortic experts at Wellstar found a way to help people before they have an emergency.
“When patients have CT scans at Wellstar for other reasons, we use artificial intelligence (AI) to sift through them and find images of someone who may have aneurysm,” said Wellstar Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. James Ryan Burke. “That allows us to proactively contact them and bring them in if appropriate for evaluation to discuss that diagnosis.”
Since the program launch in July 2022, more than 4,700 people with aneurysms have been placed under surveillance—a protocol to monitor people who have a risk. Surveillance allows people to avoid undergoing unnecessary surgery but to know when the aneurysm grows larger and becomes a greater concern.
For people who had large, potentially life-threatening aneurysms, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons performed more than 700 advanced procedures at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center since the program began.
“These are major cardiac operations only performed in centers that offer complex aortic surgery,” Dr. Burke said. “The outcomes are best when done in experienced centers that do a high volume of procedures, like Wellstar Kennestone.”
Patient-centered aortic care
“This program is very patient-oriented. We have an excellent team of dedicated physicians at Wellstar to accomplish our mission and I think it’s very beneficial for both patients and physicians,” said Vascular Surgeon Dr. Michael Corey.
The aortic program at Wellstar provides a higher level of aortic care than a patient would typically find in a local hospital. What makes the program unique is:
- The multispecialty team of aortic experts working together
- The cutting-edge AI technology used to identify patients who are unaware they have an aneurysm
- A high-tech hybrid operating room (OR) for open or minimally invasive procedures
- The latest surgical techniques and technology
- A high volume of procedures performed
“The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It runs from the heart, through the chest and abdomen and down to the legs,” said Dr. Burke. “When you have a disease process involving the aorta, it requires multiple specialties.”
Wellstar’s specialized aortic team includes cardiovascular surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
There is also a cardiac hybrid OR that brings a catheterization lab and surgery suite together in one space, making aortic aneurysm treatment more efficient and encouraging collaboration between our expert providers.
“The hybrid OR is a state-of-the-art, innovative, open operating room where patients can receive complex aortic reconstructions—procedures that have open surgery components to them—as well as endovascular (or minimally invasive) aortic reconstructions. This all can take place in one nice operating room,” Dr. Corey said.
The aortic program is part of a larger heart care program at Wellstar, based at Wellstar Kennestone, the first in Georgia and the fourth in the nation to receive Comprehensive Cardiac Care Center Certification by The Joint Commission and American Heart Association. This is the highest certification in cardiovascular care.
Learn more or schedule an appointment with an aortic disease specialist.
Highlights
Out of Sight, Still a Threat
Five years ago, you probably had hand sanitizer in your car, a thermometer in your bag and a mental checklist for every sniffle. That was life during COVID. But these days? It’s easy to forget what once felt urgent.
The same thing happens with men’s health—especially prostate cancer. For a brief moment, maybe after a friend was diagnosed or during a Movember campaign, it’s top-of-mind. But if nothing seems wrong, it quickly slips to the back burner.
That’s a problem—because prostate cancer doesn’t wait until you’re ready.
At Wellstar, we see too many men surprised by late diagnoses. Why? Because they felt fine. Because they had no symptoms. Because they believed some version of the same three myths:
“Prostate cancer doesn’t kill men.”
Actually, it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men. When caught early, it’s highly treatable. But when ignored, it’s dangerous.
“I don’t have symptoms, so I’m good.”
Most early-stage prostate cancers are completely silent. No pain, no urinary issues, no warning. That’s why screening matters.
“Testing leads to side effects.”
Screening doesn’t mean treatment. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is a simple tool that helps guide the next steps. Many men with slow-growing cancers don’t need surgery—just monitoring. For those who do need treatment, options are far more precise and less invasive than they used to be.
Still, fear or discomfort around the prostate keeps many men from checking in until it’s too late. We get it. It’s not the most glamorous part of the body—but it’s vital.
Think of it this way: you’d never ignore a lump on your neck or blood in your stool. Why ignore the most common cancer in men (besides skin cancer) just because it’s not visible?
Our team at Wellstar makes prostate cancer screening simple, discreet and personalized. We’re here to talk through your family history, explain your risks and offer guidance without pressure. Whether it’s time for a PSA test, a digital exam or just a conversation, we meet you where you are.
Remember: ignoring prostate cancer doesn’t make it go away. It just makes it harder to treat. Learn more about prostate cancer care at Wellstar.
Ready to take action?
Find a urologist near you and book your appointment online. What’s out of sight shouldn’t be out of mind.