Wellstar Community Health Programs

ATLANTA – Oct. 1, 2026 – Atlanta City FC has selected Wellstar Health System, a nationally-ranked and locally recognized healthcare provider based in Georgia, as the official healthcare provider of the club.

Through this multi-year partnership, Wellstar and Atlanta City FC will ensure the club’s athletes receive a high level of care on and off the pitch, while developing community and philanthropic efforts focused on the health and wellbeing of all women and female athletes.

Partnerships are developed through shared values, common goals and an aligned vision for the future,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment President Tim Zulawski. “As an Atlanta-based healthcare provider with a shared commitment to women’s health and delivering best-in-class care for female athletes, Wellstar is a perfect partner for Atlanta City FC. We’re proud to have Wellstar as our Official Healthcare Provider and look forward to working together to make a positive impact in our community as we continue to lay the foundation of our NWSL club.” For Wellstar, the partnership creates new opportunities to engage the community in their health and wellness.

By combining Wellstar's expertise in women's health, sports medicine, orthopedics, rehabilitation, primary care, and specialty care with the visibility and community reach of Atlanta’s new National Women’s Soccer League franchise, we can engage more people where they live, work, and gather and connect them with the care they need,” said Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel.  “The team’s decision to choose Wellstar reflects the strength of our physicians, clinicians, team members, and the high-quality care we provide across Georgia every day. “

The partnership also aligns with Wellstar’s focus and expertise in women’s health, providing a full range of services from preventive and reproductive care to maternity, high-risk pregnancy and advanced orthopedic, cardiovascular and cancer services with one of the Southeast’s largest physician networks. Wellstar also is investing in innovative women’s health programs, including remote pregnancy monitoring and personalized breast cancer risk assessment, to ensure more women have access to quality and trusted care.

Women’s health is about recognizing that women have unique healthcare needs at every stage of life,” said Paula Greaves, MD, Chief of Women’s Health for Wellstar Health System. “By partnering with Atlanta City FC, we have an opportunity to bring together our expertise across women’s health, sports medicine and specialty care to support these athletes as whole people, not simply as competitors. This partnership also provides us with opportunities to engage with and support women of every age and background as we rally behind our new hometown NWSL team, on and off the pitch.”

As Atlanta City FC continues building its club and community presence ahead of its inaugural season, Wellstar will play an integral role in supporting the health and wellbeing of players and the broader community through a shared commitment to excellence, community impact and service. Together, the organizations will develop opportunities to expand access to women’s health resources, promote healthy lifestyles and create meaningful community impact.

Learn more about Atlanta City FC

Wellstar’s partnership with Social Rx (Art Pharmacy) redefines how we support people’s overall health—using arts and culture as a powerful tool to address social, emotional and behavioral health needs across our communities. This initiative is one way Wellstar puts PeopleCare into action by recognizing that health is shaped not only by care at hospitals and doctor’s offices, but also by connection, purpose and community.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, arts and health is gaining recognition as a powerful tool for advancing equity, improving well-being and supporting whole-person care. At Wellstar, we are proud to help lead this work by connecting patients to community-based experiences that foster healing, connection and long-term health,” said Dr. Glenda Francis, director of operations for the Wellstar Center for Health Equity.

Social prescribing enables health professionals to formally prescribe non-clinical community activities—like creative workshops and performances—to improve a patient's health.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, poor social relationships, social isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease by 29% and risk of stroke by 32%. People with strong perceptions of belonging to a community are 2.6 times more likely to report good or excellent health than people with a low sense of belonging.

“Our nation has an epidemic of loneliness that can contribute to people suffering from heart disease, stroke and premature death,” said Dr. Earl Stewart Jr., medical director of health equity for Wellstar. “Meaningful social engagement can help people overcome isolation and improve their behavioral health.”

The results to date show that this model is not only engaging—it produces meaningful outcomes for patients.

Driving measurable improvements in health and well-being

Recent quarterly outcomes demonstrate the meaningful difference this program is making for Wellstar patients.

Outcomes among 67 events include:

• 80% of attendees saw improved health and well-being
• 53% experienced reduced behavioral health symptoms
• 80% of those who were experiencing loneliness felt less lonely
• 88% active engagement in the social prescriptions
• 83% attendance rate at events
• Participants rated the program an average 9.7 out of 10
  
  

A patient’s story: from isolation to connection

For one Wellstar program participant, the experience became a turning point in her health journey. Initially referred through Social Rx because of anxiety and social isolation, she began attending pottery and arts-based classes in her community.

At first, participation felt unfamiliar, but over time she found herself looking forward to each session. The creative environment gave her space to decompress, express herself and connect with others in a way that felt safe and supportive.

“I learned how to relax and take better care of myself,” she shared. “I’ve really enjoyed participating—and I will continue to go back.”
Beyond the classes, her care team saw an improved mood, increased engagement and a growing sense of confidence. What began as a referral became a sustainable tool for managing her mental health and building connection.

Sustained outcomes beyond participation

The impact of the program extends beyond the experience itself:

• 100% of participants reported progress toward their health goals, with 30% fully achieving them.
• 80% reported continued improvement in blood pressure readings over time.

These results suggest the benefits of social prescribing can continue well beyond the initial experience.

Expanding access through community partnerships

The success of this program is grounded in strong partnerships with local arts and cultural organizations. Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Zoo Atlanta, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Spivey Hall and others all contribute to a growing network of community partners supporting this work.

These partners play a vital role in creating welcoming, culturally relevant experiences that communities enjoy.

Advancing health equity through social prescribing

The program has also meaningfully reached populations that have historically faced barriers to care, including Black/African American patients and women.

By reducing barriers and offering accessible, community-based experiences, Wellstar is advancing health equity and meeting patients where they are.

MARIETTA, Ga. — Wellstar Health System has named Kem Mullins as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. 

Mullins, a veteran healthcare executive with more than a decade of leadership experience at Wellstar, will oversee enterprise integration efforts, including Wellstar's recent acquisition of Mountain Lakes Medical Center and planned partnership with Stephens County Hospital. He will also oversee real estate and construction, facilities, emergency preparedness, implementation of Wellstar's operating model, and system support functions, including food and nutrition and environmental services. Kem will continue to lead acute and ambulatory operations until the national search for Wellstar's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer is completed. 

Since joining Wellstar in 2012 as president of Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, Mullins has served in several key leadership positions across the system, including interim chief operating officer and, most recently, executive vice president of Wellstar's Ambulatory Division and Business Development. Prior to joining Wellstar, he served as CEO of Saint Francis Hospital Bartlett and was Chief Operating Officer at Atlanta Medical Center and NEA Medical Center. 

"Kem has a strong track record at Wellstar and has built trusted relationships across our system over many years of service," said Ketul J. Patel, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. "Few leaders know Wellstar as well as Kem. He approaches his work thoughtfully and remains focused on supporting our teams and the people we serve. His deep experience and leadership will help advance important priorities across our system in the years ahead." 

In this role, Mullins will help lead several key priorities across Wellstar, supporting continued growth and ensuring strong coordination across critical operational and support functions. 

"Wellstar has a strong foundation with exceptional people and a clear vision for the future," Mullins said. "Having served in a variety of leadership roles across the system over the past 14 years, I'm honored to take on this responsibility supporting our teams and advancing the important work we're doing."