Wellstar ENT

Dr. Byrd attended the University of South Carolina for his undergraduate education, graduating with honors from the Honors College and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended the Medical University of South Carolina, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha and received the Henry Tracy Ivy Award. He completed his residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at MUSC before pursuing a two-year fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in head and neck oncology and skull base surgery. During this time he also completed the University of Pittsburgh's Certificate in Clinical Research program with a focus in cost-effectiveness analysis.

Dr. Terris is surgical director of the Augusta University Thyroid and Parathyroid Center and a professor in the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He served as chairman of the department for 12 years before stepping down to focus on his clinical practice. Dr. Terris earned his medical degree with Alpha Omega Alpha honors from Duke University and completed a residency in otolaryngology and a fellowship in head and neck oncologic surgery at Stanford University. He treats all disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid including hyperparathyroidism (primary and renal), goiters, cancer of the thyroid and parathyroid, Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism. Specializing in surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid, Dr. Terris is a pioneer in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted neck surgery.

Dr. Groves joined the Augusta University department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as assistant professor of general otolaryngology and associate chief of otolaryngology at Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He currently serves as residency program director. Dr. Groves earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard University and his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. As a general otolaryngologist with comprehensive training, Dr. Groves' practice encompasses head and neck surgical oncology, salivary gland surgery including sialendoscopy, sleep surgery, maxillofacial trauma, facial reconstruction, endoscopic sinus surgery and pediatric otolaryngology. His research interests include the use of innovative methods and technologies to improve medical student and resident education, and various aspects of head and neck cancer care.

Dr. Postma is professor and vice chair in the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Augusta University and director of the Center for Voice, Airway and Swallowing. He received his medical degree from Drexel University and completed his residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After working at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va., he took a fellowship at Vanderbilt University and later joined the faculty at Wake Forest University. Dr. Postma's clinical interests span the entire field of laryngology—from voice disorders, dysphagia and professional and singing voice care to airway surgery and reconstruction, extraesophageal and gastroesophageal reflux, and chronic cough. He is a pioneer in the area of in-office surgery including transnasal esophagoscopy and un-sedated laryngeal and airway laser surgery. He is a past president of the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, Dysphagia Research Society and Georgia Society of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Kountakis received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Houston and his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston). He completed his otolaryngology residency training at UTHealth Houston-affiliated hospitals and achieved his doctoral degree from the University of Crete Medical School. He came to Augusta University from the University of Virginia, where he was director of the division of Rhinology and Sinus Surgery. Dr. Kountakis is vice president of the Southern section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society (aka the Triological Society), and a member of the board of directors and past president of the Georgia Society of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is also past president of the American Rhinologic Society and has received its Golden Head Mirror Award for teaching. He is consistently ranked among America's Best Doctors.

Dr. Sallie Long is an otolaryngologist with a subspecialty focus in head and neck surgery and microvascular reconstruction. She is a native of Augusta, Georgia, and joined the faculty at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in 2024. She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the combined Columbia and Cornell program in New York City. She then completed fellowship in head and neck surgery and microvascular reconstruction at the University of Miami. Dr. Long takes care of patients with head and neck cancer, advanced skin cancer, salivary disease, and both benign and malignant thyroid disorders.

After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, Dr. Sharbel attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the school’s Honor Council and Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He then completed residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Medical College of Georgia, where he was elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Additionally, several of his research projects were presented at national meetings and published within the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery literature. His residency training was followed by a head and neck oncology, microvascular reconstruction and cranial base surgery clinical fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His clinical interests include malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract, head and neck microvascular reconstruction, parapharyngeal space tumors, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, salivary tumors, benign and malignant soft tissue tumors of the head and neck, and cutaneous malignancies.