Wellstar Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Your favorite activities make everyday life your own, and bone or joint pain can keep you sidelined. At Wellstar, our skilled and caring team is ready to help you find relief and get back to life with less pain and more freedom.
Orthopedic specialists here offer complete care for all types of bone, joint and soft tissue injuries and conditions. From diagnosis and treatment through rehabilitation and recovery, we’ve got your back.
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Highlights
Wellstar Offers Saturday Hours for Lung Cancer Screening Day November 8
Lung cancer screening can detect cancer earlier, before symptoms show up. Earlier-stage cancers are more easily treatable and more frequently cured, so if you are at increased risk of developing lung cancer, you could benefit from regular low-dose CT scans to monitor your lung health. To expand access to these vital screenings, Wellstar will offer screenings at several imaging locations Saturday, November 8.
“Finding lung cancer early leads to better outcomes, and screening with CT scans is recommended as the only proven way to minimize delay in diagnosis,” said Wellstar Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Daniel Fortes.
Wellstar is partnering with the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, the American College of Radiology, the Radiology Health Equity Coalition, and GO2 for Lung Cancer to celebrate National Lung Cancer Screening Day Saturday, November 8. While lung scans are always available at Wellstar’s conveniently located imaging centers during regular business hours, offering these Saturday hours will help patients fit screenings into their schedules.
Ask your care team about whether you meet the criteria for screening, or call us to learn more about qualifying and to make an appointment for a scan.Call us at (470) 793-4AIR (4247) to learn more and make an appointment for a scan.
The following Wellstar imaging locations will be open Saturday, November 8:
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park, 3747 Roswell Road, Suite 102 in Marietta
- Wellstar Imaging Services, 60 Lacy St. in Marietta
- Wellstar Imaging Services, 1220 West Wheeler Parkway in Augusta
- Wellstar Imaging Services at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, 1625 Hospital North Drive in Austell
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, 8954 Hospital Drive in Douglasville
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar Vinings Health Park, 4441 Atlanta Road SE, Suite 101 in Smyrna
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar Windy Hill, 2540 Windy Hill Rd SE in Marietta
- Wellstar West Georgia Medical Imaging, 1514 Vernon Road in LaGrange
In addition to these special hours November 8, low-dose CT lung scans are available at several Wellstar imaging locations.
PeopleCare
BillyCare
William “Billy” Gerace, a retired man in Mableton, found himself progressively restricted by severe emphysema. Dependent on oxygen, it was tough to find the breath and the energy to work in his garage. Then he found out about BLVR, a procedure that would change his lungs—and his life—for the better. Now he spends his days breathing new life into classic cars. Billy’s story highlights the power of expert care and leading-edge treatments at Wellstar, and our commitment to help people get back to doing what they love.
Slowed down by an oxygen tank
For Billy, the simplest of movements became Herculean tasks. The man who loved tinkering in his garage found himself slowed down by an oxygen tank and dependent on his wife, Patty, to help him move it from room to room.
“I couldn’t walk 20 feet without the hose on my nose,” Billy said. “I couldn’t go from the living room to the kitchen without oxygen. That’s how bad it was.”
Billy suffered from emphysema, a severe type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The inability to work in his garage on his collection of vehicles—including a '69 Corvette convertible—was heartbreaking.
“I’d have to do five minutes’ worth of work—then catch my breath,” he remembered. “It took me a very long time to do anything. A project that would normally take an hour took two days. I had to sit dormant most of the time.”
Billy had managed this condition for years with prescription medication and pulmonary rehabilitation, but in the final months leading to his procedure, he had the impression that his life was fading with every gasp of air.
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.