Wellstar Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Leaders from Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia visited Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center June 24 to highlight the continued growth of a metro Atlanta training program focused on preparing the next generation of physicians—and to hear directly from the students experiencing it.

The visit, part of Augusta University President Russell T. Keen’s Summer Tour, included conversations with third- and fourth-year medical students completing clinical training at the MCG Atlanta campus. Leaders checked in on student progress and gathered feedback on their day-to-day experiences working alongside physicians in one of the state’s busiest hospitals.

For Adrian Bozocea, a third-year medical student and a 2020 graduate of Wheeler High School, the experience carries special meaning. He was born at Wellstar Kennestone.

“It’s a crazy, full-circle moment, knowing that the culmination of my hard work has allowed me to serve in the community that’s built me up and made me who I am,” he said.

Bozocea said training in a familiar community adds a personal connection to patient care.

“It’s a nice feeling knowing you’re helping someone who has potentially served you at a restaurant or helped you find an item in a store,” he said.

Students at Wellstar Kennestone rotate through multiple specialties and locations as part of their training. Bozocea has already completed rotations in family medicine and obstetrics and is now in internal medicine, describing the experience as both rigorous and rewarding. He said what sets the Atlanta campus apart is its strong culture of learning.

“Every clinician is great at teaching. They’re passionate about what they do, and there’s a real culture of learning here,” he said.

Since opening in 2025, the Wellstar Kennestone campus has expanded its reach and capabilities. Dr. Louis Lovett, associate dean of the campus, said the program has strengthened its faculty by appointing Wellstar physicians to clinical teaching roles and adding new electives in surgical and medical subspecialties to complement six core rotations required of all students.

“We’re building a comprehensive training environment that prepares students to meet real-world healthcare needs,” Dr. Lovett said. “By combining strong core rotations with expanded electives and simulation-based learning, we’re giving them the skills and confidence to step into practice ready to care for patients.”

Dr. Lovett has also taken a hands-on approach with students, Bozocea said, frequently checking in and helping connect them with physicians in their areas of interest.

“He’s dedicated to students and passionate about his job,” Bozocea said.

Students gain experience across disciplines, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology and psychiatry, while also training in simulation labs that allow them to practice procedures and patient interactions in a supervised setting.

Several students training at Wellstar Kennestone have ties to Cobb County and have expressed interest in returning to the area after graduation—an outcome leaders say reflects the value of training physicians in the communities they may one day serve.

For Bozocea, that path feels especially fitting: a future physician gaining hands-on experience in the same hospital where his own story began.

People who seek medical help for weight management are used to hearing that results take time. Imagine the surprise of some patients with type 2 diabetes when their blood sugar improves meaningfully within days or weeks of bariatric surgery.

It happens—and it’s a dramatic sign of the benefits bariatric surgery holds for many patients, said Dr. Fritz Jean-Pierre, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and national leader in minimally invasive and robotic techniques for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders.

When changes in blood sugar following bariatric and metabolic surgery were first observed in the 1990s, the reason was a mystery. But today, medical experts know more about the hormones that regulate hunger and insulin production. They also know more about how bariatric surgery affects the same hormones.

Understanding type 2 diabetes: It starts with insulin resistance

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Insulin resistance happens when muscle, fat and liver cells fail to respond to insulin, causing the pancreas to overproduce the hormone. Eventually, blood sugar rises. Patients may develop prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Another hormone that affects weight is GLP-1. It’s naturally produced in the gut after eating. GLP-1 helps regulate blood sugar by:

• Stimulating insulin
• Suppressing glucagon, a hormone the pancreas produces that raises blood glucose levels
• Slowing digestion

Many recognize GLP-1 today because of the class of weight-management drugs such as Ozempic, Zepbound and Wegovy. These medications mimic and amplify the effects of the GLP-1 hormone.

How bariatric surgery affects hunger hormones and improves health

Several types of bariatric surgery are performed at Wellstar. While each procedure alters the digestive system differently, all appear to influence the hormones that regulate hunger and blood sugar.

Hormones, such as GLP-1, that promote fullness and insulin sensitivity increase after surgery. The liver produces less excess glucose, and the body becomes more sensitive to insulin. Other hormones—like ghrelin, which signals the brain that the stomach is empty—decrease after surgery.

“We've known since the early 2000s that after bariatric surgery, you have a boost in GLP-1 hormone production,” said Dr. Jean-Pierre. “Patients notice improvements in their blood sugars and that feeling of fullness.”

As a result of hormonal changes triggered by surgery, patients who are not yet on insulin replacement therapy may enter diabetes remission relatively soon, according to Dr. Jean-Pierre.

“The patient may have lost only 5 or 10 pounds yet their blood sugars have become normalized,” he said. “Their diabetes is completely controlled without medication after surgery. That’s the best-case scenario.”

For other patients, improved blood sugar may take longer. Still, clinical trials show that bariatric surgery leads to diabetes remission in 33% to 90% of individuals at one year after bariatric and metabolic surgery.¹

“These surgeries are not just changing or shrinking the patient’s stomach,” Dr. Jean-Pierre said. “We're changing their metabolisms in a way that will help improve a lot of related health conditions like high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and fatty liver disease.”

Long-term health benefits of bariatric surgery

There are many health risks of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Those include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and joint pain. Unmanaged diabetes can lead to damage to nerves, kidneys, eyes and heart. Stroke risk is also higher in people with diabetes.

Physicians have more treatment options for obesity than ever, including surgery, medications and lifestyle changes. Wellstar Center of Best Health is a comprehensive weight management clinic with clinicians, dietitians, psychologists and exercise physiologists who work collaboratively with surgeons.

Together, they learn about each patient’s situation and develop a personalized treatment plan with the best chance of success. Some patients may benefit from both surgery and medication.

“Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, multi-variable disease process that we have to approach from different angles in order to best treat it,” said Dr. Jean-Pierre. “You must approach it comprehensively, including nutrition and exercise. Medication itself is not a magic bullet. Surgery is not a magic bullet.”

Wellstar’s weight loss teams support patients throughout their healthcare journey. The goal is to see patients reach their goals and return for follow-up care in even better health.

“It’s amazing when all of these treatment options fire in the right direction and we see the health improvements that come along with surgery,” such as:

• Better diabetes control
• Lower blood pressure
• Less joint inflammation and pain
• End of the need to use a CPAP for sleep apnea

“Most surgeons fix something, then you don't see your patient again. With bariatric surgery, it's a very different relationship,” Dr. Jean-Pierre said. “We see our patients for a long period of time afterward. We get to share in their successes and see their accomplishments as they lose that weight.”

Learn more about obesity medicine at Wellstar and make an appointment to see an obesity specialist at one of our locations.

Women are intentional about planning their lives, including their pregnancies, and OB/GYNs encourage their patients to make preconception appointments from three months to a year before becoming pregnant.

Preconception appointments provide time to

• Review medical and behavioral health history, including family history
• Identify and treat any health concerns like high blood pressure
• Make sure vaccinations and preventive care are up to date
• Discuss lifestyle changes to support a healthy pregnancy
• Learn about the care you can expect while pregnant

“These visits establish a health baseline before pregnancy happens,” said Wellstar OB/GYN Dr. Joy Baker. “We can optimize women’s health by addressing potential health issues and making lifestyle changes to benefit them and their babies.”

If pregnancy is in your future, this guide will help you know what to expect from a preconception appointment and how to prepare.

Why schedule a preconception visit

Preconception appointments are important for future mothers of all ages. They’re especially useful if you’re over 30 or have a chronic health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.

More than half of all live births in the United States from 2022 to 2024 were to women 30 and over, according to March of Dimes. Fertility—or the ability to become pregnant—declines in the 30s and 40s. Statistics also show risks increase for mothers 35 and older for complications in pregnancy. Those risks include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and cesarean births (C-sections).

“With modern medicine, we can treat patients who are having fertility issues and safely support older pregnancies,” Dr. Baker said. “Knowing the risks and addressing them before pregnancy prepares us to guide and care for our patients and their families.”

In some cases, preconception tests can detect potential heart or thyroid conditions, or a risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy or later.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect mental health. At the preconception appointment, a clinician will ask you about any history of depression or anxiety, support networks, and stress at work or at home.

Another benefit of the appointment is the opportunity to meet the physician who may be caring for you during an exciting period of your life.

“I love that patients can interview me at preconception appointments,” said Dr. Baker. “They can get to know me. At the same time, I’m able to check blood test results and do any health optimization needed before becoming pregnant.”

What happens during and after a preconception appointment

The appointment will include questions about you and your partner’s medical histories, including family history and ethnicity. Many genetic conditions, like sickle cell disease and Tay-Sachs disease, are more common in people from certain ethnic groups.

Your OB/GYN may schedule tests to check your iron levels, blood sugar, blood pressure and heart health. They’ll want your vaccine record and may ask you to complete any missed vaccines or preventive screenings.

Bring a list of prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take, including any vitamins or nutritional supplements. Your physician will recommend taking folic acid as a supplement or as part of a multivitamin, even before becoming pregnant. Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help protect against congenital brain and spinal cord conditions.

What lifestyle changes can prepare you for a healthy pregnancy?

According to Dr. Baker, weight and lifestyle are other topics at the preconception appointment. Overweight or obese patients are at a higher risk of developing complications in pregnancy. Your OB/GYN will advise you on good nutrition and how much weight is healthy to gain during pregnancy based on your height and weight.

If you use tobacco or alcohol, your care team will talk to you about the risks and how to make changes that will help you and your baby. Regular exercise is important as patients prepare for and experience pregnancy and labor.

Questions to bring to a preconception appointment

Your preconception appointment will give you time to get to know your OB/GYN and ask any questions you have.

Some suggested questions include

• What happens if I don’t become pregnant?
• Do I have any health conditions that may affect my ability to become pregnant or have a healthy baby?
• When should I schedule an appointment after I become pregnant?
• What tests can I expect to have during pregnancy, and what do they check for?
• How often will I see you during pregnancy?
• Will I see other clinicians in the practice when I’m pregnant?
• How should I contact your office with questions or if I’m worried about something?
• Under what circumstances should I go directly to the Emergency Department?
• What happens as my delivery time nears?

Learn more about maternal and fetal medicine at Wellstar

If you’re thinking about starting or growing your family, schedule a preconception visit with a Wellstar OB/GYN to talk through your health, goals and next steps.

Wellstar has advanced care for patients before, during and after pregnancy. Learn more about our specialties in

• Cardio Obstetrics
• Maternal Fetal Medicine (high-risk pregnancies)
• Obstetric Emergency Department
• Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility