February Birthdays and Work Anniversaries
New to the UOG Crew
Please give a warm welcome to the newest members of our UOG Family! Welcome, everyone! We are so excited to have you here with us! We can’t wait to see you soar, all while changing women’s lives!
Katlyn Rawlins Front Desk Coordinator – Douglas
Sarah NoyesUltrasound Tech – Warner Robins
Trudy Lavant-FeltonFront Desk Coordinator/Medical Assistant – Warner Robins
Kinsey JohnsonCertified Medical Assistant – Warner Robins
Keisa AtkinsMedical Assistant – Douglas
Kalah BerryCertified Medical Assistant – CovingtonCongratulations Corner
We would like to take a moment to share an important update regarding leadership roles and titles within United Obstetrics and Gynecology.
As part of our continued growth and alignment of leadership responsibilities, the following role and title updates have been formally implemented:
- Jessica Strickland – Senior Vice President of Operations & Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Kristin Merritt – Vice President of Human Resources & Chief People Officer (CPO)
- Melisa Newell – Vice President of Business Affairs & Chief Accounting Officer (CAO)
- Tanner Brown – Vice President of Technology & Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
These updated titles more accurately reflect each leader’s scope of responsibility, expertise, and ongoing contributions to the organization. We are grateful for their dedication and leadership, and we look forward to their continued impact as we move forward together.
Please join us in congratulating them on their expanded roles!!
Submitted by Debbie Hill:
“I would like to congratulate Shemill Banks on her party rental/catering business named Eat Southern Plated!! I am very excited for her. I have seen her great culinary cooking/catering skills and beautiful decorations, not to mention she also bakes delicious cakes. If you want your event catered to perfection, please don’t hesitate to book her for your party rentals and catering needs.”
Congratulations, Shemill!! We’re so proud of you and this incredible accomplishment! We wish you and your business so much success!!
Submitted by Savannah Maddox:
“Saturday, January 17, 2026 Jason proposed to Savannah in Helen, Georgia at Uhuburg, Eagle Owl Castle. Knowing her love for books, fantasy romance and the mountains he planned the perfect book lovers proposal even down to the smallest of details. After getting to the spot he and the photographer planned beforehand, what started as a normal “photo” turned into a proposal. Jason gave Savannah a notebook that he wrote in from the day they met down to the big day. He told her with this next chapter he’s going to need help writing it and got down on one knee, opened another book that said “Will You Marry Me?” with the ring inside. Savannah said yes!”
Congratulations, Savannah and Jason! We’re so incredibly happy for you both and we wish you a lifetime of love and bliss!
Hannah Dorsey and her “Honey,” Frederick, celebrated their engagement on Saturday, January 17th, at Holy Land Farms in Enigma, GA. We’re so excited for this sweet new chapter and wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness.
CRNA Week was January 18 – 24, 2026! That week we proudly celebrated our incredible CRNAs who bring calm, confidence, and compassion to every procedure.
Thank you for the expertise, dedication, and heart you pour into caring for our patients—we truly couldn’t do this without you!
Juran Ray
Marvin Martin
Anita LeDoux
Keri Paulk
Amber Dowling
Mandy Adams
Your impact is felt and appreciated every single day—thank you for ALL that you do!
Peer Shout Outs
UOG in the Community!
In January, The Howard Center and Tifton Woman’s Center proudly sponsored the following athletic programs and community organizations and events!
Perry High School Baseball – $400.00 (Jamie Barr’s son)
Red Raider Dugout Club – $600.00 (Kala Hodges’ son)
Alliance For Children Georgia – $2,000.00
Tift County Tennis – $200.00
Shine on 5K & Fun Run – $1,000.00
Irwin County Baseball – $150.00
Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce Banquet – $1,200.00
Tift County High School Girls Basketball Team – $1,000 -TWC is a proud sponsor!
In January, we were honored to donate 10 cases of water to our hometown heroes at the Tift County Fire-Rescue!
After long days of saving lives and keeping our community safe, staying hydrated is a must!
Thank you for all that you do for our communities every single day—we appreciate you more than words can say!
What’s Happening In February?
February is Black History Month! We proudly honor and celebrate our incredible Providers of Color who serve our patients with compassion, excellence, and dedication every day:
Dr. Donald Menya
Kayla Allen, W.H.N.P.
Dawn Printup, FNP-C
Mahlory Carey, FNP-C
Shay Mason, FNP-C
Monshita McDonald, FNP-C
This Friday, February 13th, you’re welcome to dress in your best Valentine’s Day–themed attire! Think reds, pinks, hearts—whatever feels festive and fun!
Just a quick reminder to please make sure your outfit still follows our company dress code so we can keep things cute and work-appropriate.
Don’t forget to send Bekka Reese your pictures so that we can share the LOVE with our Facebook followers – 229-392-9664
We can’t wait to see everyone’s Valentine vibes!!
All February long, Ellaryn MedSpa by Howard Center is offering $100 OFF KYSSE® Lip Filler PLUS your first 10 units of tox FREE (good for 6 months!)
Not a KYSSE girlie? No worries — we’ve got you covered with $50 OFF any other filler (free units of tox not included in this offer)
Treat yourself or someone that you love to this amazing offer! Gift certificates are available!
A Little Something Sweet for Valentine’s Day!
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- Cooking spray
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs (from about 12 crackers)
- 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
Strawberry Topping
- 3 cups trimmed and chopped strawberries (from about 1 qt.)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
Cream Cheese Filling
- 2 (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
Crumble Topping & Assembly
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- Halved strawberries, for serving
Directions
Crust
Step 1 Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly oil a 9″-by-9″ baking pan with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment, leaving a 2″ overhang on 2 opposite sides. Lightly coat parchment with cooking spray.
Step 2 In a medium bowl, mix crushed crackers, butter, granulated sugar, butter, and salt until mixture resembles wet sand and holds together when pressed.
Step 3 Scrape mixture into prepared pan. Press into an even layer on bottom of up sides of pan with the back of a spoon or measuring cup.
Step 4 Bake crust until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool.
Strawberry ToppingIn a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, cook strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch, smashing berries with a potato masher or side of a wooden spoon to release juices, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool slightly while preparing cream cheese filling and crumble topping.
Cream Cheese FillingIn a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
Crumble Topping & Assembly
Step 1 In a medium bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter and stir until a crumbly dough forms. Spread cream cheese filling over crust. Carefully dollop strawberry topping over cream cheese filling. Using your hands, crumble topping over.
Step 2 Bake bar until puffed and just set in the center, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour more.
Step 3 Using parchment overhang, lift up bar and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into squares and top each slice with a halved strawberry.
Employee Excellence Awards & Our Shining Star
Destiny has been an absolute rockstar, stepping up to cover our Warner Robins location whenever needed without hesitation. The feedback from Managers and Nurse Practitioners has been unanimous—Destiny is a force to be reckoned with. Her efficiency and work ethic on the floor are unmatched. We are beyond proud of how far she has come since becoming a Medical Assistant. Her constant hunger to learn more and refine her skills makes her one of our top MAs. It’s not just the staff who notices her hard work; patients constantly share how sweet and full of joy she is. She brings a level of comfort and positivity to the clinic that is truly special.
I am incredibly grateful for your dedication and your transition into the clinical side. You have become an essential part of this team, and I couldn’t be prouder of the professional you’ve become. Please join us in congratulating Destiny on this well-deserved employee of the month! Keep shining! 🏆
Despite the extra workload, she has continued to manage her regular referrals for all of our southern offices and still shows up every day with a smile. Alex has also played a key role in training new staff, offering support and patience every step of the way.
Thank you, Alex, for your positivity, your flexibility, and your willingness to do whatever is needed. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.
This January, her dedication has stood out even more. As insurance plans changed at the start of the year, Calista quickly identified patients whose coverage had shifted and notified us right away. Because of her attention to detail, we were able to contact patients promptly and keep our WCAS schedule moving without interruption. She catches everything, and she does it with reliability we can count on.
If you need something, you can call Calista and know it will be handled. Her commitment to our surgery patients and our team is exceptional, and we are proud to recognize her as our January Employee of the Month.
Thank you, Calista, for consistently going above and beyond.
Emily has had an incredibly challenging few months trying to staff our offices with new MAs, and January was especially tough. She has been running from office to office to make sure every location is covered. She’s been juggling VMAs along with her regular staff, plugging holes wherever they appear, and doing everything she can to keep things running smoothly.
Instead of getting overwhelmed or throwing her hands up, she’s taken every challenge head‑on. She’s stayed focused, solution‑oriented, and committed to finding a game plan no matter what was thrown at her. Her resilience and dedication truly stood out this month.
My other two Managers of the Month are Callie and Jessie.
They went above and beyond by traveling to Athens to help move and set up our new office. This wasn’t part of their normal job duties, but they stepped up anyway. Even though a few unforeseen issues came up and things didn’t turn out perfectly, they still sacrificed time with their families to help get the new Athens location ready. Their effort, teamwork, and willingness to jump in wherever needed did not go unnoticed.
I would like to nominate Kelly Myers for Shining Star of the month in recognition of her exceptional dedication and problem-solving skills. Kelly helped fix an error in our greenway system that was keeping our Warner Robins claims from going out. Kelly called Greenway herself multiple times to get the information needed to help fix the error. It took her days to complete but she was able to get it fixed. Kelly demonstrates persistence, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to operational excellence. Kelly consistently shows a willingness to help wherever needed, supports her colleagues, and approaches challenges with a positive, solution-focused mindset. Her reliability and work ethic make a meaningful difference to our team, and she is highly deserving of this recognition.