September Newsletter

October Birthdays and Anniversaries

Meet our Newest Providers

Please welcome our newest UOG Providers! We are extremely excited to have each of these talented, knowledgeable and compassionate individuals on our team and we can’t wait to see how they change and impact women in the most positive way! Welcome to the team!

Laquinta “Shay” Mason, FNP-C
Tifton
Brandon Reynolds, DO
Covington Physician/Surgeon

Jalesha Gordwin, FNP-C
Lawrenceville/Decatur/Athens – Float

New to the UOG Crew

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the UOG Family! We are so happy to have each of you here and we can’t wait to see you excel in your roles! Congratulations and welcome to the team!

employee photoMakayla Oliver Front Desk Coordinator TWC
employee photoHannah SmithFront Desk Coordinator TWC
employee photoRachel BaileyMarketer- Waycross
employee photoErin CharlesCertified Medical Assistant Lawrenceville
employee photoTaylor SurrettInsurance Coding Specialist Tifton
employee photoJessica ChaneyFront Desk Coordinator – TWC
employee photoKaila Mackey Warner Robins – CMA

Peer Shoutouts

Save the Date!

Join us for the Howard Center Christmas Party: A Night with the Stars! 

 Get ready for a glamorous evening of fun and excitement! Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite movie stars or film characters as we roll the dice for a Casino Night to remember. 

 Date: Friday, December 5, 2025

Casino Hours: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM 

 Dinner: Catered and complimentary 

 Who’s Invited: All employees plus one guest! This special evening is for adults only — we kindly ask that you make arrangements for the little ones so you can relax and enjoy a well-deserved date night in true Hollywood style! 

 RSVP links will be sent out in November.

Hispanic Heritage Month!

Our very own Karina Aguilar had the opportunity to visit Northeast Middle School here in Tifton to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during September! This is what Northeast Middle School shared on their social media – We were honored to welcome Folklorico dancers Angel Aguilar and Karina Aguilar to Northeast Middle School as special guests for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Our students were captivated by the stunning traditional Mexican folk dance performances, complete with vibrant costumes and incredible choreography. This cultural experience gave our Blue Devils a wonderful opportunity to learn about and appreciate the rich traditions and heritage of the Hispanic community.

Oh, Baby!

We’re less than 10 weeks away from Taylor Turner’s due date!! If you would like to shower her and her baby girl, her Amazon registration link is below!

Congratulations, Taylor! We can’t wait to meet your precious baby girl in November!

https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/taylor-turner-november-2025-blackshear/2PRWYT35NG9

2025 UOG Halloween Costume Contest!

Think you have the most fang-tastic, boo-tiful, or downright wicked costume at UOG? Now’s your chance to show it off! Come dressed in your best work-appropriate Halloween outfit (no tight, revealing, or skin-showing holes, please) and you could win big! 🧛‍♂️🧙‍♀️

Prizes: 1st place – $100 | 2nd place – $50 | 3rd place – $25
All offices, all employees—everyone’s eligible! Keep an eye out for an email the week of Halloween with instructions on where to submit your photos. Let the costume magic begin… and may the spookiest win! 🎃

September Employee Excellence Award Winners and Our Shining Star!

TWC: Shemill banksOur front desk has been short staffed this month and Shemill has been so amazing at helping out. She jumps in and helps with check in, check out, answering phones, clearing out providerflow, coming up with better systems to organize and more. This is all on top of keeping up with her own job requirements for referrals and surgery coordinator. Thank you for all that you do. It is appreciated!
Provider: Jamie Barr, NPCongratulations to Jamie Barr, NP for winning the Provider Excellence Award for September. Jamie has been a champion for our Warner Robins office this past month. Jamie has had multiple patient compliments. She has been building patient relationships and providing great care amid a very busy schedule. Jamie has jumped into her NP role full speed! Jamie is an asset to The Howard Center and highlights the kind of care we strive to provide.
Thank you so much for your dedication!
Insurance: Vickie BlakeWe are proud to recognize Vickie Blake as our Employee of the Month!

Over the past month, Vickie has truly gone the extra mile in assisting patients with resolving their account balances. Many patients are unaware they have outstanding balances with UOG until they receive their emailed billing statements—but thanks to Vickie’s proactive and compassionate approach, these situations are handled with care and efficiency.

Vickie consistently eases patient frustrations with empathy and professionalism. Whether she’s helping set up payment plans or offering paid-in-full discounts, Vickie ensures every patient feels supported and understood. Her communication style is kind, caring, and genuinely helpful on every call—perfectly reflecting the level of service we strive to provide.

Beyond her exceptional patient care, Vickie is always just a message away, ready to assist any UOG staff member with insurance-related questions. Her willingness to help, along with the personal and thoughtful touch she brings to the insurance department, does not go unnoticed.

Ultrasound: Kelly SmithThis past month, Kelly Smith has truly gone above and beyond in her role. She stayed late to ensure the morning muster was completed for the next day when the MA left early, and she seamlessly balanced working up patients and performing ultrasounds to keep the remainder of the day running smoothly. Kelly also covers the front desk daily during lunches, works our diet center, and consistently offers to stay when labs are being run so the MA doesn’t have to stay late. Her dedication and willingness to step in wherever needed make her a vital part of maintaining proper office flow, and her hard work is deeply appreciated.
Front Desk: Alex LambThis month, we’re proud to recognize Alex Lamb for her incredible dedication and unwavering positivity. Alex has consistently stepped in wherever needed—covering the front desk, answering calls at the call center, escorting patients to where they need to be, all while making sure her regular job is taken care of and our patient referrals are sent out.

Her attitude has been nothing short of exceptional. Not once has she shown frustration or hesitation; instead, she’s jumped in wholeheartedly, always ready to help in any way she can. Alex embodies the spirit of teamwork and compassion that makes our practice thrive.

Thank you, Alex, for being a steady, supportive presence and for going above and beyond every single day. We’re lucky to have you!

Manager: Trey Roberts and Tanner BrownSeptember Managers of the Month: Tanner & Trey 🎉 This month, we’re celebrating a dynamic duo whose impact is felt in every corner of our office—even if much of their brilliance happens behind the scenes. Tanner and Trey from our IT department have gone above and beyond in September, juggling the launch of our new website, supporting Luma, and keeping pace with the ever-growing list of projects across the organization. Their dedication, adaptability, and quiet excellence often go unnoticed simply because they make the impossible look effortless. But let’s be clear: we couldn’t function without them. Their work is foundational, their attitude is unwavering, and their contributions are invaluable. We’re deeply grateful for everything they do, and proud to recognize them as our well-deserved Managers of the Month.
WCAS: Katherine OrtizOur Employee of the Month is Katherine Ortiz, and I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through this month without her!

Katherine has worked tirelessly helping us navigate our new surgical instrument contract — inventorying equipment multiple times as changes came through, sorting and organizing every instrument in the building, and ensuring that each one is properly sharpened or repaired.

On top of that, she has stepped outside her normal role to help with the paperwork side of operations, reviewing hundreds of charts with incredible attention to detail. She also jumped in to help with the grand opening of Ellaryn, bringing her positive energy and can-do attitude every step of the way.

Katherine has truly gone above and beyond this month, doing whatever needed to be done — always with a smile on her face. We are so lucky to have her on our team! 💛👏

Nursing : Kelee SmithI am thrilled to select this month’s Employee of the Month for the Medical Assistants: Kelee Smith

Kelee has always gone above and beyond, first while working alongside our NPs and Doctors on the floor, and now in her current role. Kelee has done an extraordinary job transitioning into her new leadership position as the Lead VMA. A true champion for our patients, Kelee consistently dedicates hours to ensuring every patient feels heard and seen. Furthermore, she has taken the initiative to become a key part of our onboarding process by training our new hires. We’ve heard nothing but great things from them. Kelee is a detailed and excellent trainer. She’s always trying to help out, whether it’s creating new training materials or spending extra time elaborating on something new employees might not understand. Her dedication shows in everything she does, from her detailed notes to her open-mindedness and willingness to learn new things. We are beyond grateful for your time, dedication, and the positive impact you have on our entire team. Congratulations, Kelee!

Mammo: Kaylee PerryI would like to recognize Kaylee Perry for her continuing dedication willingness to learn and awesome patient care practices. Kaylee has shown going extra mile is just part of her routine. Thank you, for everything that you do.
Photo of shining star winner

Makayla Walker
Athens Marketer
$250.00 and a Trophy!

We’re proud to honor Makayla Walker with our Shining Star Award for September! As our dedicated Athens marketer, Makayla continues to show excellence through her drive, determination, and can-do spirit.

This month, Makayla: Secured entry into three brand new schools, Reopened marketing access in a previously restricted district, Stepped up to execute a night health fair at last minute.

Makayla’s commitment goes beyond her daily responsibilities. She consistently supports the Athens office ensuring it’s stocked, clean, and connected all while keeping a strong sense of team unity. Her performance continues to rise month after month, and her passion for advocacy recently earned her a state-level recognition for women’s causes.

Makayla doesn’t just show up! She shows out. Her mantra is “I CAN,” and her actions prove it every day. We’re incredibly fortunate to have her on our marketing team. Thankful for her impact, and heart.