News and Updates

Memorial Satilla donates $100,000 for construction of SIM lab at South Georgia State College

The following release is courtesy of Memorial Satilla Health.

Pictured (l-r) – Back row: Dr. Tonya Jewell – Assistant Professor of Nursing at SGSC, Cathleen Waters – Assistant Professor of Nursing at SGSC, Kasey Strickland – Chair of Nursing and Health Sciences and Associate Professor of Nursing at SGSC, Dr. Jimmy Harper – VP for Enrollment Management and Information Technology at SGSC, Chris Kovacs – COO at Memorial Satilla, Jeff Seitz – CFO at Memorial Satilla, Brenda O’Steen – VP of Operations at Memorial Satilla, Sara Selby – Interim VP for Academic and Student Affairs at SGSC. Front row: Dr. Jaime Carter – Dean of SGSC’s School of Nursing and Professor of Nursing, Celeste Brizzee – CNO at Memorial Satilla, Dr. Greg Tanner, Interim President at SGSC, Dale Neely – CEO at Memorial Satilla, Sarah Gove – Marketing Director at Memorial Satilla.

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WAYCROSS, Ga. (January 29, 2024) – Memorial Satilla Health is proud to partner with South Georgia State College for the construction of a new simulation lab on the Waycross Campus for the School of Nursing. The hospital’s recent donation of $100,000 from the community benefit fund will assist with build out costs for the new lab.

“Investing in the education and training of future nurses is not just a commitment to healthcare, but a testament to our dedication to fostering excellence in patient care. By supporting the development of skilled and compassionate nursing professionals, we are shaping the future of healthcare and making a lasting impact on the well-being of our community,” said Dale Neely, CEO of Memorial Satilla Health.

“Memorial Satilla Health’s community first philosophy has served Waycross, Ware County and the surrounding area very well from day one. The hospital changes lives for the better, not only within its own hallways but also by supporting many community and educational projects throughout our region,” said Dr. Greg Tanner, SGSC interim president. “This gift will have a transformative impact on South Georgia State College’s nursing program, and I look forward to seeing our students and faculty reap the benefits of this generosity. I am proud of SGSC’s educational partnership with Memorial Satilla Health.”

“I am thrilled to receive this gift from Memorial Satilla Health. With this support, our faculty can provide a more realistic hospital setting for our students on campus, which complements the valuable clinical experiences they already receive at the hospital,” said Dr. Jaime Carter, dean of SGSC’s School of Nursing.

According to Memorial Satilla’s hiring records, the majority of new nurses employed at Memorial Satilla are graduates of South Georgia State College.

About Memorial Satilla Health: Memorial Satilla Health is a mission-driven, community-based health system with a 231-bed full-service hospital. Our tradition of care began more than 60 years ago and continues today with more than 600 employees, physicians and volunteers. The hospital serves as regional referral center for more than 185,000 residents across nine counties in Southeast Georgia. Key services include a very busy ER where we treat more than 47,000 emergencies each year; our Heart, Cancer, Surgery, Rehabilitation, Sleep and Birthing Centers with specialists trained specifically for these needs; and an extensive Mental Health program for senior adults and those suffering with memory loss. 

About HCA Healthcare: Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services comprising 182 hospitals and approximately 2,300 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44 percent. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 35 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives.

About South Georgia State College: South Georgia State College is a residential state college of the University System of Georgia focused on a core of strong teaching and personalized academic advising. SGSC has a long and distinguished tradition of serving the people of Georgia. Students pursue associate degrees in 20 programs of study for transfer to other institutions and select bachelor’s degrees to prepare students for careers in a variety of fields.