Fifty years is more than a number. It represents thousands of patients cared for, challenges faced head-on, and communities supported along the way. In this episode, we sit down with MedLink Georgia CEO Dave Ward to talk about how MedLink grew from a single small clinic into a trusted healthcare network serving thousands of people, while always keeping patients first.

Tune in for a meaningful look back and an exciting look ahead. If this mission matters to you, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Thank you for listening to the MedLink Georgia Podcast. New episodes feature conversations with providers, leaders, and community partners who are working to improve access to quality, compassionate care.

Follow us on social media to stay connected and see what’s happening across MedLink Georgia: https://linktr.ee/medlinkga?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you enjoyed this episode, please share it and leave a review. Your support helps more people find the show and stay connected to our mission.

Many people still hold outdated beliefs about HIV, leading to fear, missed testing, and preventable infections. In this episode, Dr. Wagenbrenner, an internal medicine physician at MedLink, breaks down the essentials—how HIV affects the immune system, how it differs from AIDS, and why accurate information saves lives. We cover national and Georgia-specific stats, real transmission risks, and the common myths science has long disproven.

We also dive into today’s prevention tools: safer sex practices, PrEP options like Truvada, Descovy, Apretude, and the new six-month injectable, plus PEP and the crucial 72-hour window after possible exposure. Dr. Wagenbrenner explains who should get screened, how rapid and blood tests work, and why easy access to prevention and testing drives down transmission.

Treatment has advanced dramatically, too. Many patients now take one pill a day or receive periodic injections, experience fewer side effects, and reach undetectable viral loads that protect their health and their partners. Dr. Wagenbrenner shares how primary care normalizes these conversations and supports patients without judgment.

If you learned something new, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find trusted HIV prevention and care guidance.

Cold and flu season is here, and we’re breaking it all down with Dr. Teresa Jacobs, Clinical Director at the Georgia Primary Care Association. In this episode, Dr. Jacobs explains the key differences between a cold and the flu, what symptoms matter most, and how to know when a fever or body aches signal something more serious. We also cover simple, effective ways to protect yourself—like handwashing, rest, hydration, healthy foods, and the best timing for your flu shot—plus home remedies that can actually help you feel better. She also shares the warning signs that mean it’s time to see a doctor and clears up how long you’re contagious, even before symptoms start. Tune in, learn practical tips for staying healthy this season, and keep your family protected all winter long. 💙💚

Diabetes can feel overwhelming until the pieces click. In this episode, Registered Dietitian Jennifer Wright joins us to break down what diabetes is, how blood sugar and insulin work, and what those numbers like A1C and fasting glucose really mean.

We cover early warning signs, simple lifestyle changes that make a big impact, and how stress, sleep, and even caffeine can affect your blood sugar. Jennifer also shares practical tips for building sustainable habits—like tapering soda, walking after meals, and making balanced food choices that last.

Plus, learn how MedLink Georgia’s Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support program can help you take control with personalized guidance.

No crash diets. No gimmicks. Just real tools to help you live healthier every day.

Many parents have questions about childhood vaccines and how the recommended schedule helps protect their children’s health. In this episode, pediatric experts Jennifer Rubner and Dr. Elizabeth Reese discuss how vaccines work, why timing matters, and what parents can expect at each stage of the schedule.

They explain how vaccines help prevent illnesses such as pertussis, polio, pneumococcus, and rotavirus, and share insights about how preventive options for RSV are helping protect infants. The conversation also covers common parent questions about vaccine timing, side effects, and what to do if your child has missed a visit.

Our guests provide helpful, easy-to-understand information drawn from current pediatric guidelines and trusted resources such as the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org.

Tune in to learn more about how vaccines fit into children’s overall wellness and how to make informed decisions that support your family’s health.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re sitting down with Dona Miller, a mammogram technologist at MedLink Georgia, to talk about the importance of mammograms, what to expect during the process, and how early detection can save lives.

Dona helps clear up common myths, explains when to start screenings, and shares tips to make the experience more comfortable. Whether it’s your first mammogram or a reminder to schedule your next one, this episode is all about empowering you with knowledge and easing any fears.

Schedule your mammogram at MedLink Winder Imaging in Winder or MedLink Banks Imaging in Commerce by calling 706-521-4967.

Have you ever noticed your shoulders tensing up during a stressful moment? Or felt your heart racing before a big presentation? These aren't coincidences—they're powerful examples of the mind-body connection at work in your daily life.

In this enlightening conversation with Jordan Hoffman, Director of Behavioral Health Services at Medlink, we uncover the science behind how our physical and mental health systems communicate and influence each other constantly. Jordan brings over a decade of experience working in mental health and shares practical, accessible techniques for using this connection to your advantage.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable is how it transforms complex neurological concepts into simple daily practices. When anxiety strikes and your thoughts become overwhelming, Jordan explains how focusing on physical interventions—like paced breathing, lowering body temperature, or releasing muscle tension—can create a backdoor approach to calming your mind. "If we can't tell the brain to stop being anxious, can we tell the body to calm?" This powerful question becomes a gateway to understanding how we can influence our mental state through physical awareness.

You'll discover why mindfulness forms the foundation of a strong mind-body connection and learn specific grounding techniques that engage your senses to pull you out of anxious thought patterns. Jordan also shares accessible starting points for those not ready for therapy but wanting to strengthen this connection, including breathwork, yoga, meditation, and digital mindfulness tools that can integrate seamlessly into busy lives.

Subscribe to our podcast for more insightful conversations about health topics that affect your daily life, and visit medlinkga.org for additional resources to support your wellness journey. What physical signals might your body be sending you today that deserve your attention?

Ever felt like you're the only one overthinking every social interaction while everyone else navigates life effortlessly? Our conversation with Patricia Watley, a licensed clinical social worker at MedLink, reveals the truth: we're all just trying to keep our heads above water.

Patricia breaks down anxiety with refreshing clarity, describing it as "an unhealthy hyper-awareness" that creates "uncomfortable urgency" in our lives. From the person rehearsing their restaurant order multiple times to the musician apologizing for mistakes the audience never noticed, anxiety tricks us into believing our minor stumbles are catastrophic failures. But as Patricia reminds us, most people either genuinely care about us or aren't paying attention to our perceived missteps at all.

Drawing from her own journey from being "terrified of everything" to becoming a therapist who helps others, Patricia shares practical, sometimes unconventional coping strategies that actually work. Her approach combines sensory grounding techniques (comfortable clothes, calming music, familiar surroundings) with psychological reframing. Perhaps most memorably, she describes visualizing her anxiety as "a little purple girl monster" sitting on her shoulder – a technique that allows her to externalize and even speak to her anxiety when it threatens to derail her day.

The conversation offers both validation and hope, acknowledging that managing anxiety is "a daily fight, multiple times during the day" while providing actionable tools to make that fight more winnable. Whether you're dealing with social anxiety, generalized anxiety, or simply want to understand someone who does, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who's walked the path herself. Listen now and discover how naming your anxiety monsters might just help you reclaim your peace of mind.