b'SGMC Partners with Mercer to Offer Residency ProgramsSouth Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) and Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) have formed a partnership to bring internal medicine and emergency medicine residency programs to Valdosta. Upon approval by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the residency programs will begin in 2022.This partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations in developing a high-quality graduate medical education option for physicians seeking residency training in South Georgia, says Ronald E. Dean, SGMC President and CEO. As a teaching hospital, SGMC will couple academicsBASF Site Expansion with some of the best-trained medical staff, nurses and healthcare professionals within ourin Cook Countyhighly capable health delivery system to advance our ability to better serve the healthcare needs ofBASF recently announced the expansion of its Sparks, Cook County Valdosta, Lowndes County and South Georgia. facility. The company isinvesting approximately $70 million in capital improvements to produce seed treatment formulations that will lead Research shows that medical residents tendto 30 new full-time jobs. to stay close to their training site to work after they graduate. The new programs are intendedAccording to BASF, the production investment will provide solutions to enhance recruitment and retention efforts atfor farmers while contributing to the economic development of the SGMC. communities it serves. The mission of the Mercer University SchoolWe will continue to help farmers and our seed company and channel of Medicine is to educate physicians and healthpartners succeed in the operations, which includes the development professionals to meet the primary care and healthof our see treatment portfolio, says Martin Horrocks, director, Seed care needs of rural and medically underservedTreatment, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. BASF has areas of Georgia, says Dr. Jean Sumner, Dean ofresponded to their needs by making significant investments in MUSM. We are proud to partner with SGMC. production to deliver effective solutions to help farmers manage pests, disease, and produce higher yields. These investments highlight Internal medicine and emergency residencyour commitment to efficiently bring seed treatment innovations to programs last three to four years under thefarmers to help protect their crops during the times they need it guidance of senior physician educators. Residentsmost.are students who have graduated from medical school and are completing additional training inThe site expansion includes a new formulation unit, lab expansion, and their medical specialty. climate-controlled warehouse, bringing the total site assets to $200 million.BUSINESS + CULTURE 51'