His life changed in an instant. David Willoughby stepped into a shallow spot while mowing grass and hurt his back. After weeks of wrestling with the pain and the onset of numbness, he went to Eastside Medical Center, his first time in a hospital in 45 years. Scans revealed he had a ruptured disk; a spine injury so severe that he needed immediate surgery.

He awoke from surgery to the diagnosis of ‘spaghetti legs.’ David had lost the use of his legs and was moved to the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit to begin therapy on his upper body to prepare him for life in a wheelchair.

John Gardner loves to work in his yard and play golf. However, when he began getting short-winded during this exercise, John checked in with his primary care physician who then referred him to Snellville cardiologist David Lantz, M.D.

John had developed a heart murmur. For two years, Dr. Lantz monitored John’s progress until his condition warranted referral to cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Alan Wolfe, M.D.

“Dr. Wolfe told me I had a bad aorta valve that needed to be repaired or replaced,” John recalls. “He gave me options. One was to use a pig valve to replace mine, if that was what I wanted to do.”

Hunter Gossard is a real outdoorsman and avid fisherman who recently upped his game and now casts from a kayak. For his birthday, this fifth grader got a fish finder to mount on his kayak.

“I enjoy fishing, especially kayak fishing,” explains Hunter, “When I finally reel one in, I feel like I finally succeeded by putting all my patience into watching a rod and a line.”

His mom, Michelle says, “Hunter catches big fish. I don’t know if it’s luck or skill, but he has an affinity for fishing.” Even when on vacation or traveling to a baseball tournament – playing ball is Hunter’s other passion – the Gossards bring their kayaks so that Hunter can wet a hook.

Jennifer Callewaert thought she had a stomach bug. As office manager for Rozin Internal Medicine in Lawrenceville, she is around patients all day, and by the time she got home that day, she felt very nauseous. Later that night, when she began experiencing severe back pain, Jennifer called Spencer Rozin, M.D., who met her at Gwinnett Medical Center. A CT-scan confirmed that Jennifer had gallstones and that surgery was in order.

“I take care of myself and have a routine physical each year,” explains Jennifer. “Other than the occasional minor illness, I have no other need to see a doctor.”

She admits that having a doctor to turn to for advice was a great comfort. As part of his concierge practice, she knows how well Dr. Rozin takes care of his patients but never thought she would have to experience it first hand. “He met me at the hospital and then proceeded to coordinate every aspect of my medical care.”

Healthcare – it’s arguably the most important issue of the day. Whether you’re a patient or a caregiver, a healthcare provider or employer, a student or an educator, healthcare is the topic that both drives both news cycles and our lifecycle. In our annual healthcare issue, Gwinnett Magazine features news and information from every perspective. Below you’ll find updates from many of our major healthcare providers.

Advanced Urology of Georgia
Advanced Urology of Georgia: Unsurpassed Care, Excellent Service, Experience and Cutting-Edge Technology

Aligned Balance Center
Aligned Balance Center Helps Patients Maintain Overall Optimal Health

Atlanta Oncology Associates
Atlanta Oncology Associates Offers Quality Care through Exceptional Physicians

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Jitesh Patel M.D.

The Advanced Urology Institute of Georgia is a world-class organization led by Jitesh Patel M.D.  We will provide you with outstanding, cutting-edge care through excellent service, hard work and innovative technology. We are here to help you.

You will receive outstanding service. Your call is answered directly by our professional, prompt and courteous office staff. Once you arrive in our beautiful office, you will always be seen by Dr. Patel. We strive to see urgent appointments the same day and most other appointments can be made within one week. We always look at your individual needs and do what is best for you. We will do everything we can to accommodate your needs.

Dr. Helle Vander Yacht

Dr. Helle Vander Yacht is a nationally recognized chiropractor and neuromuscular massage therapist. She is the director of the Aligned Balance Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Aligned Balance Center is a strategic health alliance with the Atlanta Center for Restorative Dentistry (ACFRD). By sharing the facilities and resources of each institution, patients have access to the expertise of a multidisciplinary team.

The Aligned Balance Center is a state-of-the-art holistic facility dedicated to the health of people. Our ability to utilize neuromuscular massage, chiropractic, and physiotherapeutic modalities, as well as our access to a network of talented, caring clinicians, assures our patients a sense of wellness. We are committed to making a positive difference and enhancing the lives of every person that we touch. The effects of massage and chiropractic go way beyond simple relaxation – it’s about good health. Much like regular visits to the dentist promote good oral health and prevent dental problems, regular postural alignments (spine and muscles) help maintain good health and prevent problems and injury.

Atlanta Oncology Associates at Cancer Center of Gwinnett offers Georgia’s highest quality Radiation Therapy care through the physicians and staff at our center located at 698 Duluth Highway, Suite 100, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046.

Our Physicians:

Gary B. Stillwagon, Ph.D., MD
Dr. Stillwagon earned his BS in Physics, and then received his M.S. and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering all from Georgia Tech in Atlanta. After working for a year as a radiation oncology physicist, Dr. Stillwagon discovered his true calling, Radiation Oncology. He then pursued his medical degree from the University of Tennessee and then completed his residency at John Hopkins Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident, President of the House Staff Council and Clinical Fellow of The American Cancer Society. Dr. Stillwagon, a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, went on to serve four years on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Certification received in Principles and Practice of Stereotactic Radiation Therapy”, Wake Forrest University School Of Medicine.

Who are the enlightened and sophisticated employers? According to Andy Webber, President of the National Business Coalition on Health, they are the employers who “see health management not as an operating cost but an investment in workforce health and productivity.”

Dee W. Edington wrote Zero Trends with the purpose of demonstrating that the improved health status of employees will not only reduce healthcare costs for the company, but also increase performance and productivity in the workplace. His book is about a new model of healthcare that defines healthcare as a combination of illness and wellness strategies that affect the bottom line of organizations far beyond simply striving to reduce the cost of insurance premiums. He contends “health management is a health strategy, but equally important, health management is a business and economic strategy.”