From allergists to oncologists and pediatricians to menopause specialists, here are the best in Savannah’s medical workforce.
Combining empathetic care, deep knowledge, and the latest techniques and technologies, these winners and runners-up go above and beyond for their patients.
ALLERGIST/IMMUNOLOGIST
Bruce D. Finkel, MD, Coastal Allergy & Asthma
Runner-up: Wasil Kahn, MD, PhD, SouthCoast Health
ANESTHESIOLOGIST
William M. Fuqua, MD, American Anesthesiology Associates of Georgia
Runner-up: Corey A. Stack, MD, American Anesthesiology Associates of Georgia
AUDIOLOGIST
Susan Timna, AuD, CCC-A, Expert Hearing
Runner-up: Cori Palmer, AuD, CCC-A, Expert Hearing
BARIATRIC SURGEON
Oliver C. Whipple, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Memorial Health
Runner-up: Robert J. Kelly, MD, Memorial Health
CARDIOLOGIST
Akinniran A. Abisogun, MD, FACC, RPVI, SouthCoast Health
Runner-up: Jennifer Yeh, MD, FACC, Memorial Health
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON
Jeremy E. London, MD, St. Joseph’s/Candler
Runner-up: Randy K. Bottner, MD, Memorial Health
CHIROPRACTOR
Kaleb Scroggin, DC, Restoration Chiropractic
Runner-up: Chris Whelan, DC, Whelan Chiropractic
Winner, Best Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
“It’s a privilege to care for women at every stage of life, and that purpose keeps me motivated every day.”
CRITICAL CARE SPECIALIST/INTENSIVIST
Nizar S. Eskandar, MD, FACP, CMCM, SouthCoast Health
Runner-up: Ryan B. Moody, MD, FCCP, Southeast Lung Associates
DERMATOLOGIST
Claudia N. Gaughf, MD, Gaughf Dermatology
Runner-up: Corinne M. Howington, MD, Low Country Dermatology & Aesthetics
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT SPECIALIST
David S. Oliver, MD, FACS, FAAOA, Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat
Runner-up: Michael Zoller, MD, FACS, ENT Associates of Savannah
EMERGENCY MEDICAL DOCTOR
Sanjay Iyer, MD, FACEP, Memorial Health
Runner-up (tie): Robert A. Mazur, MD, ExperCARE; and Jay Goldstein, MD, Memorial Health
ENDOCRINOLOGIST
Ismary O. De Castro, MD, FACE, Savannah Endocrinology
Runner-up: Abby T. Abisogun, MD, ECNU, Shoreline Endocrinology
FAMILY MEDICINE/GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Yulianty D. Kusuma, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine of Savannah
Runner-up: Adam F. Novack, MD, SouthCoast Health
FOOT SPECIALIST/PODIATRIST
Craig K. Skalla, DPM, SouthCoast Health
Runner-up: David A. Valbuena, DPM, Georgia Foot & Ankle, St. Joseph’s/Candler
Runner-Up, Best Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
“There will always be peaks and valleys in health, but being able to support them through those ups and downs — and help them become the best version of themselves, both inside and out — is incredibly rewarding,”
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST
Keith M. Seibert, MD, MBA, FAAP, ExperCARE
Runner-up (tie): Rebecca Hart, ANP-BC, IFMCP, Faith, Hope & Wellness; and Harry S. Collins, DO, FACOG, Savannah Age Management Medicine
GASTROENTEROLOGIST
Mark E. Murphy, MD, FACP, AGAF, The Center for Digestive & Liver Health
Runner-up: Mark R. Nyce, MD, The Center for Digestive & Liver Health
GENERAL SURGEON
Jeffrey S. Mandel, MD, FACS, SouthCoast Health
Runner-up: John W. Odom, MD, FACS, Metro Surgical
HAIR RESTORATION SURGEON/SPECIALIST
Timothy J. Minton, MD, FACS, Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery
Runner-up: E. Ronald Finger, MD, Finger & Associates Plastic Surgery Center
HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
Coastal Care Partners
Runner-up: Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
HORMONE THERAPIST
Harry S. Collins, DO, FACOG, Savannah Age Management Medicine
Runner-up: Carmela A. Pettigrew, MD, The Rejuvenation Clinic
HOSPICE-CARE PROVIDER
Hospice Savannah
Runner-up: Georgia Hospice Care
Winner, Best Vascular Surgeon
“Knowing that every new patient could be an aunt or brother of someone I know keeps me on my toes.”
INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST
Melissa Wynn, MD, Southern Surgical Providers, PC
Runner-up: Nenad Avramovski, MD, SouthCoast Health
DOCTOR OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Yulianty D. Kusuma, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine of Savannah
Runner-up: Brooke B. Halpern, MD, Savii Health
NEPHROLOGIST
Nizar S. Eskandar, MD, FACP, CMCM, SouthCoast Health
Runner-up: Rebecca L. Sentman, MD, Nephrology & Hypertension Medical Associates
NEUROLOGIST
Gilmore MacGregor, MD, Savannah Neurology Specialists
Runner-up: Jill P. Trumble, MD, St. Joseph’s/Candler
NEUROSURGEON
Davis L. Reames IV, MD, Neurosurgical & Spine Institute
Runner-up: Kevin N. Ammar, MD, Neurosurgical & Spine Institute
NUTRITIONIST
Sandra G. Brassard, RD, LD, CDCES, Internal Medicine of Savannah, Southern Comfort Nutrition
Runner-up: Meredith Bird, MSN, RD, SouthCoast Health
DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
J. David Carson, MD, ExperCARE Health
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Bob Phillips, OTR/L, CHT, COMT, Optim Orthopedics
Runner-up: Alison Walmsley, OTR/L, CHT, CLCP, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
ONCOLOGIST
Jennifer Yannucci, MD, Low Country Cancer Care
Runner-up: O. George Negrea, MD, Low Country Cancer Care
Runner-up, Best Vascular Surgeon
“During my time at Savannah Vascular, we have grown from three surgeons [to 12] by sticking to the academic principles of providing the least invasive, highest quality, compassionate care to our patients.”
OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Richard R. Schulze Jr., MD, Schulze Eye & Surgery Center
Runner-up: Mark K. Manocha, MD, Georgia Eye Institute
OPTOMETRIST
Erika Morrow, MS, OD, ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear
Runner-up: Edward D. Sammons, OD, SouthCoast Health
OUTPATIENT THERAPY CLINIC
Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
Runner-up: Optim Orthopedics
PAIN MEDICINE/MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Keith A. Kirby, MD, Savannah Pain Management & Savannah Pain Center
Runner-up: Gregory Spellman, MD, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
PHARMACY
Village Walk Pharmacy
Runner-up: Georgetown Drug Company
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Ernest R. Ledesma Jr., PT, Ledesma Sports Medicine
Runner-up: Christopher B. Curry, PT, MS, MEd, SouthCoast Health
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Hailey Stack, PA-C, Internal Medicine of Savannah
Runner-up: Amy Millsap, PA-C, Gaughf Dermatology
PSYCHIATRIST
Chad Brock, MD, Shrink Savannah
Runner-up: Alana Cox, MD, LifeStance Health
Winner, Best Psychologist/Psychotherapist
“There can be so much misunderstanding around autism, but if you back up and look at the broader picture, I think people on the spectrum are incredibly logical and easy to understand.”
PSYCHOLOGIST/PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Shauna Joye, PhD, LP, Joye Psychology & Wellness LLC
Runner-up: Daniel S. Haddad, LCSW, LISW, MAC, Savannah Therapy
PULMONOLOGIST
Ryan B. Moody, MD, FCCP, Southeast Lung Associates
Runner-up: Michael D. Mullins, MD, FCCP, Southeast Lung Associates
RADIOLOGIST
Jack Considine, MD, Coastal Imaging, GLOBIS: Global Imaging Solutions, The Center for Women’s Health
Runner-up: Tyler Burgner, MD, Atlantic Radiology Associates
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST
Patrick L. Blohm, MD, The Georgia Center for Reproductive Medicine
RHEUMATOLOGIST
Than Win, MD, Wrightington Rheumatology
Runner-up: Dean H. Stephens, MD, Coastal Rheumatology Associates
HINOLOGIST (NASAL AND SINUS)
Christopher T. Melroy, MD, FARS, Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute
Runner-up: David S. Oliver, MD, FACS, FAAOA, Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat
SLEEP SPECIALIST
Carlton R. Kemp Jr., MD, Memorial Health
Runner-up: James A. Daly III, MD, FCCP FAASM, Southeast Lung Associates
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Ansley Sellers, CCC-SLP, The Speech Clinic of the Coastal Empire
Runner-up: Karli Cannon, MS, CCC-SLP, Savannah Speech & Hearing Center
Winner, Best Cardiovascular Surgeon and Runner-up, Best Thoracic Surgeon
“When we all sit down at the table and have a conversation that involves intellectual honesty about what is best for the patient — I think that is a huge shift when we talk about how health care is delivered.”
THORACIC SURGEON
Marc Bailey, MD, FACS, St. Joseph’s/Candler
Runner-up: Jeremy E. London, MD, St. Joseph’s/Candler
URGENT/IMMEDIATE-CARE MEDICAL CLINIC
Urgent Care of Berwick, Sandfly & Wilmington Island
Runner-up: ExperCARE Health
UROLOGIST
Buffi G. Boyd, MD, Urological Associates of Savannah
Runner-up: David L. Cheng, MD, Urological Associates of Savannah
VASCULAR SURGEON
Justin B. Brown, MD, Savannah Vascular Institute
Runner-up: Anthony J. Avino, MD, Savannah Vascular Institute
WEIGHT-LOSS SPECIALIST
Steve E. Fabrizio, MD, Premier Medical Weight Loss & Wellness
Runner-up: Oliver C. Whipple, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Memorial Health
Ernest R. Ledesma Jr., PT, Ledesma Sports Medicine
Winner, Best Physical Therapist
“Triathlons taught me that if I’m asking my patients to be committed to their health and achieving results, that’s the same kind of mentality that I have to embrace when training for a race.”
DENTISTRY & ORAL HEALTH
COSMETIC DENTIST
Mark N. Dye, DMD, Mark N. Dye, DMD LLC
Runner-up: Stephanie Joy Sweeney, DMD, Savannah Dental
DENTAL HYGIENIST
Sojourner Mays, RDH, Georgetown Family Dental
Runner-up: Melissa Plummer, RDH, Coastal Dentistry
ENDODONTIST
Beth A. Sheridan, DDS, MS, Beth A. Sheridan, DDS, MS — Endodontics
Runner-up: Rebecca M. Aspinwall, DMD, Savannah Endodontic Associates
GENERAL DENTIST
Roy D. Maynard Jr., DDS, Georgetown Family Dental
Runner-up: Mark N. Dye, DMD, Mark N. Dye, DMD LLC
ORAL SURGEON
Alfred E. Pesto Jr., DMD, FACS, Southeastern Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Runner-up: Michael C. Wilson, DMD, Chatham Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
ORTHODONTIST
Christopher DeLeon, DMD, Broderick, Dusek & DeLeon Orthodontics
Runner-up: Crystal Williams, DDS, Georgetown Orthodontics
PERIODONTIST
Walker Pendarvis DMD, MHS, Coastal Dental Surgery
Runner-Up, Best Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine
“For me, science and surgery are deeply connected. Both require precision, thoughtful analysis, and a constant drive to improve outcomes.”
ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
FOOT AND ANKLE
John T. Prather, MD, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
Runner-up: Juha I. Jaakkola, MD, Optim Orthopedics
HAND AND WRIST
Ronald H. Levit, MD, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
Runner-up: Gregory P. Kolovich, MD, Optim Orthopedics
HIP AND KNEE
James W. Wilson Jr., MD, Optim Orthopedics
Runner-up: Jonathan Christy, MD, Optim Orthopedics
SHOULDER AND ELBOW
Robert Dow Hoffman, MD, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
Runner-up: James W. Wilson Jr., MD, Optim Orthopedics
SPINE
Dmitri Sofianos, MD, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
Runner-up: Thomas E. Niemeier, MD, Optim Orthopedics
Winner, Best Plastic Surgeon, Breast and Body
“There is nothing I enjoy more than the work I do as a plastic surgeon. I do not have a single hobby that brings me more joy.”
PLASTIC SURGEON
BREAST AND BODY
Carl B. Pearl, MD, FACS, Chatham Plastic Surgery
Runner-up: Thomas W. Horn, MD, The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery
FACE AND NECK
Timothy J. Minton, MD, FACS, Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery
Runner-up: Meghan K. McGovern, RenewalMD
RECONSTRUCTIVE
Thomas W. Horn, MD, The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery
Runner-up: Matthew D. McLeod, MD, Seaport Plastic Surgery
Runner-Up, Best Menopause Specialist
“Health care providers are finally talking about menopause and learning how to deal with the symptoms.”
WOMEN’S HEALTH
OBSTETRICIAN/GYNECOLOGIST
A. Joseph Edwards III, MD, OB/GYN Specialists of Savannah
Runner-up: Carmela A. Pettigrew, MD, OB/GYN Specialists of Savannah
MENOPAUSE SPECIALIST
Harry S. Collins, DO, FACOG, Savannah Age Management Medicine
Runner-up: Pamela G. Gaudry, MD, NCMP, FACOG, Coastal Care Partners
PERINATOLOGIST
Anthony B. Royek, MD, Memorial Health
UROGYNECOLOGIST
Joseph T. Stubbs III, MD, FFPMRS, FACOG, UROGYN Savannah
Runner-up: Barry Schlafstein, MD, St. Joseph’s/Candler
“It’s that inner drive to show up fully for your patients, to advocate for them, and to stay present even when things get tough. This core trait is what sets great nurses apart from those who are simply competent.”
NURSING
CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA)
Jim Glazier, CRNA, MSN, Sound Anesthesia LLC
Runner-up: Christina Mondy, CRNA, Coastal Hypnos Anesthesia
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER (FNP)
Margaret Reinhart, FNP-BC, Savannah Pain Management
Runner-up: Caroline Turner, FNP-C, Low Country Dermatology & Aesthetics
NURSE (RN)
Olivia Fulton, RN, The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery
Runner-up: Heather Mathis May, RN, The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery
NURSE (LPN)
Jason Cook, LPN, Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery
Runner-up: Yanti K. Wyant, LPN, Internal Medicine of Savannah
NURSE (NP)
Karen Osterman, NP, Coastal Care Partners
Runner-up: Caroline Turner, FNP-C, Low Country Dermatology & Aesthetics
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
Heather Mell, NP-C, Shrink Savannah
Runner-up: Kimberly M. Wilke, NP, Memorial Health
WOMEN’S HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
Morgan Whelan, WHNP, Savannah ObGyn
Runner-up: Ansley Powell, WHNP, Coastal Care Partners
Nizar S. Eskandar, MD, FACP, CMCM, SouthCoast Health
Winner, Best Nephrologist
Winner, Best Critical Care Specialist
“I love working in underserved communities where the need for quality medical care is needed and very much appreciated.”
PEDIATRICS
PEDIATRICIAN
Ben Spitalnick, MD, MBA, FAAP, Pediatric Associates of Savannah
Runner-up: Dudley W. Stone, MD, Coastal Pediatrics
PEDIATRIC DENTIST
Cara DeLeon Graham, DMD, Pediatric Dentistry of Savannah
Runner-up: Krista C. Hinchey, DMD, Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry
PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER
Kelsey Lofgren Stanko, MSN, CPNP-PC, Pediatric Associates of Savannah
Runner-up: Carli Boatright, NNP, Pediatrix Neonatology of Georgia
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Reed Cetti, MOTR/L, Sonshine Therapy
Runner-up: Kristen VanVlek, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, CPAM, Pediatric Rehabilitation & Wellness
PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Heather Lorden, PT, DPT, PCS, Pediatric Rehabilitation & Wellness
PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGIST
John M. DeVaro, MD, Children’s Eye Institute of Savannah
PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT THERAPY CLINIC
Sonshine Therapy
Runner-up (tie): Southland Pediatric Therapy; and Coastal Pediatric Therapies
PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGIST
Heather Myers, LMFT, Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics
Runner-up: Kristi Hofstadter-Duke, PhD, Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics
PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST
Evan M. Siegall, MD, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
Runner-up: Keith M. Seibert, MD, MBA, FAAP, ExperCARE Health
PEDIATRIC SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Sophia Vargas, MS, CCC-SLP, Sonshine Therapy
Runner-up: Allyson Nash Register,MS, CCC-SLP, Wee Care Pediatric Therapy
