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GHEHI In The News
Celebrating Veteran-Owned Businesses
Upstate Warrior Solution (UWS), founded by veteran Charlie Hall, is a nonprofit helping veterans, first responders, and their families navigate essential resources across South Carolina’s Upstate. Since 2013, it has delivered thousands of services in employment, housing, benefits, legal aid, and wellness while expanding outreach to the region’s 87,000 veterans. Hall’s leadership emphasizes face-to-face connection and adaptability, shaped by mentors such as Marine Corps leader Terry Jones, Laurie Ott of the Augusta Warrior Project, and Thomas Norman of Veterans Bridge Home. UWS continues to deepen its community impact through offices in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Easley, and Pickens/Oconee.
Vital Signs
Georgia’s technical colleges are tackling the state’s nursing shortage through major expansions, hospital partnerships, and new student support efforts. Augusta Tech’s collaboration with the Piedmont Augusta Foundation, led by Laurie Ott, turned an unused hospital campus into a teaching facility and created scholarship opportunities. Along with expanded programs, faculty recruitment, and outreach to future students, these initiatives will significantly increase the number of nurses entering Georgia’s healthcare workforce.
I-TEAM: Local hospitals feel strain of nursing staff shortage
Local hospitals in the Augusta area are facing serious strain from a nursing shortage worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Laurie Ott, vice president of human resources and community resources at University Hospital, explained that open beds cannot be used unless there are enough nurses to care for patients. As a result, hospitals are delaying elective procedures and emergency departments are experiencing backups. Facilities are also competing in costly bidding wars for travel nurses while seeing increased turnover as nurses retire early or leave the profession due to burnout. Healthcare leaders warn the staffing shortage is expected to continue without long-term solutions.
MCG Georgia higher education healthcare initiative
​The Medical College of Georgia has announced new developments under the Georgia Higher Education Healthcare Initiative to expand modern research facilities and strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce. Plans include reconstructing the Sanders Building and Pavilion One and Two to support translational research that moves discoveries from the lab to patient care. Consultant Laurie Ott noted that updated facilities are crucial for attracting top physician-scientists and funded researchers, helping address shortages in healthcare professionals statewide. Lawmakers have approved $10.7 million for planning and design, with final approval pending from Governor Kemp, highlighting the project’s long-term impact on healthcare quality and economic growth.
Students learning about careers in healthcare
Columbia County students interested in healthcare explored local career pathways during a Friday event aimed at addressing workforce shortages in the industry. Programs offered through Columbia County Schools introduce students to fields such as dentistry, radiology, and social work, helping students plan earlier for future careers. Eleventh grader Georgia Walden said the pathway has helped her prepare for her goal of working with breast cancer patients. Laurie Ott, executive director of the Georgia Higher Education Healthcare Initiative, said introducing students to healthcare careers early is critical to growing Georgia’s workforce. Students also met with Augusta University and Augusta Technical College to learn about next steps in healthcare education.
Solving CSRA’s Healthcare Shortage
Georgia’s rapid growth has intensified a critical healthcare workforce shortage in the CSRA, with a need for 1,500 additional nurses locally and 5,351 more physicians statewide. Laurie Ott, principal consultant for the Georgia Higher Education Healthcare Initiative, highlighted these challenges at the 2nd Annual Columbia County School District Career Health Expo, where more than 400 high school students explored healthcare career pathways, certifications, and internship opportunities. The event emphasized early exposure, strong math and science skills, and education pathways as key solutions to strengthening Georgia’s future healthcare workforce.
$10.7 million budget item could jumpstart new research era at Medical College of Georgia
The Georgia Senate on Thursday approved a $10.7 million budget addition to fund the design of a proposed $146 million translational research building at the Medical College of Georgia. The funding, included in House Bill 915, passed the Senate 54-1 and would support planning for a 150,000-square-foot facility focused on translational research. The announcement came from the Georgia Higher Education Healthcare Initiative, led by principal consultant Laurie Ott, former president of the Piedmont Augusta Foundation. Final approval requires reconciliation with the House, and funding for construction would be considered in next year’s budget.