When Will Rogers, MD, and Rhonda Rogers, MD, moved to west Georgia after graduating from the Medical College of Georgia in 1983, this community was a very different place than it is today.
A new technology called a ‘mobile telephone’ had just started selling for almost $4,000 each. Vinyl records still outsold CDs — and the largest record manufacturing plant in the world was in Carrollton. The community was smaller, too. The latest census had measured just under 15,000 people living in Carrollton.
A friend suggested the Rogers consider moving to the area, and because of Carrollton’s population, it was one of the communities included in Georgia’s medical school loan forgiveness program for physicians who served a community of fewer than 15,000 people.
Soon Dr. Rhonda Rogers was the third female physician to serve the community, and Dr. Will Rogers was one of the first cardiologists.
Much has changed since the new physicians were welcomed to town with lunch at the Lazy Donkey in 1983.
Tanner Memorial Hospital has grown to become the nationally recognized Tanner Health System, with the additions of Higgins General Hospital in Bremen, Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica, Willowbrooke at Tanner and Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama. Local access to world-class cancer and cardiac care, surgical services, behavioral health and more has grown, and continues to grow with the planning of a new level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton.
Dr. Will Rogers now practices with Tanner Heart & Vascular Specialists, a Tanner Medical Group practice. Dr. Rhonda Rogers, a board-certified dermatologist, practices with Dermatology Specialists of West Georgia.
As honorary chairs of 28th Annual Magnolia Ball, "An Evening Celebrating Our Future," Drs. Will and Rhonda Rogers champion the new NICU as the fundraising project of the ball. The community’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients — including premature babies and infants with serious medical conditions — will soon receive the specialized care they need, closer to family, friends and home.
Mrs. Katie Gambrell and Mrs. Julie Weber, the 2018 Magnolia Ball co-chairs, have worked with nearly 170 committee members to bring together all aspects of the ball, with preparations beginning in November of last year. The sold-out, black-tie fundraising gala will feature an auction, dinner and dancing for 540 guests.
In addition to decorations and auction volunteers, community members and companies are supporting the ball through sponsorships, cash donations, donated auction items and in-kind services.
Members of the public wishing to make a donation may contact Tanner Medical Foundation at 770.812.GIFT (770.812.4438) or visit online at www.TannerMedicalFoundation.org.