Tift Regional Medical Center welcomes new director to develop residency programs

TIFTON, Ga. – Filling vacancies in healthcare settings can be difficult, but that’s what one medical center is looking to change in the next couple of years.

The Tift Regional Medical Center is working towards developing new residency programs in the next couple of years. And, we got a chance to speak with the doctor whose going to be leading the project.

The plan is to launch those residency programs by 2026 at Tift Regional.

And… it’s being helmed by Dr. Kimberly Megow.

“So, my role is to oversee and get launched two new graduate medical education programs, one in the specialty of internal medicine and the other in OB/GYN. So, Tift has not previously had any GME or Graduate Medical Education Programing…” said Dr. Kimberly Megow, Dir. Graduate Medical Education, TRMC.

Dr. Megow herself is no stranger to the healthcare scene in Southwest Georgia, as she served the Valdosta community for 20 years as a pediatrician.

After a career that’s taken her to San Antonio and Kansas City, she’s excited to get to work in Southwest Georgia once again.

“Oh, it’s an honor and a privilege to be able to pass the baton on to the younger generation coming out to help them develop their skills and their profession in a way that they can make an impact to the populations that we serve…” said Dr. Megow.

And… there’s still a lot of work to be done for Tift Regional to make that 2026 launch window.

“And, now we’re working through the application process for each of the two specialty programs. That requires quite a bit of paperwork, a lot of communication with faculty members who will be participating in the teaching of these residents,” said Dr. Megow.

With there being an ever present physician shortage, Dr. Megow knows it’s also about attracting residents to Southwest Georgia as a whole.

“And, so, in an attempt to help with the recruiting and develop a pipeline of physicians to continue to be able to provide care to our community. Developing these residency programs is key to attracting people to this area,” said Dr. Megow.

In the meantime, there’s still plenty that needs to be done that Dr. Megow is ready for.

In a release sent out by the Tift Regional Medical Center, they’ll be partnering with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Moultrie when it comes to providing clinical rotations for the residency programs.

Brian Roche reporting.

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