Advancing Health Podcast
Episode: Rebuilding Georgia’s Rural Pediatric Pipeline: Part One
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Elisa Addisfaku Chaga (American Hospital Association)
Guests: Dr. Jean Sumner (Dean, Mercer University School of Medicine) and Mark Welsh (Vice President of Child Advocacy, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the persistent issue of limited pediatric care access in rural Georgia and highlights an innovative partnership between Mercer University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Through their collaboration, they are addressing gaps in pediatric care, workforce challenges, and behavioral health needs—creating a replicable model for other states.

Key Discussion Points

The Challenge of Rural Pediatric Care (00:00–02:27)

• Host Introduction: Pediatric care is notably scarce in rural areas; this episode shares how two leading organizations are tackling the issue.
• Demographic Challenges: Aging populations and smaller follow-up generations make workforce shortages more acute, particularly in rural healthcare.
• Motivation for Partnership: Aim to build a sustainable, community-rooted pediatric workforce.

The Role of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (02:27–04:09)

• Mark Welsh: Focused on “community impact”—improving kids' outcomes beyond hospital walls.
• Sought a partner with rural expertise—Mercer University fit due to its deep ties in rural Georgia.
• "For us…there was no better partner than the Mercer School of Medicine and the Rural Health Innovation center." (Mark Welsh, 01:22)

Mercer’s Rural Health Mission (04:09–04:50)

• Dr. Jean Sumner: Mercer was founded to educate healthcare professionals committed to rural Georgia.
• Shocking shortage of pediatricians: Over half of Georgia’s rural counties lack any pediatrician; many have no physician at all.
• "One of the most underserved areas in our state is pediatrics…about 63 to 65 [rural counties] do not have a pediatrician." (Dr. Sumner, 03:12)
• Family medicine is often the fallback, but access remains difficult.

Four Core Initiatives for Rural Pediatric Care (04:50–07:41)

[1] Building Capacity in Rural Facilities

• Most rural hospitals are adult-focused; need for protocols, equipment, and training for pediatric care.
• Collaborated with nearly 30 hospitals to enhance readiness for treating children.
• "We wanted to ensure that when a child comes through the doors…those wonderful folks knew and were equipped on how do we best serve those kids." (Mark Welsh, 05:16)

[2] Creating Rural Pediatric Networks

• Rural pediatricians often feel isolated without access to colleagues and subspecialists.
• A network was developed connecting them to Atlanta-based experts and providing telehealth subspecialty access.
• "We were creating a network of connection amongst those rural pediatricians, but also an anchor back to experts here in Atlanta." (Mark Welsh, 06:21)

[3] Advancing Mental and Behavioral Health

• Behavioral health is a major concern—exacerbated by access issues and stigma in rural regions.
• Programs expand screening and, crucially, facilitate connections to real services.

[4] Building the Workforce

• Scholarships enable students from rural areas to attend med school and return to serve their home communities.
• Addressing financial barriers is essential to ensuring a pipeline of rural pediatricians.

Recruiting and Training Rural-Focused Physicians (07:41–11:17)

• Student Recruitment: Mercer prioritizes students from rural backgrounds (approx. 50% vs. US average of 4.3%).
• Training Approach:
  • Problem-based learning; emphasizes clinical reasoning, comprehensive patient history, and examination.
  • Students spend extensive clinical time in rural towns, mentored by skilled rural physicians.
  • Scholarships are offered to those committing to rural pediatric practice.
• Memorable moment: "Nobody's a bad doctor in a small town because everybody knows what happens." (Dr. Sumner, 09:18)
• Retaining Talent: Real-world experience in rural communities paired with financial support is key to graduates returning and staying.

Integrating Behavioral and Physical Health (11:17–14:19)

• Early and Ongoing Behavioral Health Training: All medical students rotate through psychiatry and work with mental health professionals.
• New Accelerated Tracks: Three-year psychiatry program with a return-to-rural community commitment.
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta also funds scholarships for Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) students serving rural communities.
• "Mental health is physical health, and it has to be closely integrated into every case." (Dr. Sumner, 12:21)
• Comprehensive care means building behavioral health capacity alongside medical care.

Extending the Team and Ensuring Care Continuity (13:19–14:19)

• Mark Welsh: MFT scholarships allow quick scaling of behavioral health support, essential for connecting screened kids with appropriate care.
• "You can screen all you want…if you don’t have the care on the other end…then the screening is for naught and actually probably causes more harm than good." (Mark Welsh, 13:41)

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• "For us…there was no better partner than the Mercer School of Medicine..." —Mark Welsh (01:22)
• "About 63 to 65 [rural counties] do not have a pediatrician." —Dr. Jean Sumner (03:12)
• "Nobody's a bad doctor in a small town because everybody knows what happens." —Dr. Jean Sumner (09:18)
• "Mental health is physical health, and it has to be closely integrated into every case." —Dr. Jean Sumner (12:21)
• "If you don’t have the care on the other end…then the screening is for naught..." —Mark Welsh (13:41)

Key Timestamps

• 00:18 — Introduction of Guests
• 01:17 — Mark Welsh describes his role and community impact vision
• 02:27 — Dr. Sumner introduces Mercer's rural mission
• 04:50 — Four core initiatives: facility capacity, network, behavioral health, workforce
• 07:41 — Training and recruitment strategies for rural physicians
• 11:17 — Integrating mental and physical health in training and care
• 13:19 — Building the behavioral health team; MFT scholarships

Conclusion

This episode underscores the vital impact of partnership, local investment, and workforce innovation in transforming rural pediatric care. Through targeted recruitment, hands-on rural training, robust professional networks, and investments in behavioral health capacity, Mercer University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are building a sustainable, effective pediatric care pipeline—one with lessons for rural America at large.

Stay tuned for part two of this important conversation.