Augusta Oncology

Good thing we have a wide-angle lens! Our physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners got together this week for photos, and we couldn't help but be amazed at how much this group has grown. We now have a team of 19 providers. (Can you spot the new faces? We'll be introducing them to you very soon!)

'Tis the season for giving, and one of the most selfless gifts you can give to your community costs ZERO dollars. Our employees were able to share life-saving units of blood right in our parking lot, thanks to @shepeardblood If your business or organization is looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season, Shepeard Community Blood Center's Bloodmobile makes it super easy to do an on-site blood drive.

Chilly weather is chili weather... and the perfect time for an Inaugural Chili Cook Off! Team members from each of our 3 locations went head-to-head to determine which chefs are the chili-making champs, and boy did they ever bring the heat -- literally. Three champions were crowned, but everyone got to enjoy the delicious pots of chili, so... basically, we ALL won. #yum (Big congrats to official victors Christina Armbruster, Michelle Ligon, and Cortney Grubbs for taking home the W for each of their locations.)

During this season of thanksgiving, special moments - like this one shared by the Rogers family - somehow feel even more precious. Alan Rogers has completed his very last chemotherapy treatment! Please join us in sending lots of love and well-wishes to Alan, his wife April Loss Rogers, and their sweet family.

There is no role in life more essential than that of motherhood. In honor of this special day, we’d like to share some photos of some very special ladies: the incredible women who raised our physicians. To every mom, stepmom, surrogate mother, and mother figure thank you for shaping us, supporting us, and surrounding us with your constant love. Happy Mother’s Day!

Exciting news... Local oncologist Dr. Jeremy Wells will be joining our practice starting June 9th! He has already begun accepting new patients at Augusta Oncology as well as Aiken Oncology. To schedule your care with Dr. Wells, please call 706-736-1830.

We're looking for a new Medical Lab Technician to join our growing team! This position conducts routine tests used in diagnosis and treatment of disease; equipment used by the MLT includes the Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (CMP), Tumor Marker, and Sedimentation Rate Analyzers. If you have a certificate or associate degree in medical laboratory sciences and at least one year of relevant industry experience, we want to hear from you! Please click the link below for more details and to apply now:

Today we stand united in respect for those who have served past + present in our Armed Forces. We’re particularly proud of our military veterans in the Augusta Oncology family, including Dr. Miriam Atkins, Dr. Aaron Flanders, Allen Brand, Kristy Picklesimer, Sheila Chadwick, Logan Cauffman, and Heather Self. Thank you for your service and sacrifices to our country Happy Veterans Day!

Team members at Augusta Oncology’s Wheeler Road location took some time this week to donate blood, and you can too! In light of the recent Georgia shelter-in-place order, @shepeardblood is calling on our community to continue to donate blood as part of their emergency preparedness plan. In addition to the year-round universal precautions in place, Shepeard has implemented additional safety measures based on the CDC’s guidelines. If you are healthy and wish to donate, we encourage you to call Shepeard Community Blood Center at 706-7374551 to make an appointment. All blood types are needed, and 1 pint of blood can save up to three lives.

We've all seen a remarkable human response from so many people, like the heroes who work in our health services - doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and others on the front lines - to whom we owe an immeasurable thank you. But also changing lives for the better are the ordinary people who are finding ways to show kindness and compassion - particularly towards those most vulnerable. Thank you so much, Smoky Mountain K-9 Designs, for selflessly sharing your time and talents ...to help keep the Augusta Oncology team and our patients safe! *****EDIT***** We've done some digging and learned that Vicki, owner of Smoky Mountain K-9 Designs, temporarily closed her business in order to start making masks for healthcare workers and others at absolutely no charge, and she'll continue to do so as long as she can. She is NOT selling them. But these masks do cost money to make -- supply & shipping costs alone are roughly $14 for every 4 masks. If you would like and are in a position to do so, please consider making a donation to help defer costs for this great cause: PayPal: [email protected] (If you send your donation via Friends and family it does not charge a fee) OR You can donate through CashApp: $VickiHWilliams

Another important announcement from Augusta Oncology and Aiken Oncology: in an effort to provide the safest environment for our patients, and based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, we are limiting patients' guests to 1 visitor beyond the waiting room, with the exception of Chemotherapy Teaching Visits. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might cause; please speak with the front office staff if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding as we work diligently to protect our immunocompromised patients and help minimize the spread of Coronavirus.

Augusta Oncology & Aiken Oncology wants to share the following information about COVID-19 with our patients, their families, and all potential visitors to the practice. Just as in the case of the flu, colds, or stomach viruses that are easily spread, the best prevention is frequently (and thoroughly) washing your hands with soap and warm water, and refraining from touching your face. If you believe you have been exposed to, or have symptoms of - COVID-19, you should call yo...ur primary care physician, urgent care center, or emergency department. Please do not come to Augusta Oncology if you have symptoms or have been exposed to the coronavirus. We are not a testing or treatment facility for COVID-19, and we must exercise utmost caution in protecting our immunocompromised patients. It's always best to call for further instructions rather than go to a facility. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, facilities will be folllowing infection control protocols that are specifally intended to manage and contain the illness. For information and current updates, please the Center for Disease Control's website (link in comments below). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Remember, we're all in this together! By staying calm and taking care to do the right things, we can protect ourselves and one another. <3

#tbt Check out these winners sporting their championship belts around the office like a couple of bosses! Katie Hardy won the Fake It To Make It Lip Sync Challenge last year, and Dr. Miriam Atkins's team Gurlz Rule raised the most money in this year's competition. Next up: we're excited to cheer on Dr. Aaron Flanders as he competes to win Dancing Stars of Augusta for the Alzheimer's Association, and CEO Traci Duffie as she competes for 2020's Woman of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We love supporting the great organizations that make such a difference in our community! "A champion isn't made of muscle; a champion is made of heart. - Liang Chow

Our team is always on board for a great cause...especially when it involves dancing! Dr. Aaron Flanders is competing in Dancing Stars of Augusta 2020, benefiting the Alzheimer's Association, and he needs your vote! Please click the link in the comments below to place your vote for Dr. Flanders & his partner Megan Arrington (and check out them cutting the rug in this fun video). Thank you for your support!

Buckle up and take a ride with our very own Dr. Miriam Atkins and Team Gurlz! These ladies are about to take the town by storm in the 5th Annual Fake It to Make It event tomorrow night -- a crazy fun fundraiser which features teams competing in a lip sync battle to benefit SafeHomes Domestic Violence Center. If you'd like to contribute to Dr. Atkins's campaign, please see the link in the comments below - or even make plans to attend the show tomorrow night at the Miller Theater. Go get 'em, Dr. Atkins!!!

In honor of #FlashbackFriday, we wanted to share some pics of last month's Celebrating Survivors event outside of our brand new Aiken Oncology location. The afternoon was filled with Guitar Pull ticket giveaways, Cornhole, life-size Jenga games, lunch served by Diablo's Southwest Grill, and all the cake from Betsy's Round the Corner that we could handle!

Look who came to pay us a visit before his big night! #merrychristmastoall

Be still our (Sacred) heart! Just feast your eyes on this gorgeous gingerbread masterpiece, which was painstakingly created by the talented Ingrid Warden, and so generously donated to us by patient Katie Delaigle. The epic (and edible) replica of one of Augusta's most beautiful historic buildings is on display now at our Wheeler Road location!