Georgia Regents Medical Center Kidney Recipient Team in Augusta, Georgia

The Georgia Regents Medical Center Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program is staffed by a dedicated team of transplant surgical and medical specialists.

Practice Site Leaders

The Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program physicians and staff are committed to making your health care experience convenient and problem-free. Please contact any of the leaders below if you need assistance before, during or after your visit with us. Simply call 706-721-2888.

Constance Haney, MSM, CNMT Business Manager	Christina Wiggins, RN, CCTC, MBA Clinical Transplant Administrator

Physicians

A Transplant Surgeon will perform your kidney or kidney/pancreas transplant surgery.  The surgeon will work jointly with the transplant nephrologist to oversee your care during your hospital stay.  The transplant surgeon will also oversee your pre-transplant evaluation.

Dr. James Wynn joined Georgia Regents Medical Center as a transplant surgeon in 1987 after completing his transplant surgery training at the University of Florida. His surgical interests include kidney and pancreas transplantation and dialysis access. He is also past president of the UNOS Board of Directors.

Dr. Todd Merchen joined the program in 2007. Dr. Merchen, who completed his transplant surgery training at the University of Cincinnati, was director of the kidney transplant program in Spokane, Washington prior to coming to Georgia Regents Medical Center.  He serves as the program director.  In addition to kidney and pancreas transplantation, he specializes in laparoscopic nephrectomy, hepatobiliary surgery, and vascular access.

A Transplant Nephrologist will work with the surgeon to oversee your medical care during your hospital stay following transplant.  After discharge, the nephrologist will provide follow-up care in the Post-Transplant Medicine Clinic.  The Georgia Regents Medical Center transplant nephrologist will also ensure that you continue to see your primary nephrologist, so you can receive much of your follow-up care in your local community and have easy access to a knowledgeable physician at home when problems arise.  

Dr. Laura Mulloy is the primary transplant nephrologist.  She completed her training at Medical College of Gerogia and is currently the director of transplant nephrology and chief of the Section of Nephrology, Hypertension and Transplant Medicine in the Georgia Regents Medical Center Department of Medicine.
Dr. Muralidharan Jagadeesan joined the program in 1997.  "Dr. J" completed his transplant nephrology fellowship in Toronto prior to coming to Georgia Regents Medical Center.
Dr. Luis Ortiz came to Georgia Regents Medical Center in 2002 after completing his pediatric nephrology training at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.  Dr. Ortiz is chief of the Section of Pediatric Nephrology in the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Obioma Nwobi joined the Georgia Regents Medical Center Pediatric Transplant program in October 2007.  He completed his pediatric nephrology training at the University of Miami prior to coming to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners

Physician Assistants (PA-C) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. During your pre-transplant evaluation visit, the physician assistant or nurse practitioner will perform a complete medical history and physical exam.  Following transplant, the physician assistant or nurse practitioner will work closely with the transplant nephrologists to provide follow-up care in the adult post-transplant clinic.

Bill Wolff, PA-C joined the Georgia Regents Medical Center Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program in August 1983 after graduating from the Medical College of Georgia Physician Assistant program and has worked in different capacities, most of the time with evaluation of patients referred for kidney transplant consideration.
R. Scott Smith, FNP-C joined Georgia Regents Medical Center Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program in September 2010.  He is a BSN graduate of the Medical College of Georgia and MSN/FNP graduate of University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Scott is currently FNP-C board certified.
Amy Cohan, NP-C recently joined the Georgia Regents Medical Center Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program after completing a postmasters adult nurse practitioner program at Armstrong Atlantic State University.  She received her Masters in cardiovascular nursing from University of Washington and has worked in a variety of medical, surgical and critical care settings as a staff nurse, clinical researcher and educator.  While teaching at the University of Pennsylvania, Amy gained extensive experience with heart, lung, and kidney transplant patients.

Transplant Coordinators

A Pre-Transplant Coordinator is a specially-trained registered nurse who will coordinate work-up activities related to your evaluation as well as help you stay ready for transplant while waiting for a kidney or kidney/pancreas.  The Pre-Transplant Coordinator will also serve as a liaison between you and the rest of the transplant team. 

Barbara Gilmore, RN, CCTC	Lynn Joyner, RN, CCTC	Tonia Ryll, RN, BSN	Amanda Wright, RN, BSN

A Post-Transplant Coordinator is a specially-trained registered nurse who works closely with transplant nephrologists to provide follow-up care in the adult post-transplant clinic. 

Dee Hawkins, RN, BSN, CCTC	Courtney Nuckols, RN, CCTC	Paul Beck, RN

A Satellite Clinic Transplant Coordinator is a specially-trained registered nurse who works closely with the satellite clinic nurse practitioner and physicians during your evaluation day visit or post-transplant follow-up appointment. 

Jeanine Davis, RN

Pharmacists

A Pharmacist will help you understand the role, dosages, and side effects of medicines you will be taking after transplant.  Additionally, the MAP pharmacist can connect you with resources to help offset the cost of medicines.

Gene McGinty, RPh University of Georgia Medication Access Program	Donna Vasil, PharmD

Debra Hartshorn, SW	Gloria Taylor, LMSW	Marilyn Williams, LCSW

Financial Coordinators

A Transplant Financial Coordinator will assess your medical insurance coverage prior to evaluation and assist with financial planning for your surgery and post-transplant medications.

Mechele Morales Financial Coordinator	Rebecca Bold Financial Coordinator	Ada Brownson Fundraising Coordinator

Administrative Professionals

An Administrative Professional will contact you to schedule your pre-transplant orientation and evaluation appointments.

Kay Simon Administrative Secretary	Mimi Hopson, CMA Orientation Secretary	Donna Coleman Evaluation Secretary	Cynthia Smith Pre-Transplant Support Secretary