ABOUT MEDLINK
We are here to help you! At MedLink Georgia we strive to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous care to all our patients. We offer a broad array of primary and preventive care services for patients of all ages, including screening, diagnosis, and management of chronic illnesses. In addition to primary care, we also offer: pediatrics, behavioral health, diabetes and nutrition education, women’s health, medication-assisted treatment, general dentistry and pharmacy services. All our centers are fully staffed year-round and offer extended hours. Each community has unique needs, so a center may offer specific services based on identified needs and available resources. MedLink Georgia, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
We have proudly been serving northeast Georgia since 1976. As a federally qualified health center, we are able to offer uninsured and underinsured patients a sliding fee scale. No one is denied services due to lack of income or insurance status. Many of our employees are also bi-lingual, eliminating the language barrier and providing a more comfortable and welcoming environment for all cultures.
HISTORY
MedLink Georgia, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) corporation, established as the Oconee- Oglethorpe Primary Health Care Center in 1979 under the Rural Health Initiative Program. The corporation is governed by a Board of Directors with representation from each county where the centers are located.
Day-to-day operations are managed by a Chief Executive Officer and administrative staff from the corporate headquarters in Colbert. Georgia.
The corporation became elderly supported (USPHS Section 3’3O) Primary Health Care Center in 1979 and uses this support to increase access to medical care or patients in northeast Georgia.
MedLink Georgia, Inc. is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 2546, and a deemed Public Health Service employee site under 2 u. 5. C. 233 (B) – (n). Medlink Georgia is covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
OUR VISION
Healthy Individuals, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities
OUR MISSION
To partner with patients and communities to support wellness through compassionate, quality healthcare.
OUR VALUES
- Equality- Providing equal access to quality services for all patients.
- Excellence- In order to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
- Integrity- In the way business is conducted.
- Respect- Treat one another with fairness, respect, loyalty, and dignity.
- Service- Recognize opportunities within our communities to impact health outcomes.
- Stewardship- To protect resources of our clients, communities, and corporation.
DAVE WARD
Chief Executive Officer
Dave Ward is the Chief Executive Officer for MedLink Georgia. He has a Master’s in Business Administration from Regis University, as well as being a Certified Public Accountant. Dave has been serving the community at MedLink for almost 10 years. He was initially brought on as the Chief Financial Officer in 2011 where he began his years of service for the organization. Through different community programs over his employment, Dave has a true passion for helping the underserved by a commitment to MedLink’s mission. He has continued to expand the net MedLink has cast as the “safety net” medical provider of choice.
Christopher Gilley
Chief Financial Officer
Chris Gilley is the Chief Financial Officer for MedLink Georgia. He has a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Accounting from Mercer University. Chris is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Georgia. He has worked exclusively in the healthcare industry his entire career. Growing up in a very rural community, he has a passion for rural health and its support for the quality of life in the rural setting.
MUSHTAQ AHMED, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed is the Chief Medical Officer for MedLink Georgia. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Dow Medical College (Karachi Pakistan) and completed his Residency Program at Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York. Dr. Ahmed has been serving MedLink’s communities for over 4 years, initially brought in as a Physician/Medical Director, but through his passion for quality improvement focused on patient care, he was promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 2019. While remaining active as a provider, he continues to foster a culture of quality, challenging all staff to do their part to ensure MedLink reaches its goal of being “#1 in Quality Care”.
DOUG BRIDGES
Board Chair
Mr. Bridges is a farmer and retired equipment specialist.
NANCY LORD
Secretary
Mrs. Lord is a retired marketing director from Royston Diagnostics.
GARY MORRIS
Treasurer
Mr. Morris is the mayor of Mount Airy and a retired banker from Community Bank & Trust.
MARILYN FAVORS
Hull, GA
Mrs. Favors is a retired Continuing Education Coordinator for Foothills AHEC.
JOE FERNANDEZ
Elberton, GA
Mr. Fernandez is a retired granite stonecraft designer from Trustee TMC.
MERLIN MEJIA
Gainesville, GA
Mr. Mejia is a bilingual financial representative for Greensky.
SANDI SAFFOLD
Winterville, GA
Ms. Saffold is the current HSE Manager at Hitachi.
AL STONE, JR
Danielsville, GA
Mr. Stone is a farmer and attorney.
BOBBY BERRYMAN
Royston, GA
Mr. Berryman is a minister and works for the Franklin County Board of Education as a maintenance supervisor and bus driver.
ALEXANDRA DUVALL, PA-C
Tiger, GA
Dr. Duvall is a Physician’s Assistant at Chatuge Medical Group, specializing in family medicine.
DIANNE COWN
Loganville, GA
Mrs. Cown is a self-employed member of the community, where she owns and manages her own hair salon.
SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
We are dedicated to keeping children in our communities safe and healthy, so we would love the opportunity to partner with any school or community group. We currently partner with schools to provide supplies for nursing staff, immunizations, health care, and safety training, plus so much more. If you have a need or would like to talk about partnerships and/or sponsorships, please contact us!
EVENT SPONSORSHIPS
MedLink is dedicated to being involved in each of our communities to help raise awareness around health and wellness. We seek out every opportunity to help spread knowledge of support and services for things related to health, wellness, resources, and strengthening our communities. If you have an event that you would like to share with us, please let us know! We cannot promise to sponsor every event, but we will try to meet the needs as our budget allows.
HEALTH FAIRS
Health fairs can provide basic services to individuals that might not be able to access quality care otherwise. We would love the opportunity to discuss any ideas or plans that you have for your community or organization!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For any other ideas or needs that you might have for our community, please feel free to reach out to our outreach team to discuss how we can help!
PARTNERSHIPS
- SID WEBER FOUNDATION
- GOD’S ABUNDANCE.
- F.A.I.T.H.
- RABUN HEAD START
- RABUN GAP LODGE
- OSAGE FARMS INC
- CLAYTON CHICK-FIL-A
- DISTRICT 2 PUBLIC HEALTH
- NORTHSIDE
- HABERSHAM HOMELESS MINISTRIES
- NINTH DISTRICT OPPORTUNITY
- RABUN COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
- RAPE RESPONSE
- PIEDMONT COLLEGE
- CIRCLE OF HOPE
- LEGACY LINK
- CARESOURCE
- AMERIGROUP
- WELLCARE
