The 3rd Pillar- Savannah River Site & Plant Vogtle

3rd pillar- Nuclear

(This report is being written and edited on a constant basis by Morrison Marketing. Morrison Marketing is a small marketing firm in Augusta, Georgia serving small business in the area. We design websites, create logos, give consulting advice and pretty much anything to do with growing or starting your business. I am a 23 Y/o Augusta Tech graduate and love my city, I will work very hard for you and your business, for money, but also out of love for this subject and my city. I have many blogs, reports, YouTube videos covering issues relevant to Augusta and her economy. If you have any concerns, information for me, would like to discuss business issues or would like me to work to grow your business, please email me at AugustaEconomy@gmail.com, thanks, lets grow this city and make something happen -Michael Morrison, Morrison Marketing "A proud to be Augusta, Georgia company)

Plant Vogtle

(The two towers above and the accompanying structures represent the cold era way of making nuclear energy. The land here is highly capitalized and is a hotbed of activity. The main objective is to simply create energy. This is the safest and most efficient way to create energy and may look environmentally unfriendly, but saves the atmosphere tons of carbon waste and allows cheap energy, an absolutely crucial aspect to an economy. The large projects of this scale are proportional to the energy demands of the United States and as energy needs increase, places like this become more and more necessary to meet the demands)

     Plant Vogtle is a Nuclear Energy Facility located in Burke County, Georgia, right under Augusta, Georgia. The plant is one of the only plants in the world currently under expansion and has recently been awarded a 20 year license to continue operations, a strong positive sign of public approval of the plant and a commitment to a long term plan and not the sway of the moment. With the accident of Fukushima happening in 2011, there are 100's of projects being abandoned worldwide, this is not one. This event has had a minimal effect on the mood of nuclear energy for this facility and, if anything, has strengthened the commitment to safety. The Economic input, conservation efforts and charitable activities of Southern Company, the main stakeholder in Vogtle, is greatly appreciated.

     Plant Vogtle is a success story, due to proper planning, large capitalization and strong support by the community and the nation. It truly represents the coming together of many complex factors and of a plan being well executed. The tedious functions of a nuclear facility are in the hands of many Augusta citizens who work here and they recognize and understand the importance and pivotal importance there job has, namely the consequences of a nuclear accident. They understand that, in their hands, they can either make energy cheaper than it ever has been and advance scientific research through allowing the practice of nuclear activity, or they can doom and damn nuclear energy for the prolonged future, causing a stifled scientific presence and higher energy costs. 

     The local community of Augusta is very supportive of any growth at Vogtle. They see the direct employment it provides and have derived great beenfit from it. Many business owners in Burke County and Southern Richmond County derive up to 50% of their revenue from this entities payroll, namely landlords and restaurant owners. The local populace is much less concerned with environmental issues compared with French, German and Japanese citizens and glad that we can reap the benefits of being on such a crucial edge. Many locals understand the science behind it and have done their own research. Most have come up with the conclusion that it is safe and feel comfortable with it in our backyard. Many are proud to lead the nation and become a shining example and commitment to nuclear energy. 

     This plant is owned by Georgia Power (45.7%), Oglethorpe Power Corporation (30%), Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (22.7%) and Dalton Utilities (1.6%). Vogtle produces electricity through nuclear The two smokestacks above produce around 2400 MW of power when both online. This is one of the only nuclear plants in the world that is seeking to expand, after many were abandoned with the 3/11 incident in Japan and the Fukushima disaster. With the political environment in many countries rendering nuclear energy with a taboo, the CSRA proves to be a positive place for nuclear energy politically. 

     While there has not been a serious incident yet, there are constant planning and preparation going on to ensure that any event and possible action is accounted for. Tornado's, Earthquake's and major thunderstorms are constantly monitored, by a team of people who's job it is to do this 24/7. The Plant is designed to withstand a 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake, Massive flooding and a category 5 Tornado throwing cars around at 360 MPH. Despite the common misconception, the nuclear material here is not enriched to "Explode", it designed for nuclear fission, which can "Explode". After 9/11 a study was commissioned to see if the plant can withstand a large commercial airplane directly crashing into the cooling towers, which house the nuclear material which would be the target in such an event, the towers would withstand multiple commercial airplanes in direct crashes and even then, it is doubted that the integrity of the structure would be unsound. 

(One of several monitoring rooms, these places highlight the most advanced technological aspects of our time. The most cutting edge computer systems are present in this room. The level of importance and seriousness in this room is unparalleled. Here is where people can "Play God")

     The facility is completely air-locked, any pipes and entrances are valved off and in any sign of trouble the towers are compartmentalized and immediately sealed. The facility goes into lock down mode and the nuclear material is sealed and almost impossible to mix with the atmosphere. In event of power loss from the off-site power plant (A power plant to power a power plant), there are Diesel power generators, DC batteries and even manual systems that operate without any electric power. 

(2 of these are being prepared for construction at Plant Vogtle. These represent the vast amount of research and improvement from the Japanese, French, Russian, Iranian and other incidents of nuclear power plants that occurred since the finishing of the 2 older reactors. This affects the economy of Augusta by of course, bringing in nuclear physicists and the such, but in a geographical way connecting us to Japan. The company that is selling the USA, UK, Canada, German and South Korean energy companies these reactors is owned and operated by Toshiba, a Japanese company that leads the world in building and actually making the components of the nuclear process. This reflects the heaviest and most specialized of exchange in the modern world. The workshops of Japan have the technology and capacity to construct these complex entities and the CSRA has the land and labor for it. Trade between Augusta and Japan has enabled each country to do what they do best and to make some power)

     The amount of construction going on and that has happened at Vogtle is astounding. Over 14 billion dollars. Most of the construction workers are from Augusta and the skills they bring will make sure the labor force has plenty of skilled carpenters and related trades. For every nuclear scientist that will be employed there will be much more tradesman who assist in the plant. The large slice of blue collar labor available in South Augusta and Burke County provide the necessary labor for such expansion. 

This is a sampling of some jobs offered at Plant Vogtle

• I&C - Nuclear Planning & Scheduling Specialist, Southern Company
• Civil Field Engineer - Vogtle, Shaw Group
• Nuclear Licensing Engineer, Plant Vogtle 3 & 4, Southern Company
• Sr. Electrical Field Engineer - Vogtle, Shaw Group
• Senior Director - Vogtle Nuclear Construction Project, Shaw Group
• Electrical Engineer - Plant Vogtle Units 3&4, Southern Company
• Digital I&C Engineer - Plant Vogtle 3&4, Southern Company
• Fire Protection Engineer - Plant Vogtle 1&2, Southern Company
• Project Manager- Schedule Compliance (Vogtle), WestingHouse Corp.
• Material Requisition Specialist / Planner-Jones/Vogtle, System One
• Air Operated Valve (AOV) Engineer - Plant Vogtle 1&2, Southern Company

Savannah River Site

      Savannah River Site employs over 10,000 people in a range of activities that span the income and skill spectrum. There are scientists here for some of the worlds most advanced research, many have connections with MIT, Georgia Tech, University of Chicago  Harvard, Yale Princeton  Cali-Berkeley and other elite schools. The site was originally a plant that made some components of atomic weapons, but now they convert some of those weapons into nuclear material for energy purposes and store nuclear waste.  The site incorporated an entire town and is geographically safely positioned away from centers of large population. The site itself is 310 square miles. Future uses includes hosting research reactors, a reactor park for power generation, and other possible uses.

                           

     When the 2008-09 stimulus came around the Savannah River Site Nuclear Facility was the largest single recipient of stimulus dollars. The massive interjection from the Federal level was welcomed, but the spin down leaves a problem, a good problem in some senses, but still a problem of more people entering the workforce when the stimulus was supposed to improve the scenario. The stimulus was very secular and non-lasting, although the activities were needed, the dollars would have been in better use with the tax-payer. That being said, Augusta is poised to get "its fair share" of future stimulus dollars for future cleaning and waste removal projects, there are not many nuclear sites to split the funds up between and the public demand for action can be overwhelming in this subject, elected officials have a high incentive to bring what they can to this entity, through lobbying and through constituents demands. One of the unseen parts of operating a nuclear power plant is the burden of regulations and compliance. The Savannah River Site is a place talked of in Washington DC and to them, it may be a place on a piece of paper, but here the expansion  or contraction of Vogtle is of the utmost importance to the economy. There is plenty of money to be gathered for "representation" in DC, Atlanta and wherever else people decide what goes on in Augusta, Georgia. Vogtle should, at least, be a hassle to cut from and find some resistance from lobbyists and politicians themselves.

     The Savannah River Site also has one of 12 national laboratories, a distinction of leading research in an area for national purposes. The areas served at this national laboratory include, environmental remediation, technologies for the hydrogen economy, handling of hazardous materials, a field demonstration site for testing and evaluating environmental cleanup technologies, and laboratories for ultra-sensitive measurement and analysis of radioactive materials. and technologies for prevention of nuclear proliferation. There are over 900 employees and the budget for the laboratory is 210 million.

(The pictures above are a nuclear facility that manufactures components to nuclear processes such as MOX (mixed oxide fuel), stores nuclear materials and conducts nuclear research)

     Augusta Technical College has a program that works closely with the government to provide nuclear facilities with the entry level labor needed. STEM funding is also helping to fund Georgia Regents University in crucial areas that will start a ripple by introducing students to science, but most of the scientists who end up working at SRS or Vogtle will come from outside the CSRA, Georgia and America itself. 

     Georgia Regents University is building its nuclear research departments and will soon undoubtedly tap into the power of the labor force of the advanced research going on at these facilities. One thing Augusta could improve in is improving the Sync between the Universities, Fort Gordon and the nuclear facilities research. All together they could save some taxpayer money by having some students/soldiers at SRS or Plant Vogtle. The paperwork would be immense and safety issues are at hand though and the decision is made on that, not necessarily economics. I do trust these organizations to collaborate as much as possible, as their human capital is rare and benefits off of collaboration between sectors and purposes. 

(This is a machine that has been used to test commercial heavy water reactors. It is being decommissioned and serves as a good example of what SRS does. They are dealing a lot with the transition to future nuclear technology by disposing of the past)

(This is "Tizzy", a robot designed and built specifically by the Savannah River Remediation section of SRS for tank waste removal)

     The expertise and division of skill needed for the jobs necessary in operations of a nuclear plant are very highly paid and contribute a lot to the diversity of labor in the economy. Not every city has 2 nuclear facilities in there vicinity and with such large a payroll. The contribution these people make to the academic atmosphere is valuable, as there are many opportunities for people interested in science to find others who share that interest. The examples they can have on Augustan citizens through being role models or connections into the industry themselves. Many whole families work at SRS and Plant Vogtle.

The 2nd Pillar- Fort Gordon

2nd Pillar- Military

(This report is being written and edited on a constant basis by Morrison Marketing. Morrison Marketing is a small marketing firm in Augusta, Georgia serving small business in the area. We design websites, create logos, give consulting advice and pretty much anything to do with growing or starting your business. I am a 23 Y/o Augusta Tech graduate and love my city, I will work very hard for you and your business, for money, but also out of love for this subject and my city. I have many blogs, reports, YouTube videos covering issues relevant to Augusta and her economy. If you have any concerns, information for me, would like to discuss business issues or would like me to work to grow your business, please email me at AugustaEconomy@gmail.com, thanks, lets grow this city and make something happen -Michael Morrison, Morrison Marketing "A proud to be Augusta, Georgia company) 

     Fort Gordon is a large military installation in Augusta, Georgia. Fort Gordon is largely into communications, surveillance and the modern day info-war, housing the signal corps and a massive NSA facility. The shift from conventional warfare and the increasingly importance of communication interception and encryption will make this a crucial fort going into the future and will ensure the survival and even expansion of the Fort, despite fiscal difficulties of the Federal Government. Fort Gordon is the center for over 30,000 soldiers/civilians and over 45,000 families. It is one of the largest forts in America and has an economic impact of over 1.4 Billion dollars and adds greatly to the stability of the local economy. 

     Fort Gordon is home to the U.S. Army Signal Center, National Security Agency, Southeast Regional Medical, Dental and Veterinary Commands, the only remaining Army Dental Laboratory, Army Medical and Dental Residency Programs, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Joint Strategic Intelligence Operations, Communications and Military Intelligence Tenant Units, U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard Training, U.S.A.F. Air Reserve heavy-drop training and Homeland Security Training.

     Augusta's community is deeply tied to the military through events like "Thunder over Augusta" and "Jimmie Dyess day".  A man from Portugal once told me Augusta is a "Yes Sir, No Sir" city. The affects of the Fort is easy to see in the citizenry, in many of the children in the area being military brats. The discipline and order in the military has manifested itself in the city with its Military traditions including a strong work ethic and discipline. 

     This Fort specializes in communications and is home to the Army's Signal Corps. Communications is one of the most effective and useful fields of modern day technology and warfare. The days of trench fighting and "Boots on the ground" are over, but communication will still be relevant to the military needs and is growing with the shift in style of warfare. America is a very well oiled military machine and the proper communication of data and information is the secret sauce that holds plans together and are crucial for computers. The soldiers that work here cannot comment on what they do, in many cases, but they are on the front-line of some cutting edge tech, methods and crucial information. 

     Fort Gordon is still a physical guardian, being central to 2 nuclear facilities and being in position for the second line of defenses in a coastal invasion in the South-East. Fort Gordon also plays the role of defending the merchants and consumers as they go about their business, something we rarely think of going about our day.

     The NSA has a presence at Fort Gordon and the cross training between them, the Signal Corp and other security sensitive MOS's brings many people with high incomes, security clearances and skills to the area. These people are highly intelligent government agents and are participating in very important issues to the modern worldwide stability. To have this in Augusta brings the city into the web of national security and the indirect benefits of that in federal spending. 

(These massive satellite dish's bring in information that Fort Gordon processes, it is without a doubt very critical to our nations intelligence and safety. Whilst receiving much criticism lately for spying and surveillance concerns over our own citizens, large dish's like this are critical for ensuring that there are no unknowns for America. This is not seen as a weapon, but is important to our nations security as a standing army. Modern national conflicts are info-wars, not conventional. It is amazing to think that the people who maintain and specialize in this equipment are in Augusta, Georgia)

     We can only speculate what goes on in the NSA building in Fort Gordon, but it has something to do with surveillance and deals with mega-computers. These employees have higher than average incomes (Usually starting around $100,000, with benefits) and are some of the brightest and capable in America. They add to the spending power of Augusta and serve a national purpose of keeping us safe. 

     There are also the regular support military military staff that accompany the usual needs of a Fort. There are Military Police, Chefs, Doctors and Logistics soldiers  The Fort acts as a shuffling of people and brings many from around the world to Augusta, Ga in the random chance scenarios of placement and choice of occupation. These soldiers represent the common man and woman. They may choose to live in the city after being stationed here, or they may visit later on in their life. they may talk positively of Augusta and they may become wealthy and want to invest their money in a city they are familiar with. Nonetheless, Augusta has to bring in citizens for them to be influenced by the city and these soldiers brought in are each a chance for the city to impress a future prospective citizen. The economic benefits of bringing so many people form around the world to a central location is immeasurable  but true, I believe, in the unique knowledge and experience they contribute when put together. 

     There are also a lot of government contractors in the area. A lot of them are translators for the army and have a high security clearance from previous military experience  This is somewhat efficient and I think the low wages that have to be offered to be in Augusta should provide a good way for the military to trim its budget. therefore it may see a boom.

     Augusta also has a spot in American security with the National Security Agencies presence here. With the top secret work going on with nuclear materials and communications the NSA has a lot to do in Augusta. they recently finished a billion dollar structure with over 3,000 full time employees as of now and more to come later. They are involved in top secret work with communications in Europe and the Middle East.

     There is also a CISCO network academy on Fort Gordon that produces soldiers skilled in computer systems to work on the military's gear. There is also a Microsoft academy on Fort Gordon. This brings a very large amount of computer savvy people to Augusta. These additions are a big reason for Augusta having one of the fastest growing tech sectors in 2011 in America. These citizens will be the base for any future tech sector and may attract high security clearance employers, who bring very large salaries and wages. 

     Soldiers/contractors/etc... own and rent mainly in South Augusta and on post. Some own/rent in Martinez, Evans, Grove-town  Harlem and Burke County. The atmosphere the military brings the neighborhoods is respectable and very much a large part of keeping neighborhoods in South Augusta decent. They also provide a direct example for the Augusta citizens to find their way into the army.

• Fort Gordon has 736 transient housing quarters
• Fort Gordon has 900 family housing units (houses), Higher ranks chooses first, but most families are squared away with a house in a month. There are many new units, with 300 being built since May 2007. The houses are handled by a private company. 
• Fort Gordon has contracts with 26 area hotels for soldiers/students to stay in
• The children of Fort Gordon attend public schools and Academy of Richmond County for high school. A very diverse and truly American school. 
• Brenau University, Paine College, Southern Illinois University, Georgia Military College, Troy University, and Central Michigan University offer degree programs on Fort Gordon.
• Fort Gordon also makes many simulated items to use in training soldiers. Using a 3-d printer, Fort Gordon can make unique items to go over and how physically to disarm, store or otherwise handle, this is a small sector of the Fort, at only $2 millions, but is still $2 million worth having, as plain as it may be.

     There are many apartments around Fort Gordon that rely on soldiers living there. Soldiers have consistent cash flow and are reliable to pay the bills, so landlords like to rent to them. They usually are not criminals and can be detrimental to crime, making them specifically attractive to rent to in South Augusta, a hard place to find a consistent pool of people that pay rent and are not burdensome. The construction of new apartments is a blessing to construction and realty companies in the area and Fort Gordon provides the area with hundreds of millions of dollars in this sense alone over its life. 

     The many car dealerships on Gordon highway and Washington Road depend heavily on the car buyers of the Fort. They possess great access to credit with a government job and the stability it offers, and many are new car buyers, the most profitable to serve. The indirect costs of owning a car, such as maintenance and customization's also find themselves into the car shops around the Fort. The businesses learn that they can divide their customers into at least 2 distinct categories, civilians and soldiers and prepare different ways to specifically reach them, such as customizing the finance situation to meet a soldiers bonus check for something or for a deployment date, where the solider may want to trade the car in and wait to get another one, with the credit waiting for him when they gets back.

     The cost of housing in Augusta is vastly cheaper than the national average, around 25% less, and soldiers who rent off-post will find one of the bets deals they will have in their housing experiences in their life by renting or buying a house in Augusta. The housing stock of Augusta has truly affected the capital flows from Fort Gordon. As the fort grows in use, the veins of subdivisions and edge cities grow into stronger stalks. The sprawl of new development around the border of Fort Gordon show the reliance on the Fort, as the backbone, to many businesses in the area. The area may not be able to support a consumer base without the solider payroll circulating, but without the high traffic spots that the Fort creates, there would not even be the location itself to work out of. The existence of the current economic activity from Fort Gordon has shifted the physical design of the city to service this area that money protrudes from. 

(Dwight D. Eisenhower center, this hospital is the premier medical facility for the military in the South-East. The CSRA itself has over 50,000 veterans to service in these facilities and that number is expected to grow rapidly as many retire. Georgia is a very military intense state itself, with Fort Benning, Stewart and Gordon being three sizable places to serve medically. People are flown in from around America to get a special surgeon to work on their ailment, or for a certain treatment that requires a huge machine that is not feasible in smaller healthcare centers. It is important to know that this hospital is not driven, at all, by the free market and the expenditures are covered by the government. With cuts in government spending we will see services cut, or the pressure to cut. There is another medical center that makes up Augusta's most important asset, the Medical District. I imagine many doctors with combat experience come from this hospital to a public one in Augusta, bringing great skills across the fields, and many newly trained doctors from Georgia Regents University go here looking to lead a military/medical career path)

     The military medical needs of the entire South-East are sent here for specialties that only Augusta can compete in. The medical sector of the city has helped to lure this in and this aspect of Augusta being a medical logistic position will bring future expansions as a medical capital of the South-East and the place of choice to take care of large organizations like the military, needing massive amounts of healthcare. Fort Gordon contracts some of its medical services out to the many hospitals and clinics in Augusta, usually to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. 

     Fort Gordon also works with the Department of Homeland Security and researchers at Georgia Regents University on Radiation, Medicine and other medical aspects to natural and man-made disasters. The models for emergency plans are drawn up at Fort Gordon as far as how to fix the medical complexities that arise in an act of war, terrorist attack or other unconventional ways of getting a disease, sick or injured. The CDC being in Atlanta and the heavy medical presence of immune system doctors in the area also contribute to the medical culture on and off post. 

(The role models of the military and their impact on a community is strong. There are many problems and shortfalls that Augustinian kids must face that some military discipline and a non-parent mentor could help them with. Even to Adults, military members can give guidance an seem to be prone to community service in this sense. To copy this on a larger scale seems to be a huge advantage in the social fabric of the city that is so crucial to the economic well being of its citizens)

(The Fort does more than its share to add to the culture of the community with  this band and other extracurricular activities of the soldiers. Most of these activities are somewhat foreign to Augusta and contribute greatly to adding diversity to the populaces knowledge of others way)

(A museum dedicated to the Signal corps and what they have done on Fort Gordon)

     The solider population is also crucial for the areas college and universities. Many Soldiers attend a university while here and bring the military benefits with them. This bolsters the colleges enrollment of younger soldiers can start their first college experience at Georgia Regents and gain a liberal arts education or attend Augusta Technical College and gain practical knowledge for the future. Wither way, soldiers consume a lot of education and our universities recognize this directly by having large and prepared ROTC offices. The Summer-ville campus of Georgia Regents University actually started off as an arsenal, and many of the military remnants remain, including a Fort, showing how important the military has been, directly and indirectly in Augusta's educational institutes. 

Average Daily On-Post Population

Military- 15,123
Civilian- 6,989
On-Post Family Members- 2,435
Total- 24,547

(Figures do not include more than 44,800 others served by Fort Gordon, such as military retirees and off-post family members)

Buildings and Structures- 1,419
Square Footage- 9,250,9000 square feet
Acreage- 56,506 acres
Total estimated economic impact- $1.38 billion

Some apartments within 4 miles of Fort Gordon (An example of where a solider could live)

     Below are some examples of apartment complexes that have a large solider population. these places cater almost specifically to soldiers and were built with Fort Gordon in mind. The surrounding business is supportive and indicative of what a solider spends his paycheck on and overall meet the demand for affordable housing that plagues many of the lower rank soldiers in cities with high housing costs on a rigid pay scale.

Avalon
Distance- 2.87 miles
Price- $635-765
Beds- 1-2

Champion Pines
Distance- 3.02 miles
Price- $585
Beds- 1-2

Pinnacle Place
Distance- 3.4 miles
Price- $559-750
Beds- 1-3

Vintage Creek apartments
Distance- 3.44 miles
Price- From $545
Beds- 1-2

Woodlake Club
Distance- 3.44 miles
Price- $554-822
Beds- 1-4

Wylds Wood
Distance- 3.7 miles
Price- From $565
Beds- 2

Sanctuary Apartments
Distance- 3.7 miles
Price- $530-735
Beds- 1-2

A sample of the kind of jobs offered at Fort Gordon

• Logistics Management Analyst, Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Processing, Exploitation & Desemination Site Leader, Northrop Grumman
• PED Systems Engineer, Northrop Grumman
• Warehouse Manager, National Guard
• SCA Engineering Tech 6, AppLabs
• Logistician, Journeyman, ManTech International Corporation
• Processing, Exploitation & Desemination Site Leader, Northrop Grumman

(Fort Gordon also participates in the National Guards Youth Challenge, a program for high school dropouts in a quasi-military setting. The discipline and orderliness instilled is crucial to many fatherless Georgians and the military men that run it are truly good role models, necessary for a proper way of life. This brings in some money, but is much more measurable in shaping up the youth of the state of Georgia. It also gives an excellent opportunity for community service in teaching the kids a military work ethic. I went to Youth Challenge, Fort Stewart, Class 29, Bravo-4 and it is still the most amazing and life changing event till this day, in my life)

     There is a public organization that is determined to save Fort Gordon, sparked by a possible base closure in the mid 2000's. The CSRA alliance for Fort Gordon is a community effort of Augustinians to keep the Fort open and as many dollars flowing to it as possible. Here is a list of member's, current as of 2010, so its already outdated in 2013, but the same people usually champion this purpose and are dealing with Fort Gordon, with or without this group.

CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon, Inc., Board Members (23 August 2010)

• Mr. Ron Thigpen, Chairman - Executive VP, Georgia Bank and Trust
• Mr. Duncan Johnson, Vice Chairman - President, Johnson Motor Company
• Mr. H. Monty Osteen, Secretary/Treasurer - retired
• COL(R) Thom Tuckey, Executive Director
• Mr. Braye Boardman - President, Beacon Blue LLC
• Mr. Paul Brewer - General Sales Manager, WFXG Fox-54
• Honorable Deke Copenhaver - Mayor of Augusta
• Mr. Ron Cross - Chairman, Columbia County Board of Commissioners
• Mr. Andy Crosson - Director, CSRA Regional Commission
• Mr. George Duehring - Owner, Zaxby's Restaurants
• Mr. Terry Elam - President, Augusta Technical College
• Mr. J. Truitt Eavenson - Region Vice President, Georgia Power
• Mr. Dan Fowler - Vice President of Energy Services, Jefferson Energy Cooperative.
• Mr. Bryan Ginn - Assistant to the President for External Affairs, Medical College of Georgia
• Ms. Colette Hughes - Vice President/General Manager, Automatic Data Processing
• Honorable Lark Jones - Mayor, North Augusta
• Mr. E.G. Meybohm - President, Meybohm Realtors
• Mr. Stan Shepherd - Regional Director, AT&T
• Rep. Barbara Sims - GA Representative, District 119

Advisory Board Members

• Ms. Nancy Bobbitt - Field Representative for Senator Johnny Isakson
• CSM(R) Jim Hussey - District Director for Senator Saxby Chambliss
• Mr. Matthew Kleinsorge - Staff Assistant for Representative John Barrow
• Ms. Sue Parr - President/CEO, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. Troy Post - Executive Director, Development Authority of Columbia County
• Mr. Walter Sprouse - Executive Director, Development Authority of Richmond County
• Ms. Tammy Shepherd - President/CEO, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. Brian Tucker - President, North Augusta Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. Reagan Williams - Field Representative for Representative Paul Broun

The 1st Pillar- The Medical Sector

(This report is being written and edited on a constant basis by Morrison Marketing. Morrison Marketing is a small marketing firm in Augusta, Georgia serving small businesses in the area. We design websites, create logos, give consulting advice and pretty much anything to do with growing or starting your business. I am a 23 Y/o Augusta Tech graduate and love my city, I will work very hard for you and your business, for money, but also out of love for this subject and my city. I have many blogs, reports, YouTube videos covering issues relevant to Augusta and her economy. If you have any concerns, information for me, would like to discuss business issues or would like me to work to grow your business, please email me at AugustaEconomy@gmail.com, thanks, lets grow this city and make something happen -Michael Morrison, Morrison Marketing "A proud to be Augusta, Georgia company)

The 1st Pillar- The Medical Sector/District

     (The Medical district of Augusta, Georgia. In between the 2 main roads seen in this photo 25,000 people are employed in health related occupations. This is the largest contributor to the economy of Downtown, indirectly with the massive amount of employees it brings to the perimeter of Downtown bordering Harrisburg)

Intro

     The Medical Sector is the strongest pillar of the Economy of Augusta and is our showpiece to the  rest of the nation. It is fertile ground for any medical related entity, due to its breadth and depth in education/research, medical services and an overall environment conducive to healthcare. Despite being only around 100 acres in size, this sector contributes over $2,000,000,000 to the Economy of Augusta and is a pedestal for future growth in advanced services, which make up most of the growth in the globalized world economy. 

     It is the one of the most "Urban" feeling place in Augusta, being located in-between Downtown Augusta, Laney-Walker, Harrisburg and Summerville. Knowledge, Capital, Public/Private planning and spatial density strike a chord with this engine of economic power. The mix of factors and variables that drive the Medical Sectors growth should be brought to light and reviewed to move forward in a prepared state, this is a very serious field for Augusta. This report is meant to reveal some of these advantages and to highlight details crucial to make sure we, as citizens, businessman, students and employees of Augusta can move forward in an educated manner, we cannot drop the ball on this topic.

    The Medical Sector is to Augusta is what Wall Street is to New York, HollyWood to Los Angeles or Silicon Valley to San Jose. It is our step into the future with its operations and to leverage it further and continue on this path of growth can yield Augusta a tremendous asset. Augusta needs to continue to invest in the Medical Sector, in public and private deals. To succeed here and grow in this sector is to ensure the highest possible growth rate for the economy of Augusta as a whole, it should be our battle plan to mark this area as headquarters for the city's growth. 

     While being the bread and butter of the area and providing its citizens with a livelihood, the mutual goal of scientific research for curiosity and betterment of mankind is also achieved. It is a noble goal to work hard in a field, to learn, to make money, but also to advance human health and to fight diseases, one of the common pursuits of humanity for its existence. To pursue the growth of the Medical Sector is best, dollar wise and for a higher cause. 

     This pursuit of the betterment of the human condition is very reassuring to us at the most crucial of times. As we get sick and are on that operating table we cannot go back and reverse many decision that led to that point, but we can ensure that once there, we are in the best hands possible. As the sheer presence and visuals of being in a place dedicated to keeping you alive is calming and can help a patients mindset when dealing with some of the most stressful time in their life. 

     It is very convenient to be a patient in the Medical Sector, you will not need to be taken very far to receive a multitude of treatments. You also will find many other patients to talk to and hang around. The patients bond with each other and the peer support received is invaluable. You feel a lot less embarrassed as a patient also in this setting, as there are thousands of patients around you, each in similar conditions. You are humbled by the state of technology, worried by your condition and humanized by fellow experiences similar to yours. Many people feel weird in a hospital setting, but with others to accompany them in mutual feelings will create an excellent filler to the void of loneliness and depression that can easily invade a person in their hospital room, bare and screaming of inhumanity. 

     The combination of economic growth, a betterment of the human condition and to know that, once sick, we will be in good hands all point to the importance and obvious place that the Medical Sector is to Augusta. 

Simple Analysis 

     The Medical Sector is made up of 3 kinds of entities, for purpose of this report, they are Medical Service Providers, Research institutes and Educational institutes. While the organizational charts of these places will seem confusing and serve a purpose they are indiscriminate to the impartial spectator of the economic eye. The Medical Sector is very much diversified from just being a hospital or a medical school, it is like a utopia of health and everything possible to do with it. The markets have yielded a natural alignment of like entities and grown a powerhouse that is competitive to other like sectors that have sprung up around the world from a multitude of reasons. 

Healthcare Providers

• Georgia Regents Medical Center (492 registered beds) 
• University Hospital (581 registered beds
• Childrens Hospital of Georgia (149 registered beds)
• Charlie Norwood VA (155 registered beds)
• Trinity Hospital (231 registered beds)
• Select Specialty Hospital (34 registered beds)

     With so many beds in the area, people are rarely turned down for lack of room and if one is filled up, they can turn patients onto another hospital with vacancies. The moderate size of the Medical sector is in the "Just right" department. It is not so big as to have traffic issues, large impersonal care and a feeling of sternness. But is large enough to have all the conveniences of more expensive machinery to administer care, which has been a large costs for hospitals expansion into very refined sectors of healthcare, such as a machine that only cures a disease found in minuscule amounts of the population.  The current presence of these smaller areas facilitate further growth in newer areas, as the branches of science grow further and further and subdivide as they grow, neuroscience yields a new kind of surgery, which then breaks off into 2 fields itself, which will again grow and divide as the natural pursuit of knowledge is accomplished. 

(A Da Vinci robot doing a surgery. This is the kind of services that I am constantly referring to that the Medical district can support and thrive with. These kind of surgeries can draw a major margin on operations for those with wealth and will bring the best surgeons, whom want to work and achieve their full potential in an environment like this with the in-depth tools like this to do his job. Imagine what this machine will be capable of doing in 20 years? Imagine if surgical operations had a breakthrough in technology and surgery prices dropped by 25%. These events would be like an economic boom for the Medical District)

     The education spurs the research and vice versa. The knowledge obtained in the classroom is easily absorbed with the practice of it also being close at hand. The usual spread and facilitation of ideas are magnified with the concentration of peers, students and faculty. The amount of services in the area complements each other, with the workers having an extremely divided task that they can master in entirety. Also the capital equipment and spatial proximity ensure that the most menial and usually unimportant aspects of medical services are perfected. The positive attitude of working in such a delightful setting also keeps employee moral high, thus ensuring every possible aspect of a patients visit being favorable. The connection of the areas medical establishments is a critical driver for their growth and innovation. To be fluid and flexible ensures fast and dynamic reactions to just about anything, leaving very little precious time wasted.

(The College of Dentistry. Completed at over 260,000 square feet and at a cost of $112,000,000, on the site of Gilbert Manor housing projects. This building trains dentists at an affordable tuition for the whole state of Georgia, it brings the best of the best chosen from schools all over the South-East and its academic ranks, quality of student life and tuition make it a choice for many students who later will have high incomes and may chose to stay in Augusta. The building has 316 dental operators, a central sterilization center, dispensary areas, six student, faculty and staff lounges, 15 conference rooms, 10 support labs, and state-of-the-art equipment for students and dental practices, including 83 intra-oral radiography units and six panoramic/cephalometric X-ray machines, all but one with 3-D imaging capability.)

     This knowledge is flowing around the minds of the students and faculty and makes it way to the city itself. Products and businesses that need a certain amount of white collar workers are bolstered, these businesses add value to the atmosphere by contributing to the intellectual atmosphere and "Alpha" is gained, you could say. With so much info flowing around, other unseen areas are opened to growth or pioneering. With so many Doctors in the area, there are more likely scenarios of finding divided area of specialize and in being close to a the market to serve people. If you want to start a private medical research company, the hardest part of picking your location is trying to find a place that already has a large enough labor pool available. Although many students leave Augusta, as they were not born here, after college, they spend time here, adding to the pull of knowledge and the constant brainstorm that is going on in their collective conscious. These students contribute to the intellectual environment, many develop hobbies and lifestyles to this and become attached to the community.

          There are many health related practices around the perimeter that offer services like eye, bone, skin, dental, lungs and other advanced services. With a high cost of healthcare in many parts of the country Augusta has an advantage of having low cost healthcare with top quality service, something rarely achieved in any scenario and should be leveraged to the maximum, if Augusta is to achieve the highest growth possible in terms of GDP, or more micro-concept indicators, like payrolls.

     The Medical District acts  as Augusta's portal into larger and stronger research Institutes/Universities. With the recent merging of "Augusta State University" & "The Medical College of Georgia", There are more chances for partnerships with other Universities due to this increased size, maybe partnering with a smaller university to cover some of the science portions of a dual degree, or to partner with another Medical School to create a new program. These types partnerships will be crucial for complex problems that require a large amount of capital that one entity cannot take on themselves and in delving further down the division of labor spectrum to more particular jobs. 

(This Cancer Research Center is a invaluable tool for researchers and a lot of Universities would like access to it and it research. To cure cancer, will be done in a building like this one day)

     Partnerships, mergers and acquisitions are much easier and plausible if they are in the same city and area already, giving all sides plenty of competition to either, sell to buy themselves. This also will it more likely that any deal involving an entity outside of the Medical Sector will have to move their operations here. The sector also gives investors confidence, as being in the sector highly differentiates a Medical Business. The Medical sector is also, in these ways, Augusta's way to tap into the world of finance, as the sector itself is large enough to work with massive amounts of money. If someone wanted to start a bio-medical research company, the Medical Sector should be high on their list of considerations, there are not to many other places that can offer as much. 

     Augusta cannot compete in chemistry, math, computer sciences or financial services, but it can in medical research with any American city. The Medical Sector should be more and more thought of as Augusta's participant in the competitive world of super entities. We do not have a "Wall Street" culture of corporate efficiency or a "Innovative" feel of silicon Valley, but a Scientifically curious feel of ancient Greek Philosophers. It is the single most important feature of our economy.

Entities in the Medical Sector

     The Medical Sector can basically be divided into 2 different fields, Education/Research and Hospitals/Advanced Service. 

• Georgia Regents Medical Center (492 registered beds) 
• University Hospital (581 registered beds
• Childrens Hospital of Georgia (149 registered beds)
• Charlie Norwood VA (155 registered beds)
• Trinity Hospital (231 registered beds)
• Select Specialty Hospital (34 registered beds)

     Georgia Regents University 

     This is the cornerstone and poster child of the Medical sector for research and education, and is tied, in my view, with University Hospital for care. This entity is strong financially, set with growth due to its exposure to growing demand for its exotic services and has ties with pretty much every other entity in the area. Georgia Regents flows the money, through taxes, from the rest of Georgia and is purposely designed to facilitate the medical activities for the state of Georgia, namely Atlanta, whom are multiples the size of Augusta, but still supporting the research here through taxes.

Georgia Regents is the result of a merger between a 4 year undergraduate school and  a Medical School with a heavy research division. The merger was cited for the extremely low rate of graduation form Augusta State University and to combat the rising costs of higher education, by cutting costs through merged activities, for example, nursing programs at both schools. Augusta State University also has an extremely hard time marketing itself and obtaining non-local students. The merger has been one of the hottest political subjects in Augusta for some time.

• Established in 1828
• Public/Research university, the 4th of its kind in Georgia, but the sole one for Medical research
• Endowment- $121.3 million (This is quite sad and I will definitely nominate them as one of the best entities to donate to that I know of)
• Academic staff- 1,000+ full-time 
• Admin. staff- 3,500+
• Students- 9,183
• Undergraduates- 6,700, Postgraduates- 892, Doctoral students- 1135

(Ricardo Azziz, the president of GRU and a renowned leader in the field of  reproductive endocrinology, specifically androgen excess disorders. I have seen him a couple of times, he is always smiling and seems to be a very positive man, in spite of many actions that have left him vastly unpopular)

Medical Services offered from Georgia Regents Health System



(The Medical Sector has a Helipad for the most serious cases and for people who are far away from the hospital. This also can act as an emergency vehicle and is another tool in the Medical Sector, separating them further from other medical service providers. Assets like this are similar to buying new machines for a factory floor, for a manufacturer, or an accountant buying a new laptop, it enables a better job to be done)

Medical Services 

     Adrenal, Allergy-Immunology, Anti-coagulation Clinic, Behavioral Health, Blood Disorders, Bloodless Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant, Breast Health, Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, Dental Faculty Practice, Dermatology, Diabetes Care, Dialysis, Digestive Diseases, Ear Nose and Throat, Emergency Services, Endocrinology, Epilepsy, Eye Care, Family Medicine, Gamma Knife, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Heart & Cardiovascular Center, Infectious Diseases, Infertility, Internal Medicine, In vitro Fertilization (IVF), Kidney/Pancreas Transplant, Movement Disorders, Neurology/Neuroscience, Center, Nephrology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Oral Medicine, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, Palliative Care, Pain Management, Perinatal, Pituitary Services, Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry, Pulmonology, Radiology (X-ray), Radiation Therapy, Rehabilitation, Reproductive, Respiratory Care, Rheumatology, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Senior Health, Skull Base Surgery, Sleep Disorders, Spine, Sports Medicine, Stroke, Thyroid/Parathyroid Center, Transplants, Travel Advisory Clinic, Urogynecology, Urology, Weight Loss Center, Women's Health

Pediatric Services

     ADHD, Allergy and Asthma, Arthritis, Cancer, Cleft Lip/Palate, Craniofacial Center, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Ear, Nose and Throat, Emergency Services, Epilepsy, Gastroenterology, Genetics, Heart Services , Hematology, Hemophilia, Infectious Disease, Intensive Care, Juvenile Diabetes, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Kidney, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, Pediatric Neuroscience Center, Pediatric Primary Care, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Psychiatry, Pulmonary and Cystic Fibrosis, Radiology, Rehabilitative Services, Rheumatology, Sickle Cell Disease, Sleep Disorders, Sports Medicine, Surgery, Transplants

Surgical Services

     Adrenal Surgery, Bone Marrow Transplant, Cardiovascular Surgery, DaVinci Robotic, Surgery, Dermatology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gamma Knife, Gastroenterology/Digestive Health, General Surgery, Joint Replacement, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Spine Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Weight Loss Center/Surgery

Education/Research

     Georgia Regents University is a trailblazer of research. The discoveries in science found here will go on to help the world immensely and trigger other breakthroughs in fields such as Energy, Infrastructure and even politics. From finding cures for cancer to learning how to grow back skin after being severely burned, the research that goes on here advances the long human mission of improving health and well-being. The importance of research and education to these individuals strike a vibe with other citizens, who pick up on the vibe and atmosphere and undoubtedly extends to the smallest aspects of life.

(These students are in a major that did not even exist almost 25 years ago. In Nuclear Medicine. In nuclear medicine radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds, or else combined with existing pharmaceutical compounds, to form radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to the patient, can localize to specific organs or cellular receptors)

     Knowledge based economies exist off of the rapid firing off of ideas between its member's. It relies on communication, examination and response form thousands of participants steering the yearn ball of knowledge forward, as they go about their individual and extremely specialized tasks. Georgia Regents University acts as a incubator of ideas by housing such innovative and learning people. The naturally curious find their way here, with other investigative people to conquer problems that are much bigger than the individual. The research that goes on and that is advanced here is both an accomplishment of hard working individual and a great environment to work in. Georgia Regents University is very fertile and supportive of this research and gives a serious advantage to housing research and scientists here as opposed to other medical centers, who have not struck the golden mix needed to bake the best economic cake.  

(The worlds best economies have the best human capital, it is more vital than manufacturing, agriculture and gathering minerals. Georgia Regents University is an example of us trading knowledge with the rest of the world for these tangible assets. to capitalize it further would result in both satisfying and extremely high paying work)

     The value created by these citizens are traded among the worlds markets for things like Vacuum cleaners, lumber for houses and other physical items. To specialize and further our commitment and advantage in Medical research, on a entity level, local level and national level will assuredly enable a great amount of consumption in our lifetime and ensure out mutual prosperity through us upholding our side of trades for Medical research. The amount of consumption is limited by material scarcity, but when you "Create" ideas out of thin air and trade them for physical objects you realize the most relative benefits. 

     The modern economy is not built on manufacturing, energy or even financial services. a strong modern economy is in the knowledge capital of the people. Switzerland, Japan, Singapore and other advanced countries all focus on places like the Medical District for their growth and economic value. These places run huge surpluses on these advanced services and this brings enormous amounts of value to the home economy. They add immensely to the value added chain of the nation and any nation who follows will have to retrace these steps, which is easier said than done. 

     Globalization and comparative advantages have made the research conducted here become even more laser focused and precise. Despite not being directly tied to the free market and competition, Georgia Regents University has found where it adds the most value and eliminates those where it is losing its edge. Georgia Regents University understands that it must produce to get grant money and to continue to be at the forefront of tax money received on a State level. The University adapts quickly and makes it decisions, not directly in response to the market, but is remarkably close for such a large and complex entity. Georgia Regents University has found the sweet spot where it has identified its strengths, from peer and self evaluation and focuses their resources there. This is a very hard task, for a private company in the market where you can test the results (Profit) of your decisions, but must be infinitely more complex for a public institute that is reliant on balancing the need for money and the effort of research into unprofitable areas, yet which still may immensely drive the well-being of mankind. These decisions are not easy and the cumulative amount of good decisions over the years have yielded the current goodwill the university has as one of its main differentiating factors to other universities and places of research. 

     Imagine the caliber of student needed to achieve these degrees and the value that they could add to our city.These majors attract those who wish to pursue the most obscure and challenging coursework there is. Medical School is known to be very brutal academically and the learning that goes on here will grow the economy of Augusta for rendering the service and the nation will benefit immensely when these professionals move to under-served areas, where demand is higher. Either way, the students here are the modern version of the students in the "University" in Athens, in my eyes and serve that purpose in the economy of Augusta for those with an incredibly divided area of labor with an immense amount of capital invested in a very particular education.

     These students are deeply encouraged, by GRU, to pursue undergraduate research. There are many programs that allow research late at night, or with peers outside of class. There is always a sense of feeling welcome to do research and this mutual commitment to learn is kept in check and going by the peers and faculty. It is a contagious sight to see a  student studying and learning and there is absolutely no peer pressure to remain ignorant, as there is in the majority of other universities. The caliber of student and the competence needed to get into Medical School is one reason, but there is definitively something special about GRU.

(The atmosphere of providing healthcare to our fellow citizens and the pursuit of knowledge have found there way from the Hippocratic oath and the "University" in Athens. Georgia Regents exemplifies these 2 principles well)

     Some fields that Georgia Regents is pioneering and leading the world of science in. This is similar in one sense, to the style of car (research) we produce in our factories (labs), for a more tangible example. We are looked at from the particular world of scientists and researchers as leaders in these fields. We can do our best to leverage these advantages in future research and hopefully continue to leave the rest of the world in our path of research.

     The modern filed of healthcare is faced with increasingly complex issues. The pursuit of medicine for new diseases, the new possibilities of treating conditions due to new discoveries and the continual complexity of 

• Cancer Detection & Treatment 
• Immunology
• Heart Health
• Immunology
• Public Health

Examples of Grants for Research at Georgia Regents University

Kebin Liu- H3K9 Methylation and Pancreatic Cancer Chemoresistance, 6/4/2014 - 5/31/2016
Sponsor: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
Funding: $ 196,947.00

Huidong Shi- Epigenetic regulation of T-cell dysfunction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 6/1/2014 - 5/31/2016
Sponsor: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
Funding: $ 196,947.00

Wen-Cheng Xiong- Retromer deficiency and Alzheimer's disease pathology, 5/1/2014 - 4/30/2019
Sponsor: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
Funding: $ 309,209.00

Yukai He- Engineering alpha fetoprotein and glypican-3 to develop hepatoma (HCC) vaccines, 4/1/2014 - 2/28/2019
Sponsor: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
Funding: $ 329,353.00

Leszek Ignatowicz- Role of CD4+T cells in maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, 4/1/2014 - 3/31/2018
Sponsor: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES
Funding: $ 327,882.00

Adviye Ergul- Vascular Injury and Recovery in Diabetic Ischemic Stroke, 2/1/2014 - 1/31/2019
Sponsor: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
Funding: $ 431,218.00

There are over 1,400 profiled researchers that publish through Georgia Regents University. The University has over 26,000 SCOPUS publications. The University has 577 grants, usually averaging about $250,000

(David C. Ness- This man has over 150 publications, most of them in Strokes, he is a modern hero and a proper role model for children in our society. The value created by his ideas has greatly repaid his debt to society as a citizen and the more people like this we have the better, we are off)



(Dr. Mark Ebell- Another example of a great citizen that is on the leading edge of his field and driving the Medical World. To put a face on the obscure research that is done by these individuals may help to show their value. The "Poof" of GDP being created happens in people like this mans brains, the literal synapses firing off are like a cash register cha chinging. His field is Family Medicine, but one of his latest works is a publication called "Nut consumption associated with reduced mortality". He has apparently worked in many universities all around America and represents, in that sense, the extreme need to travel for most knowledge based workers)

This is how many publications Georgia Regents has with the respective journal

• Fertility and Sterility- 530
• Journal of Biological Chemistry- 452
• Journal of Immunology- 200
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America- 195
• American Journal of Physiology- Heart and Circulatory Physiology 191
• Journal of Dental Research- 187
• Hypertension- 182
• American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology- 175
• PLoS ONE- 171
• American Family Physician- 165
• Journal of Endodontics- 163
• Journal of Periodontology- 160
• Laryngoscope- 156

    With such a vibrant and alive research sector, the education of many students is enhanced greatly. The best and fastest way to learn something is to see the professionals do it themselves. To learn a bunch of charts and data in a classroom is a horrible substitute to the hands on experience and learning that goes on with the research/education mix encouraged by students at Georgia Regents Medical  academic programs. 

     The traditional feel of a university as a center of learning is completed with this proper mix of research and education. This is an important emphasis and extends to many of these students later jobs. The innovation and curiosity that twas implanted in them from being around so much discovery and research leads to plenty of treasures later in their life, for them personally and for their employers. 

Degrees offered

     Masters Degrees- Clinical in Translation Science, Health Science in Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Science in Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Allied Health, Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Bio-statistics, Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Genomic Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology. Vascular Biology, Medical Illustration, Nursing with a Major in Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing with a Major in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing with a Major in Nursing Anesthesia, Nursing with a Major in Nursing, Other, Nursing with a Major in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Oral Biology.

     Doctorates Degrees- Dental Medicine (Dentist) , Medicine (Physician, M.D), Nursing Practice , Bio-chemistry and Cancer Biology, Bio-statistics, Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Genomic Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience, Nursing, Oral Biology and Maxillofacial Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Vascular Biology, Physical Therapy.

University Hospital 

     University Hospital is the 2nd largest hospital located in the Augusta, Georgia and compliments GRU with its presence. Many services that GRU does not compete as heavily in is grown in University Hospital. Starting from a hospital for the poor, University is also a great service to the community in taking care of many indigent patients. It was established in 1818, making it the second-oldest hospital in Georgia and continues to grow and serve the CSRA and pushes the service side of the Medical Sector forward with its specialities in heart care, chest pain, breast cancer and general care.

University Hospital is ran by the University Health Care System. It has campuses thorughout the CSRA region including-

     University Hospital McDuffie is a 25-bed medical center located in Mcduffie County, a small county to the West of Augusta with a very beautiful city of Thomson, Georgia. It offers Intensive Care, Cardiac Care and 24-hour Laboratory and Radiology departments. The Emergency Department provides  care to over 11,000 patients every year.  General surgery, orthopaedics, podiatry, ophthalmology and laparoscopic procedures and services are also done in this small place. 

     I will outline 3, but there are many more, areas of medical service that University has managed to grow and build for itself and its patients. These are areas that they will push further for the Medical District further and grow it into further and further advanced sectors. University Hospital has been pretty much a general hospital for its life and medical care has been a lot smaller than it was in size in the past. With the vast amount of technology and science that is ebign advanced, University Hospital is faced, along with other medium sized Hospitals in America, the business decisions of where to invest and where to "plants it eggs". These decisions will ahve to analyse the future needs of medical services, how to pay for them (balancing insurance payments, free care and services that appeal to higher margin services that are not necessarily crucial, such as plastic surgery)

     One of the largest assets to University Hospital is the new Heart & Vascular Institute. This is a 188,000-square-foot building with cardiac catheterization laboratories equipped with leading-edge digital diagnostics, operating rooms just a few feet away from the cath labs, a Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center and Diabetes Services.

     University's Vascular Laboratory is fully accredited in all five areas of testing by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories, a status attained by fewer than 2 percent of vascular laboratories in the United States. This means the lab performs its studies according to strict national standards.

The center has room for 72 Patient. These rooms resemble hotel suites equipped for clinical care. They include the following-

• The ability to bring care to patients in one room rather than moving them from room-to-room as their medical conditions change.
• Environments that look like hotel rooms but contain hidden technology needed for critical care.
• Family zones which allow family members to participate in the healing process.
• Beds that transform into chairs and can be rolled into others areas, even the bathroom.
• Bar-coding technology to help ensure medication accuracy and bedside computerization to increase charting efficiency.
• Integrating technology for patient communication, education and entertainment.

     University Hospital is committed to the Heart & Vascular sector of care with this Heart and Vascular Institute. It begin in the late 90's with many unknown factors to me, but it was seen from University receiving high rating from both peer and consumer groups in this category. They have been growing this over the years and have found a natural advantage in it over others and are choosing it as the path to pursue to best serve their patients. They have more cardiologists and cardiac surgeons than any other force in the region and per capita, are competitive on a national scale. 

     University Hospital transplanted the first heart in Georgia and was also the first to use drug-eluting stents and to operate a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program of its size and scope in the state. 

(A GE 3100 machine, it allow doctors to diagnose the patient with as much information as possible. Machines like this are very expensive and reflect the commitment to care in this field over other sections of medical care to go into)

(The Heart & Vascular Center has a cardiac catheterization lab that is devoted solely to electrophysiology and pacemakers. The lab is equipped with technology designed to diagnose or locate arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), including special electrode catheters that can conduct electrical impulses to and from the heart, locate heart rhythm problems, and record the heart's electrical signals. This technology is in its infancy and will eventually mature into something can completely replace the heart, exciting stuff!)

(http://www.universityhealth.org/virtualtours/virtualtours/heartvascular/tourfiles/flash/index.html

Following this link, you can take a virtual tour of the Heart & Vascular Institute)

     University Hospital also has a speciality, in the nation and int he Medical Sector in Ortho/Spine Services. It provides treatments for degenerative joint disease; arthritis of the hip, knee, shoulder or ankle and joint replacement. It includes a 36-bed unit with a physical therapy satellite office on location to integrate therapists in the process as much as possible. Univeristy Hospital is also the only facility in the CSRA to be designated an Aetna Institute of Quality for total joint replacement and spine surgery, further showing what it is advancing and furthering.  

     University was named one of America's Top 100 Hospitals for Orthopaedic Surgery, Joint Replacement or Spine Surgery by Healthgrades, the nation's leading online resource for those looking for a physician or hospital. University was the only hospital in the state of Georgia to receive this recognition.

     Breast Cancer services is another area where University is a leader in. They have specialized staff to handle the growing prevalence of cancer and the faster growing subsector of Breast Cancer. 

     University's Breast Health Center includes education, diagnostic testing, treatment options and support for Breast Cancer. It is accredited by the Breast Health Center, the only one in the CSRA to receive this. The Breast Center is also accredited by the NAPBC making it the only nationally accredited breast health center in the region and is the second one in the state to be honored with this recognition.The University's Breast Imaging Center has also been designated a Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. These markers show the level of care in this field and act as marketing material to bring in customers to University and bring comfort to their mind when receiving care. 

     University's Breast Health Imaging Center includes mammography screening and diagnostics, ultrasound, biopsy and more.

     There are also multiple classes and resources to early detection of Breast Cancer, one of the most important aspects of treating it. They include the "Buddy Check" and a mobile mammogram unit. 

(The University Breast Health Center Digital Mobile Mammography Unit reaches women unable to come to University's on-site center. This digital mobile unit is helping eliminate barriers by making it more convenient for women to have a screening mammogram. These mammograms are the key to lifesaving early detection of breast cancer)

University Hospital is ran by the University Health Care System.  There are many other entities throughout the CSRA region including-

South Augusta- This is basically a small footprint of the University Healthcare system, housing a couple medical practices and a pharmacy. I remember going here as a kid for my checkups, it is one of the best looking buildings on Peach Orchard Road.  

     University Hospital McDuffie- This is a 25-bed medical center located in Mcduffie County, a small county to the West of Augusta with a very beautiful city of Thomson, Georgia. It offers Intensive Care, Cardiac Care and 24-hour Laboratory and Radiology departments. The Emergency Department provides  care to over 11,000 patients every year.  General surgery, orthopedics, podiatry, ophthalmology and laparoscopic procedures and services are also done in this small place. 
University Hospital receives no local funding, and this acute care hospital serves a 25-county region in Georgia and South Carolina.

     University bought a 68-acre parcel in Evans over 20 years ago in anticipating of the county's growing health care needs. They invested in the right space and now this land is the center of a large population of medical service consumers. Columbia County will yield a lot of insurance and cash payments that will shore up many of the services that are administered at other University Health System locations. Smaller places like this are very efficient at administering care and will reflect a lot of the growth in the future of healthcare. 

     The Evans Campus also includes Brandon Wilde (retirement community), a Surgery Center , a Sleep Center, a Prompt Care unit, an Occupational Medicine Services, four Medical Office Buildings, an Imaging Center, a Speech and Hearing Center and more than 20 private practice physician groups. This growth has been criticized on one hand by de-centralizing the care form the home campus, and therefore cutting down efficiency of service administered and I disagree with those claims. It is important for each entity in the Medical sector to adhere to good business decisions and that will in turn grow the home campus and the Medical District itself. To focus on one location is to limit yourself. The activites done here are usually basic and will help University Health systems to reach more customers, that may go elsewhere if they do not reach them in a good manner. This turns the home campus into a command center on top of its usual activities and the more specialized areas that only such areas can carry out do to economies of scale. You have to go where the customers are and University Hospital is doing that. 

     There is also a home health care center in Columbia County that complements the Evans campus and plays on the demographic trend of aging citizens and the need of home health care. There is also a new Grovetown campus, another reflection of investment in the Western side of Augusta. The Grovetown campus has a Prompt Care/Occupational Medicine, Wound & Hyperbaric Services,  Laboratory and a Radiology services, reflecting a level of general care, comparable to a large clinic. 

     There are plans for more growth in Columbia County, including a larger general hospital in the area. Columbia County has held out for proposals from several hospitals, but University looks like it is seriously being considered. 

(The Columbia County campus on the left and the Evans campus on the right)

 Services offered from University Hospital

     Breast Health Center, Cancer Services, Corporate Wellness/Occupational Health, Diabetes Services, Emergency Services, Health Information Services (Medical Records), Heart & Vascular Services, Heart, Vascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Home Health Services, Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit, Laboratory Services, Mobile Mammography, MRI and Open MRI, Orthopaedics, Palliative Care Unit, Pediatric Services, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Prompt Care and Occupational Medicine Centers, Radiology Services, Rape Crisis & Sexual Assault Services, Respiratory Therapy, Sleep Study Lab, Speech and Hearing Center, Stroke Unit, Surgical Services, University Health Link, Vascular Lab, Volunteer Board, Weight Management/Bariatric Surgery, Women's Services, Work Performance Center, Wound Care

Charlie Norwood VA

The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (Downtown)- This is a full service Veterans Administration hospital in the Medical District. It is a seven-story complex with an emergency room, PTSD treatment, mental health services, pharmacy and general care services. It has a 325-foot skywalk that crosses Harper Street and connects to the Medical College of Georgia's medical center.

With the War on Terror and its obverse affect on PTSD and the mental health of soldiers, this hospital has taken on the role more of a Psychiatric Ward in the past 10 years. The sheer amount of solider suicides, depression, anxiety and other mental issues. 

These veterans often come back to sub-par treatment and funds cut from politicians at the top who do not give a damn about the soldiers after combat, as they have served to enrich their class. This is nothing new, as the costs of treating soldiers coming home is almost always multiples time of the budgeted amount and there is little to skim off for contractors. The military industrial complex induces a propaganda of lies to embattle the solider in a mind-state of war. Some of these soldiers are Augustinians, who have never shot a rifle before and shoved into some of the most violent places on earth. The "downloading" of a mental state for war is not easily erased and these soldiers find a public who is oblivious to their efforts and question their own contributions to the nation, as the legitimacy of these wars are in serious speculation in their mind. 

With all of these factors destroying our soliders, at the rate of 2x the amount that was lost in actual combat. The memory of those explosions, killing enemy insurgents and civilians alike and seeing their friend soldiers die are not easily forgotten. In that manner, the VA serves a purpose in the Medical Sector as trying to eradicate this problem. The many doctors here are soldiers themselves, or former, and while arguably understaffed, under budget or with a top heavy organizational structure, have a tough job in front of them. Their efforts will push forward how patients will be treated and how we consider fighting wars in the future. 

Services offered Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center

     Services- Active Duty Rehabilitation Unit, Audiology and Speech Pathology, Chaplain Service, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program, Dental Service and General Practice Residency, Marriage Enrichment Retreats, Mental Health, Minority Veterans Program, Pharmacy, Primary Care, Rehabilitation, Research, Social Work. Specialty Care, Spinal Cord Injury, Transition Services Center

Specialty Services Hospital 

Services offered at Specialty Services Hospital

Services- Aggressive ventilator/tracheotomy weaning, Bariatric accommodations, Procedure room , ICU

Trinity Hospital 

Services offered from Trinity Hospital

     Services- Acute Care for the Elderly Unit, Ambulatory Care, Bariatric Services, Bone Density, Breast Center, Cardiac Services, Cardiopulmonary, Childbirth, Clinical Nutrition, Diabetes Management, Echo Services. Electroencephalography, Emergency Services, Endoscopy, Geropsychiatric Services, Home Care Services, Hospitalist, Joint Replacement, Neonatal ICU, Outpatient Lab, Radiology Services, Rehabilitation, Sleep Lab, Surgical Services, Vascular Services, Women's Health, Wound Healing

Hospitals/medical centers in Augusta

• ARA AUGUSTA LLC Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1000 TELFAIR ST)
• ARA SOUTH AUGUSTA CLINIC Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1649 GORDON HIGHWAY)
• FMC NEW BAILIE Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1717 WALTON WAY)
• FMC OF AUGUSTA INC Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1109 MEDICAL CENTER DRIVE)
• NEPHROLOGY CENTER OF SOUTH AUGUSTA Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1631 GORDON HWY)
• RAI CROSSROADS Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1719 MAGNOLIA WAY)
• RAI DEANS BRIDGE Show location (Dialysis Facility, 2841 DEANS BRIDGE ROAD)
• RAI DIALYSIS SERVICES SOUTH AUGUSTA Show location (Dialysis Facility, 3206 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD)
• WYLDS ROAD DIALYSIS Show location (Dialysis Facility, 1815 WYLDS ROAD)
• TRINITY HOME HEALTH Show location (Home Health Center, 2803 WRIGHTSBORO ROAD SUITE 38)
• WINYAH HOME HEALTH CARE, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY Show location (Home Health Center, 3633 WHEELER ROAD, SUITE 200)
• ALLIANCE HOSPICE, LLC Show location (Hospital, 3685 OLD PETERSBURG ROAD, SUITE 145)
• AUGUSTA VA MEDICAL CENTER Show location (Hospital,Acute Care - Veterans Administration,Government Federal, provides emergency services, 950 15TH STREET)
• CHARTER AUGUSTA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYS Show location (Hospital, 3100 PERIMETER PARKWAY)
• DOCTORS HOSPITAL Show location (Acute Care Hospitals,Proprietary, provides emergency services, 3651 WHEELER ROAD)
• EAST CENTRAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL Show location (Hospital, 3405 MIKE PADGETT HWY)
• GEORGIA REGIONAL HOSPITAL-AUGUSTA Show location (Hospital, PO BOX 327)
• HEARTLAND HOSPICE SERVICES ( AUGUSTA ) Show location (Hospital, 1365 INTERSTATE PARKWAY)
• HOSPICE CARE OF AMERICA Show location (Hospital, 4314 BELAIR FRONTAGE RD, SUITE B)
• MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GA HOSPITALS AND CLINICS Show location (Acute Care Hospitals,Voluntary non-profit - Other, provides emergency services, 1120 15TH STREET)
• REGENCY HOSPICE Show location (Hospital, 2919 PROFESSIONAL PARKWAY, SUITE A)
• SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - AUGUSTA Show location (Hospital, 3651 WHEELER ROAD/FOURTH FLOOR)
• SEMPERCARE HOSPITAL OF AUGUSTA Show location (Hospital, 1350 WALTON WAY, 7TH FLOOR)
• TRINITY HOSPITAL OF AUGUSTA Show location (Acute Care Hospitals,Proprietary, 2260 WRIGHTSBORO RD)
• UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Show location (Acute Care Hospitals,Voluntary non-profit - Other, 1350 WALTON WAY)
• VENCARE HOSPICE AUGUSTA Show location (Hospital, 2623 WASHINGTON RD, BLDG E, SUITE 102)
• WALTON REHABILITATION HOSPITAL Show location (Hospital, 1355 INDEPENDENCE DRIVE)
• AMARA HEALTH CARE AND REHAB Show location (Nursing Home, 2021 SCOTT ROAD)
• BLAIR HOUSE Show location (Nursing Home, 2541 MILLEDGEVILLE ROAD)
• GOLDEN LIVINGCENTER - AUGUSTA Show location (Nursing Home, 1600 ANTHONY ROAD)
• GOLDEN LIVINGCENTER - WINDERMERE Show location (Nursing Home, 3618 J DEWEY GRAY CIRCLE)
• KENTWOOD NURSING FACILITY Show location (Nursing Home, 1227 WEST WHEELER PARKWAY)
• PLACE AT AUGUSTA, THE Show location (Nursing Home, 820 STEVENS CREEK R0AD)
• PLACE AT DEAN'S BRIDGE, THE Show location (Nursing Home, 3235 DEAN'S BRIDGE ROAD)
• PLACE AT MARTINEZ, THE Show location (Nursing Home, 409 PLEASANT HOME ROAD)
• STEVENS PARK HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER, LLC Show location (Nursing Home, 820 STEVENS CREEK ROAD)
• UNIHEALTH POST-ACUTE CARE - AUGUSTA Show location (Nursing Home, 2541 MILLEDGEVILLE ROAD)
• UNIHEALTH POST-ACUTE CARE - AUGUSTA HILLS Show location (Nursing Home, 2122 CUMMING ROAD)
• UNIVERSITY HOSP TRANS CARE UNI Show location (Nursing Home, 1350 WALTON WAY)