A physician whose passion for raising awareness about prostate cancer led him to help organize screening events around the country and a nurse practitioner with an extraordinary commitment to improving mental health have been named Phoebe’s Physician of the Year and Advanced Practice Provider of the Year.  John McGill, MD, and Victoria Jones, DNP, were honored at a banquet hosted by Phoebe Physicians Thursday night.

Dr. McGill, a urologist at Phoebe Urology, was nominated for the award by more individuals than any other physician.  He is “the very best of the best,” noted one nominator.  “He is an incredible physician and person.  He is so kind to every patient.  Although, he stays tremendously busy, he takes time with each one and truly listens to them,” wrote another.

Dr. McGill attended the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, graduated from the urology residency program at Case Western Reserve University and completed fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic.  After joining the Phoebe Family, he was an early proponent and the medical lead for Project Elevation, a partnership between Phoebe, Morehouse School of Medicine and area churches.  The innovative project trains “champions” at participating churches to educate men – especially Black men who are more likely to develop prostate cancer and less likely to be screened for it – about prostate cancer.  The churches then host health fairs at which blood tests to screen for prostate cancer are offered.  In less than three years, Project Elevation has provided free screenings to 831 men.

 “Lives can be changed, and we can do it together,” Dr. McGill said in the early stages of Project Elevation.  “This is the core of what we need to be doing in this community.”

In his role as Director of Community Engagement for the R. Frank Jones Urological Society, a national organization of Black urologists, Dr. McGill has taken aspects of the Project Elevation model nationwide.  In conjunction with conferences and meetings associated with the National Medical Association, Dr. McGill has organized prostate cancer education and screening events in New Orleans, Chicago and Harlem, with more events planned.  Dr. McGill has also traveled twice recently to Liberia to help expand surgical services in the west African country.  But his greatest impact may be right here at home where his passion is serving his patients.

“He treats everyone with kindness and respect,” wrote a Phoebe Urology staff member who noted in the nomination for physician of the year that several of Dr. McGill’s patients make long drives, even from out of state, to see him.  “He has formed strong relationships with his patients.  He listens to them, and they are confident in his decisions.”

APP of the Year Victoria Jones is an Albany native who earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Columbus State University and her Doctorate as a Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Tennessee Health & Science Center.  She returned to Albany in 2018 after working as a nurse practitioner in Bartlett, TN; Atlanta, GA; and Hiram, GA.

“She is well-respected and loved by her peers and by the staff that support her daily,” wrote one person who nominated her.  Another said, “She deserves to be the APP of the Year because of the dedication she has to all patients and to the healing of those with mental health issues.”

In her role with Phoebe Behavioral Health, Jones treats patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings and also sees patients in the clinic at the Dougherty County Jail.  One nominator pointed out her willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure patients get the care they need.  “She is a dedicated employee who goes above and beyond to support the physicians as well as all the medical providers,” the nomination read.  “When one of the physicians was out (with an illness), she stepped in and saw all the patients on the inpatient unit as well as did consults and took call every night.”

Thursday night’s recognition event also served as a celebration of the 15^th anniversary of the creation of Phoebe’s provider group.  Phoebe Physicians currently employs 185 physicians and 183 APPs.  Those clinicians work in Phoebe’s hospitals, as well as primary care, urgent care and specialty care clinics throughout southwest Georgia.  Phoebe Physicians President Dr. Estrellita Redmon congratulated Dr. McGill and Jones, and all the physicians and APPs who were nominated for the awards.

“John and Victoria are talented and experienced healthcare professionals who provide exceptional care and superior service to every one of their patients.  Their commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care is exemplary,” Dr. Redmon said.  “Our winners represent a large, diverse and outstanding group of physicians and advanced practice providers at Phoebe Physicians.  It is my privilege to work with them to ensure the people of southwest Georgia have access to the advanced, quality care they need, and I am proud to honor John and Victoria as fine examples of what it means to be a Phoebe Physicians provider,” she added.

More than four dozen physicians and APPs received nominations for the calendar year 2023 awards.  Anyone, from co-workers to patients to patients’ family members, may nominate providers for the honors.  Nominations for the 2024 awards will open soon on Phoebe’s website.