Board-certified family medicine physician,
Janise Whitesell, MD., is the first elected female chief of medical staff in
Southeast Georgia Health System’s history. Whitesell serves on the
Camden Campus medical staff and practices at
Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Primary Care in St. Marys.
Reflecting on her new role, Whitesell says, “I want to support our
medical staff and administration as we work towards providing the best
possible quality care to the patients we serve. Effective communication
between our hospital board and administrative leaders, while addressing
the clinical needs of our providers, is a large part of my role.”
“On behalf of Southeast Georgia Health System, I congratulate Dr.
Janise Whitesell on her new role as the Camden Campus chief of medical
staff and look forward to working alongside her as we strive to enhance
health care access for the communities we serve,” says
Scott Raynes, MBA, MA, president and chief executive officer. “An accomplished physician,
we appreciate the expertise and commitment she brings to the role.”
Continuously improving and updating patient care on the Camden Campus is
foremost on Whitesell’s mind. “We’ve come a long way
since I arrived in 2007, but we must continue to balance our services
with population growth. Opening the
Wound Care Center is one example of expansion, and we are now working to hire a cardiologist
to fill the gap in cardiology services.”
A native of Pembroke, Georgia, Whitesell grew up appreciating rural communities
while understanding the difficulties they face in accessing health care.
“There were no hospitals or clinics in my hometown. Miss Jewell,
the local health department nurse, was available for minor emergencies.
Some of my experiences with her led me toward a career in medicine.”
A medical career was not truly on her radar, however, until college. “My
invertebrate zoology class was notoriously difficult. The demanding, strict
instructor was never personal with her students. I was in the lab one
day when she said, ‘There have been students lesser than you who
pursued medicine and succeeded.’ She gave me the confidence I needed
to pursue a dream I didn’t even know I had. Once I decided to become
a physician, I never looked back and have never regretted it.”
By the time Whitesell entered medical school in 1994, 50 percent of her
class was female. “It was unique for the time, an early sign of
trends to come. Prior to that, most medical schools had only a handful
of female students. In some ways, being a female in medical school was
an advantage because I was underestimated,” she explains.
When she first started practicing medicine,
Whitesell encountered some skepticism. She recalls a Folkston farmer whose injured
hand required 10 stitches. “He asked if I’d ever done this
before. Later, he said, ‘I wasn’t sure I wanted a lady doctor
sewing me up, but when I saw you knew what you were doing, I was okay.’”
Today, Whitesell encounters more appreciation than skepticism. “Female
physicians are relatable. We spend a lot of time listening in our personal
lives, and several male patients have told me they prefer a female provider
due to our listening skills. Being women, we are natural multitaskers
and consider how an individual’s healthcare can affect all aspects
of their life. For example, if a mother needs medication, how will she
pay for her child’s soccer uniform?”
Like every professional woman, she strives to achieve work-life balance.
“Medicine is not a 9 to 5 job. It permeates every aspect of your
life. I am fortunate that my husband [Thomas Whitesell Jr., MD, an internist at
Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Primary Care] is always willing to lend a hand. While things are never perfect, I hope
my patients and family know I’m always giving it my best.”
Having settled in St. Marys almost 20 years ago, the Whitesells and their
two daughters have close community ties, a bond Whitesell also experiences
in her medical practice. “The most important thing about being a
physician is developing a relationship with patients. I feel fortunate
to see multiple generations of the same families. I am honored to have
the opportunity to do whatever I can to benefit the wonderful people of
Camden County and the surrounding areas.”
Whitesell is a board-certified family medicine physician at Southeast Georgia
Physician Associates-Primary Care in Camden. Whitesell and her fellow
providers are accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call
912-882-6767.