AU champions: Changing the game and saving lives

In true championship fashion, five doctors from the Medical College of Georgia, one dentist from the Dental College of Georgia and students from both the College of Nursing and the Dental College of Georgia were featured in a dynamic halftime commercial during the Georgia versus Georgia Tech football game on Nov. 28.

The video showcases just a few of the ways AU is dedicated to life-changing, life-saving education grounded in cutting-edge research and a deep commitment to student success and creating a better, healthier future for all Georgians.

Meet the featured doctors

Scott Rahimi, MD, a 2002 graduate of MCG, is a professor in MCG’s Department of Neurosurgery, specializing in aneurysms, strokes, neurotrauma and tumors of the brain and spine.

“We shine in providing high-quality neurosurgical care to our community and surrounding underserved counties in Georgia,” said Rahimi. “It is a privilege to work in the operating room, treating patients. We have to be ready to serve patients when they put their trust in us at a critical time.”

Ted Johnson, MD, PhD, a 2004 graduate of AU’s MD/PhD Program, is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and serves as the co-director of AU’s Pediatric Immunotherapy Program, specializing in pediatric oncology. Johnson and his team design clinical trials to study new cancer treatments that combine chemotherapy with immunotherapy to teach the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

“The immunotherapy we use is called indoximod and was invented by Dr. David Munn (another MCG alum) here at Augusta University,” Johnson said. “We have written and managed four clinical trials using indoximod-based treatments for patients with incurable pediatric brain cancer over the past 10 years, with more than 250 patients enrolling for treatment at five trial sites in Augusta, Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati and Houston. We have seen many children respond very well with these new treatments.”

D. Monte Hunter, MD, the Milton B. Satcher Distinguished Chair of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at MCG, specializes in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine. Hunter leads a team of 14 orthopaedic surgeons, three military surgeons, three podiatrists, 12 advanced practice providers, 13 nurses and 107 support staff.

“It is a privilege to be part of a team that is dedicated to helping patients retain and regain function and physical activity,” said Hunter, who was a member of the University of North Carolina football team as a sophomore. “It truly is a team effort that includes athletic trainers, primary care sports medicine providers, the surgical team and the post-operative physical therapy rehabilitation specialists. All play equally important critical roles in helping patients attain their goals. This team approach is one of the key factors that attracted me to this specialty.” 

Sherita King, MD, is the director of sexual medicine and prosthetics and an associate professor in MCG’s Department of Urology. Her focus on restoring function uniquely bridges physical health, psychological well-being and relationship quality. By restoring function in these areas, a person’s confidence, identity and daily life can be transformed.

“Being a champion for this work means advocating for patients whose concerns are often stigmatized or overlooked, ensuring they receive compassionate, evidence-based care,” said King, a 2008 graduate of MCG, who was also an All-American track athlete in the 100-meter and 4×100-meter relay at UGA. “It also means advancing the field – through innovation, education, and mentorship – so that life-changing outcomes become accessible to more people. Helping patients regain parts of themselves they thought were lost is a privilege, and it’s what makes this work profoundly special.”

Greg Griffin, DMD, is the associate dean for student affairs for the Dental College of Georgia and associate professor in the Department of General Dentistry. Griffin leads the DCG Clerkship program, which places fourth-year dental students in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Georgia Public Health clinics across the state to help expand access for Georgia’s most vulnerable populations.

“One of my greatest goals is to inspire the next generation of dentists to share my commitment to improving access to care,” said Griffin, a 1998 graduate of MCG’s dental medicine program that transitioned into DCG. “Bringing quality oral health services to rural areas doesn’t just treat teeth; it transforms lives. The impact is profound and deeply rewarding. The education I received from the Dental College of Georgia empowered me to serve thousands of Georgians, and that experience drives me to champion, encourage and guide tomorrow’s dentists. Together, we can ensure they go out and do extraordinary things for our profession and for the communities that need us most.”

Renee Hilton-Rowe, MD, is the section chief of the Minimally Invasive Surgery section within MCG’s Department of Surgery and serves as the director of the Center of Obesity and Metabolism at Wellstar MCG Health.

A board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, Hilton-Rowe is a 2011 graduate of MCG who specializes in laparoscopic procedures for obesity, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and revision of prior bariatric surgery. Originally from Edison, Georgia, Hilton-Rowe focuses on providing effective surgery with minimal recovery time and reduced post-operative discomfort and has specialized expertise in primary and recurrent abdominal wall and hiatal hernias using laparoscopic techniques.

The commercial also featured students from AU’s College of Nursing and the Dental College of Georgia. CON students included Ariana Harmon, the Master of Science in Nursing‘s Class of 2025 Augusta campus class president; Kinya Williams, the Class of 2026 Augusta campus class president for the MSN program and winner of this year’s Adele Reeves Key Scholarship; and Gloriahna “Glo” Roberson, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program’s Class of 2027 Augusta campus class president. DCG was represented by Carter Shelton and Colton Villa.

Stealing the show was Coale Peace. Born with a rare condition called osteogenesis imperfecta type III, he has faced countless fractures and surgeries, but, thanks to the doctors and nurses at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia and support from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, he’s thriving.

According to his parents Rebecca and Kevin Peace, despite entering the world with 12 broken bones and facing countless challenges since, Coale continuously shows remarkable resilience and spirit.

Diagnosed before birth, Coale has been supported by the Children’s Hospital of Georgia from his earliest days, beginning with a week in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and continuing with weekly physical and occupational therapy.

He has undergone multiple surgeries to strengthen and realign his bones and his pediatric orthopedic surgeon is Corey Bryan, MD, an MCG graduate himself.

Now seven years old, Coale is full of energy and curiosity. He especially loves basketball, calling it “the most brilliant game he’s ever seen,” and approaches life with courage and joy.

The halftime spot underscored Augusta University’s mission as home to Georgia’s flagship medical school and the state’s only dental school. By featuring its doctors, dentists and nursing students, the commercial highlighted how the AU community is changing the game in health care and saving lives across Georgia and beyond.