Peach State Health Plan, MCG introduce 2025 Peach State Scholars

Leaders from Peach State Health Plan, the Centene Foundation and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University officially recognized the fifth cohort of Peach State Scholars during a pinning ceremony held on Aug. 15.

The 12 medical students honored have committed to MCG’s innovative 3+ Primary Care Pathway, a program designed to fast-track primary care physicians into the state’s most underserved areas. Students complete medical school in three years, followed by placement into a primary care residency in Georgia.

“Augusta University is proud to celebrate this newest class of Peach State Scholars as they take an important step toward becoming physicians committed to serving underserved communities across Georgia,” said Augusta University President Russell T. Keen. “Through our partnership with Peach State Health Plan, we’re ensuring that our brightest medical students have the resources to pursue careers in primary care where they’re needed most. These scholars represent the future of health care in our state, and we’re grateful for the continued investment that makes their success possible.”

This year’s Peach State Scholars represent a diverse group of future physicians dedicated to serving communities across Georgia. Their names and chosen specialties are:

• Sadie Abernathy of Gainesville, Georgia – Emergency Medicine
• Tofunmi Adewumi of Kennesaw, Georgia – Pediatrics or Family Medicine
• Cole Anderson of Augusta, Georgia – Family Medicine
• Maddox Benedict of Buford, Georgia – Psychiatry
• Austin Buntin of Ellijay, Georgia – Internal Medicine
• Oscar Meza of Brunswick, Georgia – Psychiatry
• Madison Crawford of Monroe, Georgia – Emergency Medicine
• Andrew Ji of Effingham, Georgia – Family Medicine
• Elizabeth Bowman Ketchem of Marietta, Georgia – Emergency Medicine
• Leja Lizunaite of Johns Creek, Georgia – Obstetrics and Gynecology
• William Ngo of Norcross, Georgia – Internal Medicine
• Nikul Parikh of Moultrie, Georgia – Internal Medicine

“This initiative identifies top-tier students with a passion for primary care and places them on a path to serve where their skills are most urgently needed,” said MCG Dean David C. Hess, MD. “By removing financial barriers through scholarships, we’re not only supporting their education but also strengthening the health care infrastructure in Georgia’s underserved regions.”

The program’s first two cohorts are now in residency.

Peach State Health Plan, a subsidiary of Centene, is a care management organization that serves the needs of Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions.

Georgia continues to face a shortage of physicians in rural regions, impacting health outcomes and access to care. Currently, 143 of Georgia’s 159 counties are designated health professional shortage areas, according to the Cicero Institute – a stark reminder of the need for initiatives like the 3+ program, which directly aligns student opportunity with community need.

“We are honored to support these students as they dedicate themselves not only to medicine but to serving where they are needed most,” said Clyde A. White, president and CEO of Peach State Health Plan. “This program is about more than producing doctors; it’s about building healthier communities and expanding access to care for all Georgians.”

The pinning ceremony marks a symbolic step in each scholar’s journey and reinforces their shared commitment to the health and well-being of Georgia’s most vulnerable populations.