December is a season of giving, and this December, Southeast Georgia Health System gave a significant gift to the people of Camden and Charlton County, along with the surrounding communities. On December 6, 2023, the Health System opened its Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Cardiology office on the Camden Campus.

“This is a piece of the puzzle that was missing. So many patients traveled to Brunswick for cardiology services. It’s important to offer these services convenient to where patients live. That was the driver behind this new office,” says Matthew Certain, MD. A board-certified interventional cardiologist with SGPA-Cardiology, Certain treats structural heart conditions using catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty, stenting and mechanical thrombectomy. The Health System recently began offering thrombectomy to treat life-threatening blood clots on its Brunswick Campus.

Cassie Wilder, manager of SGPA-Cardiology, is proud to see the months of planning result in the practice expanding to a new market. “We are excited to expand services into Camden County allowing us to offer patients easier access to cardiac care, leading to earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions and better patient outcomes.”

Certain, along with board-certified interventional cardiologists Marsha J. Certain, MD, and Mitchell T. Jones, MD, will see patients in the St. Marys office for regular heart health checkups, pre-operative clearance appointments and post-operative follow-ups. The location also offers diagnostic EKG, echocardiogram, regular and nuclear stress tests. All surgical procedures will take place on the Brunswick Campus.

“At this time, we do not have a cardiac catheterization lab or inpatient cardiac services on our Camden Campus,” says Executive Director of Cardiovascular Services Krista Penn, DHA, MA, BSN, RN, CCRN-K. However, she believes Camden’s cardiology presence will expand. “We will continue evaluating which services the area needs.” Certain concurs, adding, “The new office is a sign of the Health System’s growth and commitment to our patients, making heart care more convenient.”

Camden Campus Gains an Emory Expert

When you need to see a heart specialist, the last thing you want is a long wait. To expedite care, the Health System hired Certified Physician Assistant Meredith Brazell. She will work closely with the cardiologists and diagnostic technicians to diagnose, treat and manage cardiovascular conditions. After graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Brazell earned a Master of Science degree from Emory University School of Medicine. She completed her physician assistant residency at Emory University Hospital. Nine of her 16 years of medical experience have been as a physician’s assistant at renowned facilities, including Emory University Hospital Midtown and Piedmont Heart Institute.

“Aside from Meredith’s clinical skill and expertise, she’s enthusiastic about her work and she listens, which patients notice,” Certain says. He believes that listening has become a lost art in medicine. His comment underscores the reasons Brazell pursued a medical career. “My goal is to help patients feel comfortable and understand what is going on. I get to know my patients so that their treatment and goals of care fit with their lifestyle.” Cardiology allows her to make a difference in patients’ lives. “The heart controls all the other organs; it is the captain of the team. When it’s functioning poorly, everything else suffers.”

As for her new position, she echoes the feelings of the SGPA cardiologists and Penn, who are excited about bringing heart care to Camden County. “I chose to work here because of the people and the community.

For patients, it's nice to have all of your care in one place, near to where you live.”

Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Cardiology has offices in Brunswick and St. Marys. To schedule an appointment at either location, call 912-466-7660. For more information about the providers or services, visit sghs.org/cardiology.