- CLINICAL -

Under the supervision of the Chief of Medical Staff, the clinical staff provides primary care diagnosis, treatment and technical support services. The staff is composed of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, a Medical Technologist, a Radiology Technologist, and a Respiratory Therapist.

Health Services Physicians are well trained, fully licensed MD’s with significant experience in both private practice and college health. Health Services Nurse Practitioners (NP’s) are registered nurses with advanced education and training in primary care as well as certain specialties, including family practice and obstetrics/gynecology. NP’s work independently, as well as collaboratively with Physicians and other health care providers All Health Services NP’s, Pharmacists, and Technologists are fully licensed and/or nationally certified/registered.

- MAE FRANCIS ANDERSON -

ASN, NP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Anderson is an experienced Registered Nurse and Gynecologic/Obstetric Nurse Practitioner who completed her Nurse Practitioner training and certification in 1994 from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to her work as a Nurse Practitioner, she served as a Registered Nurse for more than 10 years after completing an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing from Brunswick College, Brunswick, Georgia. Ms. Anderson joined the staff of the Health Services in 1996 where she has worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the Women’s Health Department.

- KATHLEEN R. BRIDGES -

BSN, MSN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Bridges is an experienced Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her BS in Nursing from Georgia Southern University in 1985 and her MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia Southern in 1997. Her work experience includes service as a Staff Nurse for the Ogeechee Home Health Agency, Statesboro, GA; SICU Staff Nurse, Memorial Medical Center, Jacksonville, FL, and Medical Delivery Coordinator, First Choice Healthcare, Inc., Jacksonville, FL. Ms. Bridges joined the Clinical Staff of the Health Services in 1998 where she has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

- RHONDA L. CASTRO -

BS, ASCP, Medical Technologist

Ms. Castro is a well-trained, fully certified Medical Technologist with more than 12 years of experience, including supervision and training of technicians and phlebotomists and overseeing the Clinical Laboratory Inspection Act (CLIA) compliance process. She received her BS in Medical Technology from Georgia Southern University in 1990 and completed her Certification in Medical Technology from Armstrong State College, Savannah, GA in 1991. Her experience includes work as a Medical Technologist at the Scott & White Hospital, Temple, TX, the Bulloch Memorial Hospital, Statesboro, and the East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Statesboro, GA.

- PENELOPE B. COLLINS -

BSN, MSN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Collins is an experienced Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her BS in Nursing from Emory University, Atlanta Georgia and her MSN from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, in 1979. Her work experience includes more than 13 years of clinical and teaching experience as a member of the Faculty, Department of Nursing, Georgia Southern University. Ms. Collins joined the Clinical Staff of the Health Services in 1997 where she has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

- ANGELA V. COUSSONS-DYCHES -

BS, BSN, MSN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Coussans-Dyches is an experienced Registered Nurse who recently completed her MSN in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty from Georgia Southern University. She received her BS in Psychology from Georgia Southern in 1992, and BS in Nursing from Georgia Southern in 1997. Her experience includes work as a Charge Nurse at Willingway Hospital, Part-time Supervisor at John’s Place, Statesboro, and School Nurse, Bryan County Middle School, Bryan County, GA. Ms. Coussans-Dyches joined the Clinical Staff of Health Services in August, 2004, where she works as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

- CURTIS G. HAMES, JR. -

BS, BS/Pharmacy, M.D., Staff Physician

Dr. Hames served as the Health Services Chief of Medical Staff for more than 14 years and will continue to work as a Staff Physician on a part-time basis. Dr. Hames is a well-trained Family Practice Physician with significant experience in college health and private practice. Dr. Hames received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, in conjunction with the Medical College of Georgia. He then completed a three year Family Practice Residency at Memorial Medical Center, Savannah, Georgia. He received a BS in Psychology from Georgia Southern University and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA. His experience includes running a successful private medical practice in Claxton, Georgia, and serving as a member of the Mercer University School of Medicine Faculty, Macon, Georgia. Dr. Hames joined the Georgia Southern Health Services staff in 1987 serving as a Staff Physician, and since 1997 Chief of Medical Staff.

- CATHERINE K. DICKENS -

BS/Pharmacy, M.D., AAFP, GAFP, Staff Physician

Dr. Dickens is a Board Certified Family Practitioner who joined the Health Services in 2002 after running a successful private practice in Hazlehurst and Clayton, GA. Dr. Dickens received her Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA in 1990. She completed her medical Internship and a Family Practice Residency at the Medical College of Georgia. She received an Associates Degree in Nursing from South Georgia College, Douglas, GA and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA. In addition to private practice experience, Dr. Dickens served as a Registered Nurse and Pharmacist in the Dekalb Medical Center, Decatur, GA, and as an Emergency Room Physician in Rabun County Hospital, Clayton, GA, Jeff Davis County Hospital, Hazlehurst, GA, and Candler County Hospital, Metter, GA.

- KATIE DRIVER -

BSN, MN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner

Mrs. Driver is a Nurse Practitioner with over six years of gynecologic experience. She received her BS in nursing in 1996 from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA and completed her NP training and certification in 1999 also from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. Mrs. Driver was trained in colposcopy in 2001 by the ASCCP (American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology). Her work experience includes private gynecologic practice in Athens, GA with Women's Healthcare Specialists, and private gynecologic practice in Atlanta, GA with Premier Care for Women. Mrs. Driver is currently working as a nurse practitioner in the Family Health Clinic of the Richmond County Health Department in Augusta, GA. She also will be conducting our colposcopy clinic beginning Fall 2006.

- KAREN R. HILDE -

BSN, MSN, WHNP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Hilde is an experienced Registered Nurse and Obstetric/Gynecologic Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, in 1998, and her Master of Science in Nursing and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, in 2004. Prior to her service as a Nurse Practitioner, she served as a Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse for 7 years, and as a staff Registered Nurse in a private OB/GYN office for 1 year. She joined the Clinical Staff of the Health Services in February 2005 part-time, and then became full-time in December 2005, where she has worked as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

- ElDONNA M. HILDE -

BSN, MSN, NP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Hilde is an experienced Registered Nurse and Obstetric/Gynecology Nurse Practitioner. She received her BS in Nursing from Union College, Lincoln, NE, and her MSN from the Medical College of Georgia in 1979. She pursued post-Masters work at the Medical College of Virginia, receiving her Nurse Practitioner Certificate in Obstetric/Gynecology from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, in 1980. Ms. Hilde’s work experience includes more than 15 years of teaching experience as a member of the Faculty, School of Nursing, Georgia Southern University with concurrent clinical experience at Ogeechee Ob-Gyn, P.C. and Southeast Georgia Health District/Bulloch County Health Department, Statesboro, GA. She joined the Clinical Staff of the Health Services in 2000, where she has worked as an Obstetric/Gynecology Nurse Practitioner, serving concurrently as supervisor of the Women’s Health Department.

- CONSTANCE MORGAN -

BSN, WHNP, Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Morgan is an experienced Registered Nurse and Gynecologic/Obstetric Nurse Practitioner. She received her BS Degree in Nursing from Albany State University in 1977. She served as a Registered Nurse for more than 15 years before joining the Clinical Staff of the Health Services from 1996-2000 as a Nurse Practitioner in the Women’s Health Department.. She completed her Gynecologic/Obstetric Nurse Practitioner certification in 1991 from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta Georgia. She has also worked as a Nurse Practitioner in Public Health and The Department of Corrections with the Juvenile Justice System. Ms. Morgan rejoined the Clinical Staff of the Health Services in 2005 where she has worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the Women’s Health Department.

- MARTHA M. PALMER -

RT, Radiologic Technologist

Ms. Palmer is a well-trained, fully certified Radiologic Technologist with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from the Ogeechee Technical College Radiologic Technology Program, Statesboro, GA in 2000. Her experience includes work as a Radiographer at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Statesboro, GA.

- LINDA GAIL McCOY -

LPN, CRT, Respiratory Therapy Technician

Ms. McCoy is a well-trained, fully certified and licensed Respiratory Therapy Technician and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), with more than 25 years of experience. She graduated from the Swainsboro Area Vocational and Technical School as a LPN in 1970, and received her degree in Respiratory Therapy from the California College for Health Sciences in 1988. Ms. McCoy also has training as an Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician. Her experience includes work as a Respiratory Therapy Technician, LPN, and Chief Electrocardiogram Technician at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Jesup, GA and work as an LPN at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Savannah, GA.

- TOMMY WILBANKS -

RPh, Pharmacist

Mr. Wilbanks is a well-trained, experienced registered pharmacist responsible for overseeing the Health Services on-site pharmacy location, The University Pharmacy at Georgia Southern, operated by a local pharmacy - Forest Heights Pharmacy. He received his BS in Biology from Georgia Southern University in 1971 and his BS in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in 1973. In addition to more than 5 years experience overseeing the Health Services pharmacy, Mr. Wilbanks has more than 20 years of experience as a Pharmacist in retail and hospital pharmacies.