Archbold Medical Center, Live Better Win Statewide Award

At its annual Summer Meeting in July, the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) presented its prestigious Community Leadership Award to Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville for its collaborative effort that enables Thomas County citizens to make healthier choices, with a particular focus on reducing obesity.

In the summer of 2016, Archbold formed an advisory board of executives representing major sectors of the community that could leverage the strengths of each sector to improve community health: healthcare, government, schools, media and business. Even in its early stages, Live Better promises to be a successful initiative, showing highly visible evidence of heightened community involvement addressing healthcare needs with measurable goals for adults and children. The award was especially given because of the high expectations for the unique model that was developed. Since the award was announced, the group has had several inquiries from hospital leaders across Georgia asking for guidance about their own clinical outreach efforts.

The current advisory board consists of Archbold’s Vice President of Planning and Marketing Mark Lowe; Archbold’s Clinical Outreach Manager Todd Bennett; City of Thomasville Chief Financial Officer Michelle Juarez; City of Thomasville Director of Engagement and Outreach Lauren Radford; Thomasville City Schools Superintendent Laine Reichert; Thomas County Schools Superintendent Dusty Kornegay; Thomasville-Times Enterprise General Manager Chris Mohr and Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Collins.