Pediatric Digestive Health and Wellness has opened in Loganville. This new pediatric gastroenterology (GI) specialty clinic is dedicated to transforming the digestive health and overall well-being of children in Metro-Atlanta.
Currently, wait times to see Pediatric GI in Metro-Atlanta can range from several weeks to even months, which is why we are honored to announce the opening of our new office. The goal of this center is to help reduce these long wait times and provide more timely access to care for children in the area.
Sams
The clinic is led by Georgia native, Derica N. Sams, M.D., and offers expert care for conditions such as constipation, reflux, food allergies, and obesity. With a focus on personalized treatment plans and family education, we aim to empower children and their families to achieve optimal health.
Dr. Sams was born and raised in Athens. She completed her pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Vanderbilt University and pediatric residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her M.D. from Morehouse School of Medicine, and she is a graduate of Emory University with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Educational Studies.
Pediatric Digestive Health and Wellness is located at 3925 Harrison Rd, Suite 100, in Loganville.
2024 report shows Latino political influence growing
GALEO and the GALEO Impact Fund have released the 2024 Georgia Latino Vote Report, continuing to document a more accurate account of the Latino voter engagement in Georgia during the 2024 presidential election cycle.
On January 7, 2025, GALEO presented the 2024 Georgia Latino Vote Report, the fifth report documenting Latino voter engagement in Georgia since 2008. Our long-standing partnership with the NALEO Educational Fund and the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia once again made the report possible.
During the 2024 election cycle, the Latino electorate in Georgia experienced significant growth and impact, similar to trend lines in previous electoral cycles.
Key takeaways from 2024 include:
- Nearly 30 per cent growth rate since 2020;
- Some 64 percent of Georgia Latinos voted for VP Kamala Harris while 35 per cent supported President-Elect Donald Trump; and
- Latinos remain a critical demographic for any candidate running statewide in Georgia.
In Gwinnett alone, our presence can be felt. Go to the graphic below, which shows voter turnout has increased compared to previous years.
With Georgia’s Latino population growing, more Latinos are registering to vote and exercising their right to vote. The 2024 Georgia Latino Vote Report shows how the Latino community shapes the state’s political future. It breaks down key trends, showing where Latinos are voting, and the growth of their influence in Georgia elections.
GGC nursing students pass state test on first try
One reason GGC nursing graduates had a 100 per cent pass rate in 2024 was the use of “flipped classrooms.” Students took classes online and then applied what they learned in the college’s modern basic skills and simulation labs. GGC nursing student Jenna Phelps checks the nursing mannequin’s mouth to confirm the feeding tube was inserted correctly. (Photo by Daniel Melograna/Georgia Gwinnett College.)
“Perfection,” as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “an unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence.”
That’s what Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) nursing graduates demonstrated recently when all 63 passed the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN) National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) on the first try. This makes that GGC’s NCLEX first-time pass rate for 2024 at 100 percent.
While these graduates earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, their journey to becoming registered nurses hinged on passing the NCLEX exam.
In the past four years, GGC’s nursing graduates passed the exam on the first try at 94.63 per cent. According to NCSBN, for U.S. graduates with baccalaureate degrees, the national average first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2023 was 90.17 per cent. In the state of Georgia, that rate is 89.8 percent.
Why are GGC nursing graduates’ pass rates above the state and national averages? GGC faculty use the flipped classroom model to deliver its curriculum. Classroom time is spent in an interactive setting where students and faculty work together to apply pre-assigned learning. GGC is among the first programs to implement this form of curriculum delivery. GGC students apply what they learn in the college’s two modern simulation labs. GGC students also practice in an apartment setting to learn to care for patients requiring home visits.
GGC’s job placement rate for its nursing graduates is 100 percent. For more information about GGC’s nursing program, visit www.ggc.edu/nursing.
Explore Gwinnett snares lots of awards
The team of Explore Gwinnett has garnered several awards recently. From left on the front row are from left, Katie Brejda, Victoria Hawkins, Kate Conway, Natalie Smith, and Leigh Hooten. On the back row are Madison Chucci, Maurice Odoms, Adam Young, Emily Grgetic, Clara Rooks, and Kammi Clements.
Explore Gwinnett, Gwinnett County’s official tourism organization, has achieved a remarkable series of achievements, securing recognition across six prestigious award platforms. These accolades celebrate both the organization’s excellence and the outstanding contributions of its team members, earning local, state and global distinction.
Explore Gwinnett has been honored as a Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce 2024 Small Business Award winner in the 6-24 Employees category. Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Anders, was again named one of Georgia’s most influential economic development executives as part of Georgia Trend’s 2024 “Georgia 500.” She was also honored with a Silver Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the government and nonprofit sector, marking the second consecutive year Anders has achieved both accolades.
Explore Gwinnett also celebrates Clara Rooks, senior marketing communications manager, as one of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s, 35 under 35 recipients. Finally, Maurice Odoms, senior sales manager, was elected to the Gwinnett Technical College Advisory Board.
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