Dr. Eric Gee Invests in the Future of Medicine Through Hands-On Surgical Training

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:12:32 GMT

For Dr. Eric Gee, caring for patients extends beyond the operating room. It also means investing in the next generation of physicians who will one day care for communities across South Georgia and beyond.

Recently, Dr. Gee led a hands-on suture clinic for rising third- and fourth-year Mercer University School of Medicine students at SGMC Health. The workshop provided medical students preparing to enter their clinical rotations with an opportunity to develop essential surgical skills under the guidance of an experienced orthopedic spine surgeon.

"I was inspired to host the suture clinic because of the enjoyment I gain from interacting with young student doctors and being able to pass on knowledge I have gained in my experience as a practicing orthopedic surgeon over the last two decades," said Dr. Gee.

During the training session, students practiced suturing techniques ranging from simple wound closures to more complex surgical closures while learning the fundamentals of sterile operating room procedures. These are critical skills they will use throughout their clinical rotations in surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, and other specialties.

For Dr. Gee, the clinic represents more than technical instruction. It is an opportunity to mentor future physicians, answer questions, build confidence, and inspire students as they begin the next chapter of their medical education.

A Valdosta native, Dr. Gee understands the importance of training physicians close to home. After graduating magna cum laude from Presbyterian College, he earned his medical degree with honors before completing his orthopedic surgery internship and residency at the Mayo Clinic. He later completed a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute and is now a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon specializing in both minimally invasive and complex spine procedures.

Today, Dr. Gee has returned to serve the community where he grew up, providing advanced orthopedic spine care while remaining committed to education and mentorship. He believes partnerships between Mercer University School of Medicine, SGMC Health, and local physicians are essential to strengthening healthcare throughout South Georgia.

By giving students the opportunity to learn from experienced surgeons in a state-of-the-art clinical simulation lab, future physicians gain valuable hands-on experience while building relationships with mentors who have dedicated their careers to patient care. Programs like these also encourage students to consider practicing in rural and underserved communities, helping address the growing need for high-quality healthcare across the region.

Dr. Gee hopes every student leaves the workshop with more than improved surgical skills. He hopes they leave with greater confidence, a passion for learning, and an appreciation for the collaboration and mentorship that define the medical profession.

Special thanks to Thompson Farms of Dixie, Georgia, for their generous donation in support of this educational initiative. Their investment is helping equip tomorrow's physicians with the skills and experience needed to care for future generations.

Local Orthopedic Surgeon Invests in the Next Generation of Physicians

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:03:25 GMT

For the first time, patients in Valdosta and the surrounding South Georgia communities have access to a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon dedicated specifically to foot and ankle care.

Jesse Raszewski, DO, USAR, is celebrating his one-year anniversary of serving the Valdosta community as the area’s first orthopedic surgeon with advanced fellowship training in foot and ankle surgery.

Over the past year, Dr. Raszewski has brought specialized expertise to patients dealing with a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, from injuries and arthritis to complex reconstruction and sports-related problems.

For Dr. Raszewski, becoming a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon was not simply a career decision. It was the result of years of hard work, mentorship, and a growing fascination with the complexity of the specialty.

A quote from Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success has stayed with Dr. Raszewski throughout his career: “Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning.”

That idea resonates deeply with Dr. Raszewski, who was raised in Glassport, Pennsylvania, a small steel mill town, alongside four younger brothers. He credits his parents and grandparents with instilling the values that continue to shape both his career and his approach to patient care.

His father taught him resilience. His mother taught him humility. His grandparents taught him emotional intelligence.

Those lessons followed him into medicine and, eventually, into the operating room.

Dr. Raszewski currently serves as a Major in the United States Army Reserve, where he has spent eleven years developing leadership, teamwork, and preparedness. His military experience has complemented his orthopedic training and reinforced the importance of remaining calm, prepared, and focused when caring for patients.

During his Orthopaedic surgery residency, Dr. Raszewski was introduced to foot and ankle surgery early and often. What began as an area of exposure quickly developed into a passion.

“Whether it was arthroplasty, trauma, arthroscopy, or reconstruction, this subspecialty seemed limitless and all-encompassing,” Dr. Raszewski said.

He ultimately pursued fellowship training to further develop his expertise in the field. In 2021, he was selected for the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Resident Scholar Award, an experience that provided mentorship and further confirmed his goal of becoming a fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon.

The specialty appealed to Dr. Raszewski because of its intricate anatomy, complex biomechanics, and constantly evolving treatment options.

But his commitment to the specialty extends beyond surgical skill.

Dr. Raszewski believes that understanding a patient is an essential part of successful treatment. His upbringing in a large family taught him the importance of communication, listening, and empathy, qualities he now brings to his relationships with patients.

“Developing a rapport with this changing patient population will be crucial in their treatment success,” Dr. Raszewski said. “My grandparents taught me how to listen, empathize, and reach an understanding.”

That philosophy has become an important part of his first year serving patients in Valdosta.

The addition of a fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon represents an important expansion of specialized orthopedic care available locally, giving patients in Valdosta and surrounding communities another option to receive advanced care close to home.

As Dr. Raszewski reflects on his first year in the community, he remains focused on the same purpose that has guided his career from the beginning: working hard, continuing to learn, and using his skills to make a meaningful difference in the lives of his patients.

One year into serving Valdosta, Dr. Raszewski is not simply marking an anniversary. He is building the foundation for what he hopes will be a long career of caring for patients’ lower extremities in South Georgia.

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Dr. Eric Gee Invests in the Future of Medicine Through Hands-On Surgical Training

Local Orthopedic Surgeon Invests in the Next Generation of Physicians