Dear Woodruff Health Sciences Center community:

You have likely seen the news that Wellstar Health System is closing the Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) effective November 1. The timing of this closure – coming as local health systems continue to feel the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing workforce challenges, and other public health concerns – is likely to produce ripple effects across the state.

While we anticipate broad impacts across the entire metro Atlanta health care landscape, the Grady Health System and Emory Healthcare will be most heavily affected. Without appropriate intervention, this could result in unacceptable consequences on our patients’ quality of care, outcomes, experiences, and wait times.

This morning Governor Brian Kemp announced additional funding support for Grady as one long-term solution – it is the first step in solving our region’s health care needs. During the extended time it will take Grady to undertake this expansion, we will join Grady, local and state leaders, and other regional health systems in supporting city and state health care needs.

As we have been for more than a century, Emory is proud of its strong partnership with Grady. Emory faculty from the Emory University School of Medicine based at Grady drive clinical excellence, innovative research, and progressive medical education, which benefits all of us in the state and region. Our institutions will continue to support each other in providing vital care to the thousands of patients treated at Grady each year and in training the next generation of physicians.

As we move forward, the continued support of local and state government will be essential to ensure our community continues to have access to quality care. To that end, Emory Healthcare is actively engaged with elected officials and regional health leaders to formulate additional solutions that will serve the long- and short-term needs of our community and health care systems.  Leveraging the resources and expertise from multiple systems, leaders, and agencies is essential to ensuring our solutions are integrated, holistic, and future-focused.

Meanwhile, we are, as always, deeply grateful to our team members who work so hard to deliver on our promise of improving lives and providing hope for all who turn to us for help. As we continue to navigate this complex and evolving situation, we remain committed to the care and support of all our patients and to all of you as well. 

Thank you, 

David S. Stephens, MD
Interim Executive Vice President for Health Affairs
Emory University

Dane C. Peterson
Interim CEO and President and COO
Emory Healthcare

Please direct questions and comments to evphafeedback@emory.edu.