Mercer Medical School Brings Health Care To Rural Areas In Georgia

Dr. Michael Raines examines a patient at the Mercer clinic in Plains. From hospital finances to disease rates to provider shortages, rural areas face major challenges.

Mercer University School of Medicine

Dr. Michael Early practices family medicine in Fort Valley. It’s in Peach County, in the farm belt of Central Georgia, and he notes that it’s “a medically underserved area.’’

After 27 years, Early is preparing to retire, and he wants to focus now on training local medical students.

He also has a broader vision beyond his retirement. “I want to continue quality health care in Peach County,” he says. “It’s a great community.”