Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of profiles of the physicians training at the Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Michael Magat has always had a passion for sports. “Whether it’s playing tennis, soccer, football, or hiking, I’m there for it,” he said. So what made this Falcons fan flock three hours south? The Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program.

With a particular interest in sports medicine, Magat’s enthusiasm for sports translated into his professional life as well. After completion of his fellowship, Magat hopes to partner in an orthopedic clinic doing non-invasive, in-office procedures.

“I want to be able to treat people of all age ranges, so that’s what appealed to me about family medicine,” Magat said.

If you ask, almost every resident will tell you that their favorite aspect of Georgia South is that it is an unopposed program. This means that the residents get hands-on experience in the hospital, without having to compete with other residencies for patients and one-on-one time with physicians. For Magat, his decision was made even easier by Georgia South’s flexibility to work with him pursuing a D.O. with an emphasis on sports medicine.

“I like the challenge of diagnosing people’s ailments and then having the opportunity to help them,” he said.

The Georgia South program caters closely to what residents want to do by providing them with opportunities to gain experience across all aspects of family medicine.

“Whether it’s sports medicine, emergency medicine, or women’s health, I know that Georgia South is preparing me for my future career,” said Magat. “I’ve learned a lot while on inpatient service with the attending physicians,” he said, “Not only do I get more hands-on experience with the medical staff, but I’ve also gotten to see the administrative side of a hospital and how it functions. This experience really has been invaluable.”