Dr. Theja Lanka.

Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles of the physicians training at the Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program. Earlier stories ran May 23, July 18, Aug. 23 and Aug. 31.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Dr. Theja Lanka likes variety. Whether it’s his living environment or his working environment, “I’ve always appreciated a change in scenery,” he said.  

In fact, that’s one of the reasons he chose a career in healthcare.

“I like to switch it up, and working in healthcare provides variation on the job by allowing me to work in many different environments,” he said. “My interests range anywhere from work in the ER to providing medical care in situations with limited resources like the wilderness, mass gatherings, and disaster relief.”

Born in India and having lived in most regions of the United States, it’s no surprise that this doctor enjoys different surroundings. Luckily for Lanka, Georgia South offers just that. Family medicine covers a wide scope of medical practice. The focus of care ranges from preventive services to the care for both acute and chronic problems.

“We take medical histories, identify and diagnose illness and disease, write prescriptions, and provide follow-up care,” Lanka said, “and that’s just the first hour of the day.”

Doctors within this branch can be called on to do just about anything — including, but not limited to: general internal medicine, pediatrics, basic surgery, emergency medicine, basic orthopedics, and obstetrics and gynecology.

“I like that I am being taught a little bit about everything because I want to be useful in most situations,” Lanka said.

Georgia South is the only residency program Colquitt Regional provides, so residents don’t have to compete with other residents in specialty programs for hands-on training. This was important to Lanka.

“All of us [residents] are medical school survivors. We know first-hand just how competitive other students can be, so it’s nice to not have to worry about competing with other programs for procedures and patient visits,” he said. “Our focus throughout the rest of medical training and beyond is providing a patient-centered and collaborative approach.”

Upon completion of his residency, Lanka hopes to work locum jobs — temporarily filling in for other physicians — while he finds an environment that best suits him.