Dr. Michael Thayer.

SAVANNAH — Two Colquitt County physicians were honored with prestigious awards during the annual Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) House of Delegates meeting, which was held in Savannah for the 2023 session. Woodwin “Woody” M. Weeks, DO was the recipient of the Jack A. Raines, MD, Humanitarian Award, and Michael A. Thayer, MD was the recipient of the Joseph P. Bailey Jr., MD, Physician Distinguished Service Award.

These recognitions represent two of the highest honors from MAG, the Colquitt County Medical Society said in a press release. The Jack A. Raines, M.D., Humanitarian Award honors a physician who makes an outstanding humanitarian contribution to his or her fellow man, community, country, or world community beyond the normal practice of medicine. The Joseph P. Bailey Jr., M.D., Physician Distinguished Service Award recognizes a physician for distinguished and meritorious service that reflects credit and honor on MAG.

In their nomination letter for Weeks, the Colquitt County Medical Society explained that throughout his career, he has been a champion for equitable healthcare access for all. His commitment to selfless altruism has led him to work towards improving healthcare opportunities and outcomes for all individuals, including writing a resolution for MAG’s legislative committee.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer Michael D. Brown, MD, MBA, FCCP said that Weeks exemplifies what it means to be a humanitarian physician.

“I can think of no one more deserving of this award,” Brown said. “Dr. Weeks has built his career on a foundational compassion for others. He has donated his time and expertise on numerous mission trips in South America, where he provided care for communities that would otherwise have no access to modern medicine. His mastery of Spanish has allowed him to break barriers faced by Latino patients here in our agricultural community. He plays a vital role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community.”

In their nomination letter for Thayer, the Colquitt County Medical Society highlighted his dedication, humor, and compassion during his 30-year tenure at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Over the course of his career, Thayer repeatedly proved himself to be an exceptional diagnostician in the field of emergency medicine, the press release said. Serving as the emergency department medical director for nearly a decade, he was foundational in creating a culture of stability, expertise, and excellence at Colquitt Regional.

Brown added that Thayer embodies the three A’s of physician success: ability, availability, and affability.

“His commitment, knowledge, and intuition have been crucial to Colquitt Regional’s MedStaff success. Hospitalists and surgeons depended on his talent for both recognizing illness and stabilizing patients for needed inpatient care. Perhaps the most memorable of Dr. Thayer’s traits, however, is his affability. His unique and lighthearted aphorisms are known throughout the hospital as ‘Thayerisms.’ Those Thayerisms never failed to put a smile on the face of everyone around him.”

MAG’s mission is to empower Georgia physicians to lead healthcare for the betterment of their communities. Representing more than 8,000 members, MAG has a long-standing and well-earned reputation as the leading voice and advocate for physicians in Georgia. The Colquitt County Medical Society represents physicians serving Colquitt County. The society supports physicians’ practices, expands their professional network, promotes their personal well-being, and sends delegates to MAG meetings to represent Colquitt County’s interests.