06/03/2024
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labour of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18 KJV
In December 2021, I stepped out in faith to start a practice, and despite the odds, by every metric that truly mattered to me, we have been successful. We have been blessed with being busier than I could have imagined. We have been able to have a practice where we truly tried to honor God in serving our patients with the same love he has shown us. I’m thankful for all the patients who waited weeks for an office appointment or surgery, and often waited hours in the waiting room to be seen. I’m thankful for the referring providers who trusted me with their patients. I’m thankful to the staff who did everything they could to make this dream successful. I’m thankful for a family who supported me wholeheartedly in the pursuit of this dream.
But ultimately, bills don’t get paid with dreams and good intentions. As overhead costs continue to increase, reimbursement continues to decline. As a solo provider, I have no negotiating power with multibillion dollar insurance companies. And while this profession will always be more than a job, ultimately I too have bills to pay and a family to take care of. After much prayer and debate, Agape Surgical Associates will close its doors 6/28/24. Beginning July 1, I will be transitioning back to being an employed physician with HCA here in Waycross. I will be moving back to work in my old office on Alice Street. I will still be able to serve this area which is home for me and my family, and as a physician, that was the most important factor for me.
It’s hard to give up on a dream. To watch something you have invested in and worked so hard to make successful… fail. But I will still have joy in the God of my salvation. His plans will always be greater than mine. And why I may always wonder what I did wrong or what else I could have done to make Agape successful, I will know that I truly tried to run this practice in a way that was pleasing and honorable to God. I will always be thankful for the people I’ve met and the lessons I’ve learned in this endeavor. See everyone back at Alice Street!
