Piedmont Augusta marks significant milestones in innovation, quality and community investment

Augusta, Ga. (January 9, 2026) – Piedmont Augusta closed an exciting second quarter of fiscal year 2026 with major advancements in clinical innovation, expanded cancer detection capabilities, key recertifications and quality recognitions, a regional first in hypertension treatment, the 25th anniversary of its Miracle Mile Walk, and the announcement of $2 million in community impact funding to support 44 local nonprofit organizations.

In October, Piedmont Augusta marked a major milestone with the unveiling of its new GE MyoSPECT nuclear cardiology imaging system at the Cardiovascular Imaging Center. This advanced technology, powered by cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), significantly reduces scan times from 15-20 minutes to just 3-5 minutes while enhancing image resolution and diagnostic accuracy. The ribbon-cutting event, attended by leadership and the nuclear cardiology team, underscored Piedmont Augusta’s commitment to innovation and excellence in cardiovascular care.

Piedmont Augusta celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Miracle Mile Walk on Oct. 18, drawing 15,000 participants and raising more than $406,000 for breast cancer awareness and screenings. Since its founding in 2001, the walk has generated $6.4 million to support lifesaving breast health services across the CSRA. The event honored its founders and top fundraising teams, including WIN Walkers, who led with $14,659. Piedmont Augusta’s Breast Health Center and mobile mammography unit continue to expand access to care, diagnosing thousands of cases and reaching underserved communities.

Piedmont Augusta earned Advanced Hip and Knee Replacement recertification from DNV, reaffirming its excellence in orthopedic surgery and commitment to high-quality patient care. “Advanced Hip & Knee Certification lets our community know we have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible care for Hip and Knee replacement,” said Lily Henson, M.D., CEO of Piedmont Augusta. “The community can be confident that we have the right equipment, personnel and training to exhibit excellence in orthopedic surgery within the scope of Hip and Knee Replacement from diagnosis to treatment, education and rehabilitation.”

During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Piedmont Augusta highlighted its advancements in early detection, including low-dose CT (LDCT) screenings and robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. Since launching its LDCT program in May, the hospital has completed 862 screenings, identifying 21 high-risk cases. More than 100 robotic bronchoscopies have also been performed using the Ion endoluminal system, which enables safer, more precise biopsies of peripheral lung nodules.

Piedmont Augusta Hospital’s cardiovascular team, led by interventional cardiologists Paul Maddux, MD, and Charlene Rohm, MD, performed the region’s first procedure using the Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation (RDN) System. RDN is a minimally invasive therapy for the management of uncontrolled hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.

In December, Piedmont Augusta announced $2 million in community impact funding to support 44 nonprofit organizations across the Augusta region. The annual investment, part of a 10‑year commitment established through the former University Health Care System affiliation, aims to address key health needs identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment. The 2026 recipients were selected by a committee of Piedmont Augusta board members following site visits and a formal application review.

Piedmont McDuffie earned its first-ever Leapfrog ‘A’ Safety Grade in Fall 2025.