Husband-and-wife physicians retire from Phoebe after more than 30 years

ALBANY — For more than three decades, Drs. Gandhiji Y’Chili and Samrajya Gogineni have devoted much of their lives to the practice of medicine and serving the citizens of southwest Georgia.

Now they have moved together into the next chapter of their lives.

The husband-and-wife physicians announced their plans to retire recently. Y’Chili was on staff at Phoebe Gastroenterology, while Gogineni practiced at Phoebe Primary Care.

“While we are losing two amazing physicians, I am reminded of how much the community has benefited from them,” Phoebe Physicians President Dr. Suresh Lakhanpal said. “Their commitment to patients is unwavering and they will be greatly missed.”

Y’Chili, who was born and raised in India, came to Albany in 1983 and was the founding provider of Albany Gastrointestinal Clinic. In 1998, the clinic merged and became Albany Gastroenterology, later joining Phoebe Physicians to create Phoebe Gastroenterology.

He has served on Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital’s medical staff since December 1983 and provided leadership as the director of Phoebe’s Digestive Disease Center. He helped champion Phoebe’s colorectal cancer screening initiative. Y’Chili is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, Medical Association of Georgia, Dougherty County Medical Society and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

“Dr. Y’Chili is someone who was dedicated to his craft and his patients,” Phoebe Gastroenterology physician Dr. Ira Knepp said. “Together we made a difference, we achieved many goals and pushed each other to be the very best we could be. It has been a phenomenal ride, and I could not imagine doing it with anyone else.”

Gogineni, an internal medicine physician, has been a part of Phoebe Physicians for the past 11 years – serving the community at Phoebe Primary Care at Laurel Place in Leesburg. Also born and raised in India, she completed her medical training at Prince George’s General Hospital in Maryland.

Prior to joining Phoebe, she worked at Turner Job Corps Center, practicing medicine for 11 years before becoming the health services director in 1995. She then went on to serve as the corporate consultant for Management and Training Corporation.

Jennifer Parks