Albany physician gets renewed privileges, new start

ALBANY — Now having been working as a physician in the Albany area for 20 years, Dr. Donna Graf is getting a new start at a different practice and going back to her roots.

Graf, formerly of Albany OB/GYN, came to Southwest Georgia OB/GYN on March 1. Working in obstetrics earlier in her career, she eventually started to focus solely on gynecology — meaning she was no longer taking part in prenatal care or deliveries.

After retaining her obstetrics privileges, she is back to delivering babies again.

Graf said she still plans to practice gynecology, but her children being older means fewer family functions that would make taking part in OB care difficult. Southwest Georgia OB/GYN has midwives helping with prenatal care and deliveries, which she said means she can settle into the OB aspect at a slower pace than she would normally.

“(Obstetrics) is something I enjoy,” she said.

The physician said she is looking forward to the continuity of care that comes with taking part in both aspects of an OB/GYN practice, ranging from annual exams to taking a woman through a pregnancy and handing her a new baby in the delivery room.

Not having that experience was something she missed, Graf said. Now that she is back in OB, she has seen things come full circle.

“I had to hand them off when they got pregnant,” Graf said of her patients. “I am seeing some teenagers (for gynecological care) that I delivered years ago.”

The change, she said, also brings opportunities for in-office surgeries. Also welcoming Graf’s new path is Dr. Paul Payne, another physician at the practice who — along with its two midwives — has been largely responsible for the OB component of Southwest Georgia OB/GYN.

“She brings an expertise of 20 years to our practice,” Payne said. “To have another doctor here in times of emergency and have a colleague here is very refreshing.”

Graf has already begun delivering babies for the practice, and Payne said having her there gives pregnant patients another physician option when they go into labor.

Both doctors said they work for the Great Physician, and that the glory in what they do goes to the one who gave them the knowledge and skill to do so — something that is important to Payne.

“She is a colleague who is like-minded, and also a sister in Christ,” he said.

Payne said having Graf in case of emergencies also helps his quality of life in that it offers him some free time he would not otherwise have.

“It is a team approach to the whole thing as opposed to the sole captain,” he said.

Southwest Georgia OB/GYN is located at 808 13th Ave.

Jennifer Parks