Governor appoints Faircloth to special commission [The Valdosta Daily Times, Ga.]

Jan. 12--VALDOSTA -- J . Myron Faircloth, a faculty member at Valdosta State University and doctor of rural family medicine for G&G Family Medicine, was recently appointed to a special commission by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

The Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits, authored into law by Georgia District 8 Senator Tim Golden via Senate Bill 17, was designed to provide advice to the governor on the financial impact of mandated health benefits and providers.

Faircloth, 42, joins the commission as one of 16 other members, but was selected as the only family practice doctor to represent that type of service across Georgia, bringing his knowledge of mandated health insurance to the table. He has been involved in medicine for about 17 years.

Faircloth earned a master's degree in nursing from Brenau University in Gainseville, Ga., in 1995 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Georgia Southern University in 2011.

He decided to go into family practice because he felt drawn to performing a variety of medical services rather than a specialty.

"When you think of medicine, compared to Atlanta and the city, in rural areas I see all ages from birth to the elderly and gerontological," Faircloth said. "I see it all, and you have to be prepared for anything. You don't know whether there's an infant coming in, an elderly patient, middle age or adolescent."

During his time at GSU, he practiced writing health policy and legislation as part of his coursework, and he had the opportunity to meet with legislators before Deal became governor.

"I met (Deal) when he was in Valdosta through a couple of campaign events," Faircloth said. "He used to be a congressman. When I go to the capital, I try to meet as many officials as possible."

Faircloth is familiar with insurance benefits and legislation, and feels prepared and ready to take the position offered to him about three weeks ago, he said.

"For me, it's definitely an honor as well as a responsibility I take very seriously," Faircloth said. "I'm humbled to have been chosen by Gov. Deal and look forward to serving Georgians in our great state."

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