Courtney Amos, pediatrician Dr. Kathryn Cheek and Paul S. Amos II.
Largest Gift Ever to Columbus Regional Medical Foundation
Continues Legacy of Giving by Amos Family
In the largest single gift ever received by the Columbus Regional Medical Foundation, Courtney and Paul Amos II have donated $1.5 million in support of the Pediatric Emergency Department on The Medical Center campus. Their gift was made in honor of pediatrician Kathryn Cheek, M.D., for her many contributions to the wellbeing of children in our community and our state.
Courtney Amos, a Columbus Regional Medical Foundation board member, and Paul Amos II, president of Aflac and chief operating officer of Aflac U.S., continue a legacy of philanthropy by the Amos family. Paul Amos’ father, Daniel, who is chairman and CEO of Aflac, and his wife, Kathelen, are greatly respected for their generosity in support of local, national and worldwide health initiatives. Paul’s great uncle, the late John Amos, was co-founder and former CEO of Aflac and had the vision for a state-of-the-art cancer center in his hometown. Through his support, the John B. Amos Cancer Center, also a Columbus Regional Healthcare System facility, was established in 1990.
“It has been a joy to collaborate with Columbus Regional on this very important project that will have immediate positive impact for children and families in our community,” said Courtney Amos. “Paul and I are thrilled to not only have the opportunity to be a part of making a Pediatric ER a reality for Columbus but also to have the ability to recognize someone as deeply respected and highly esteemed as Kathryn Cheek. She is a true servant leader and exemplifies the magic that results when passion and purpose are put to work for the good of others.”
Dr. Cheek of Rivertown Pediatrics in Columbus has practiced primary care pediatrics in Columbus for more than 25 years. A former president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she has served on multiple local and state boards throughout her career. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and both a master’s degree in health education and a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia.
“It still takes my breath away knowing that I am being honored by this very meaningful gift,” said Dr. Cheek. “This gift will serve as a catalyst for the transformation of children’s health care in Columbus. I am excited to be a part of a community that recognizes that our children deserve a healthcare delivery team that is dedicated to their needs. The Pediatric Emergency Department is the beginning of a dream that all of us who have been a part of pediatric care in Columbus have hoped for. I am very thankful that Paul and Courtney Amos have provided this stimulus that inspires all of us to provide outstanding care to the children of Columbus.”
“We are so fortunate that Kathryn Cheek chose pediatrics as her medical profession,” said Donna Hyland, president and CEO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Her leadership has been instrumental in the formation of a statewide coalition of pediatricians and children’s hospitals in Georgia to help our kids have better health outcomes. I am honored to call her a friend.”
“We are humbled and honored by the generosity shown by Courtney and Paul Amos with their gift for the new Pediatric Emergency Department,” said Ryan Chandler, president and CEO of The Medical Center. “The continuation of their family legacy to provide the best care possible for this community and their confidence that their gift will be used wisely is deeply appreciated.”
The Pediatric Emergency Department on The Medical Center campus, which is set to open on Wednesday, June 12, is the first of many enhancements to a $35 million renovation and expansion project for The Children’s Hospital at The Medical Center. On May 18, the Columbus Regional Medical Foundation will announce a $15 million campaign in support of this endeavor.
The Medical Center is one of the top birth centers in Georgia and one of only six regional perinatal centers in the state. In an effort to create a national standard for pediatric and neonatal care, future plans include the centralization of specialized pediatric services, including a pediatric intensive care unit, at The Medical Center with labor, delivery and a neonatal intensive care unit relocated to Hughston Hospital in north Columbus.
