St. Joseph's/Candler

St. Joseph's/Candler More than 300 years of medical expertise and today's latest technology. At St. Simply put, St. Joseph's/Candler is smart medicine. Whether you are visiting St.

Joseph's/Candler, our physicians, nurses, medical researchers and other clinical staff take great pride in being on the cutting-edge of health care, offering the most advanced medical procedures and breakthrough technology available nearly anywhere. Joseph's Hospital, Candler Hospital, one of our St. Joseph's/Candler medical group locations, any of our community outreach programs or our Web site,

you instantly become part of a historic tradition of distinguished health care excellence. It is one that has been an integral part of the Savannah landscape for more than 325 cumulative years. Our faith-based mission is to treat illness and promote wellness for all people and we diligently strive to provide the highest quality health care and service to all who may need it. Yet, we also know that great care involves more than just great medicine. It involves being pro-active about one's own health, taking charge on the preventive front, educating oneself and others, and using all the available tools to ensure one's own health and that of their family. In an effort to enhance the available tools, we have provided this beneficial Web site and healthcare portal. As you navigate, please use the information provided to learn more about the services and resources that we offer to our patients and visitors, as well as the educational resources and interactive opportunities that we have designed for you.

Actress, author and entrepreneur Patricia Heaton has a second act to share in Savannah as the keynote speaker at the 24t...
04/24/2026

Actress, author and entrepreneur Patricia Heaton has a second act to share in Savannah as the keynote speaker at the 24th annual St. Joseph’s/Candler SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo on September 30, 2026.

Patricia Heaton has been working in TV steadily for the past 25 years. She is best known for her role on Everybody Loves Raymond where she won two Emmy® Awards with seven nominations. She also starred on The Middle. Her recent comedy, Carol’s Second Act, helped inspire her best-selling book, “Your Second Act.”

The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo is an annual fundraiser that helps St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Telfair Mammography Fund to ensure all women have access to mammography and other breast health services, regardless of insurance status. In our region, approximately 25 percent of the population are under- or uninsured.

Over the last several years, the Telfair Mammography Fund has seen an increase in utilization. The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo has raised more than $2.5 million since its inception to provide much needed, additional monetary support. Last year, SmartWomen raised yet another record-breaking amount of over $280,000.

The SmartWomen media sponsors are WTOC, The Savannah Morning News and 98.7 The River.

We proudly and graciously welcome back Chatham Parkway Lexus and Hilton Head Lexus as our presenting sponsor. The company has been a strong supporter and longtime contributor to the Telfair Mammography Fund.

Reserve your table or explore sponsorship opportunities at the link in the comments.

If you have Parkinson’s disease or another movement disorder, you may find daily tasks difficult, such as getting in and...
04/24/2026

If you have Parkinson’s disease or another movement disorder, you may find daily tasks difficult, such as getting in and out of a car or even opening a cabinet door.

What you may not realize – but family and friends start to point out – is that you are also moving slower and taking smaller steps to get from point A to point B.

Because Parkinson’s and other movement disorders are progressive, neuro-degenerative disorders, movement is one area that is commonly affected because your muscles tend to get weaker.

“Some people with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders don’t understand or realize they are moving slower or taking small steps. To them, it feels normal,” says Chandler Royal, certified physical therapist at Candler Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center.

That’s where Royal can help. In addition to her doctorate in physical therapy, she is also certified in a national physical therapy program designed for Parkinson’s and movement disorder patients called LSVT BIG®. LSVT BIG helps train people with movement disorders to use their body more normally.

“We cue them to make bigger movements, whether that’s bigger steps or swinging their arms more,” Royal says. “LSVT BIG also targets postural stability that people with Parkinson’s also have difficulty with. This program also helps with freezing episodes and getting over hurdles that affect daily activity.”

Learn about LSVT BIG in the comments.

It’s a great relief to come to the other side of a bad cold or the flu. Except when that cough lingers. Or your nose sti...
04/22/2026

It’s a great relief to come to the other side of a bad cold or the flu. Except when that cough lingers. Or your nose still runs. Or you speak to someone at work and they look concerned and say, “You sound awful.”

You don’t feel awful, so what’s going on?

Francisco Fantauzzi, MD, who shares a practice with Dr. Jose Rendon in Savannah, says that even if the virus is done, your immune system might not be.

In some cases, symptoms like coughing and a runny nose can last up to six weeks. Sometimes a nagging cough is due to residual airway inflammation from an upper respiratory tract infection. Clogged sinuses from a cold could lead to a secondary infection from bacteria.

“Viruses come in like an attack, whether it’s the flu, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, or COVID,” Dr. Fantauzzi says. “They are the infantry that comes in and breaks down the immune system, and after that comes the bacteria and germs that can make you really sick.”

Dr. Fantauzzi recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms for more than 7-10 days see a doctor. Very severe coughing or shortness of breath are also reasons to get checked out by a physician.

Looking for a primary care physician? Search by name, specialty, zip code or preferred language at the link in the comments.

Ninety degrees can’t stop us! The Angels of Mercy had a blast helping to build wall frames at the Habitat for Humanity R...
04/21/2026

Ninety degrees can’t stop us! The Angels of Mercy had a blast helping to build wall frames at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore facility last weekend. We unloaded wood, pounded many, many nails (some weaker nails didn’t survive the project), completed different configurations of wall frames and then loaded our handiwork back onto the truck.

We’re sweaty but feeling proud. Thanks to Habitat for having us!

Interventional radiologist Robert “Hunter” Dunlap, MD says that many of his benign prostatic hyperplasia patients are re...
04/20/2026

Interventional radiologist Robert “Hunter” Dunlap, MD says that many of his benign prostatic hyperplasia patients are referred to treatment by their wives.

“These women are tired of having their husbands get up four or five times every night,” he says. “On vacations or outings, they see their loved ones’ lives being governed by their access to the bathroom. Many of these men may already be on medications. They really can’t help it.”

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is also known as an enlarged prostate gland. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, and luckily, there are many treatment options available. Mild or moderate cases can be managed with medication. Surgery is available for more severe cases.

Learn more about treatment options at the link in the comments.

If you had chickenpox as a kid, you probably don’t want to deal with that irritating, itchy rash again, let alone face t...
04/17/2026

If you had chickenpox as a kid, you probably don’t want to deal with that irritating, itchy rash again, let alone face those lingering side effects.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against this painful disease, says Dr. Khadija Jones-Shelton, primary care physician at St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care on Eisenhower.

The recombinant zoster vaccine is recommended to prevent shingles in adults 50 and older or those with a weakened immune system.

While proven effective in preventing shingles, Dr. Jones-Shelton adds that the vaccine is not an absolute guarantee that you won’t get shingles; however, symptoms tend to be less severe if you’ve been vaccinated.

She also advises to check with your insurance company before getting the vaccine. While it is available at primary care offices, some insurances, such as Medicaid and Medicare, recommend getting the vaccine through your neighborhood pharmacy.

Learn more about shingles at the link in the comments.

Meet Kalawatie “Mona” Bhimull, stocker at SmartBytes at Candler Hospital. Mona has worked here for 35 years. You’ve seen...
04/17/2026

Meet Kalawatie “Mona” Bhimull, stocker at SmartBytes at Candler Hospital. Mona has worked here for 35 years. You’ve seen her in the cafeteria and most frequently in the Professional Office Building. She is responsible for making sure SmartBytes is stocked, the prices are correct and everything stays in the right place. Mona also takes pride in greeting customers with a smile and asking them what they need or what they would like to have on a daily basis.

“I enjoy coming to work and meeting the people. I really enjoy talking to people and getting to know others. This was my ever first job. I’ve always liked working here so that gives me an incentive to come and do what I have to do. This job provides for me and makes me happy. What really makes the job special is the connections I’ve made with other people. I believe you should be friendly to the people you work with. That way, when I go out, people will hopefully be friendly to me. That’s what I strive for in my work.”

Meet other featured co-workers on our website: https://www.sjchs.org/home/about-us/our-coworkers

Bluffton and Hilton Head! Stop by and talk to us about a career with St. Joseph's/Candler. We are looking for clinical a...
04/16/2026

Bluffton and Hilton Head! Stop by and talk to us about a career with St. Joseph's/Candler. We are looking for clinical and non-clinical candidates. Bring your resume!

See the link in the comments to search available positions.

You may know the old joke about the man who goes to his doctor and says, “Doctor, it hurts when I do this.”The doctor re...
04/15/2026

You may know the old joke about the man who goes to his doctor and says, “Doctor, it hurts when I do this.”

The doctor replies, “Then don’t do that.”

But if you have an activity you love—tennis with friends, running 5K’s, gardening, painting—and your joints make it too painful to do it, that punchline isn’t so funny.

Steven Greer, MD, with St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network – Bone, Joint & Muscle Care, doesn’t tell his patients to stop doing things.

“That’s not my job,” he says. “I feel our job as physicians is to help people do the things they want to do.”

Dr. Greer explains conservative treatments for managing pain at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/smart-living-magazine/march-april-2024/less-pain--more-gain

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is seeking student volunteers to take part in a new initiative called ACS CARES™ at St...
04/15/2026

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is seeking student volunteers to take part in a new initiative called ACS CARES™ at St. Joseph’s/Candler during the Fall 2026 semester. Through ACS CARES student volunteers will provide non-clinical navigation support to people with cancer and their caregivers.

Student Volunteer Role Description: ACS CARES volunteers will partner with oncology providers to provide guidance to cancer patients and their caregivers on navigating their non-medical needs (transportation, lodging, financial assistance, etc.) as they seek treatment.

Benefits of Becoming an ACS CARES Student Volunteer:
💠 Counts towards clinical hours
💠 Reduces health disparities in the local community
💠 Supports vulnerable populations seeking guidance
💠 Great resume builder
💠 Receive official American Cancer Society training

How to Apply:
1. Click this link in the comments to access the ACS CARES Clinic Student Volunteer Application.
2. Submit your application.

When you think of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms that probably come top of mind include hand tremors, shaking or really s...
04/14/2026

When you think of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms that probably come top of mind include hand tremors, shaking or really slow movements.

And you’d be right. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, balance and motor control.

But emerging research in the last five to 10 years shows another area of our body besides the brain that Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders affects, and it may be surprising.

It’s your gastrointestinal tract.

“Not 100 percent of Parkinson’s patients will experience GI symptoms, but it’s an interesting recognition that there are a variety of ways Parkinson’s can present,” says Dr. Travis Wiggins, gastroenterologist with Gastro Savannah.

Wiggins explains in the link in the comments how at any stage of this progressive disease, as well as other movement disorders, patients may experience gastrointestinal symptoms.

You may know the old joke about the man who goes to his doctor and says, “Doctor, it hurts when I do this.”The doctor re...
04/13/2026

You may know the old joke about the man who goes to his doctor and says, “Doctor, it hurts when I do this.”

The doctor replies, “Then don’t do that.”

But if you have an activity you love—tennis with friends, running 5K’s, gardening, painting—and your joints make it too painful to do it, that punchline isn’t so funny.

Steven Greer, MD, with St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network – Bone, Joint & Muscle Care, doesn’t tell his patients to stop doing things.

“That’s not my job,” he says. “I feel our job as physicians is to help people do the things they want to do.”

Dr. Greer explains conservative treatments for managing pain at the link in the comments.

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