Joseph Poole MD, PhD earned his medical degree and a PhD in Vascular Biology from the Medical College of Georgia in 2008. He completed his Internal medicine residency and Cardiology fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine in 2015. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University. Dr. Poole is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases. He has additional certifications in Adult Echocardiography, Vascular Medicine and Nuclear Cardiology. He has a special interest in the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system and additional expertise in the field of Cardio-oncology. In his spare time, Dr. Poole enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. His hobbies include fishing, playing guitar and jogging. Dr. Poole welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. Dr. Poole is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Endocarditis, Coronary Heart Disease, Angina, and Atherosclerosis.

Jeffrey Thomas is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Thomas is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Midline Lethal Granuloma, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Essential Thrombocythemia, and Breast Cancer. Dr. Thomas is currently accepting new patients.

James Splichal is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Splichal is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Colorectal Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. Dr. Splichal is currently accepting new patients.

Tzu-chuan Huang is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Huang is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. Her top areas of expertise are Colorectal Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Lung Cancer, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. Dr. Huang is currently accepting new patients.

Frederick Flynt is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Flynt is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Anemia, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. Dr. Flynt is currently accepting new patients.

Cynthia Shepherd is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Shepherd is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. Her top areas of expertise are Paget Disease of the Breast, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, and Iron Deficiency Anemia. Dr. Shepherd is currently accepting new patients.

Petros Nikolinakos is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Nikolinakos is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumor, and Colorectal Cancer. Dr. Nikolinakos is currently accepting new patients.

Kuang Chang is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Chang is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Breast Cancer, and Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Dr. Chang is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Young earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his residency at Tulane Medical School and the University of Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Georgia and is board certified in Internal Medicine.Dr. Young has been practicing medicine for 31 years. Prior to joining, Piedmont Hawthorne OHC Dr. Young was a practicing partner with Hawthorne Medical Associates.In his spare time, Dr. Young enjoys spending time with his family; he has 5 children and 2 grandchildren). He enjoys being active in his church, bicycling, and reading.Dr. Young welcomes most major insurance plans. Dr. Young is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Familial Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism.

Ranjana Bhargava is a Hematologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Bhargava is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. Her top areas of expertise are Hemochromatosis, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Anemia, and Iron Deficiency Anemia. Dr. Bhargava is currently accepting new patients.

Jonathan Patton, MD, earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 2006. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Medical College of Georgia in 2010 and his Cardiology Fellowship training at Emory University in 2013. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University. Dr. Patton joined Piedmont Athens Regional Cardiology in 2013. Dr. Patton is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology and Vascular Imaging. He is also a member of the American College of Cardiology and American Society of Echocardiography. In his spare time, Dr. Patton enjoys fishing, playing golf and spending time with his family. Dr. Patton welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. Dr. Patton is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Angina, Heart Failure, Pulmonary Edema, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

Paul Johnson, MD, earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 2008. He completed internship and residency at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospitals, where he also served as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine. He subsequently completed fellowship in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at UNC Hospitals and North Carolina Heart and Vascular, in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Johnson was also named Chief Cardiology Fellow at while UNC. Dr. Johnson is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology, and is a Registered Physician in Vascular Ultrasound Interpretation (RPVI). He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatment of coronary artery disease, radial access for heart catheterization, and imaging and intervention for peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Johnson is originally from Calhoun, Georgia. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two young children. Dr. Johnson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Angina, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Angioplasty.

Khan Pohlel, MD earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 2001. He completed his internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine concluding in 2008. He received his undergraduate degree from Emory University also. Prior to joining Piedmont Athens Regional, Dr. Pohlel was in practice with Athens Cardiology Group. Dr. Pohlel is board certified in cardiology, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology and endovascular medicine. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. In his spare time, Dr. Pohlel enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters involved in outdoor activities including hiking, golf, fishing and hunting. Dr. Pohlel welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. Dr. Pohlel is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Angina, Atrial Fibrillation, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Ben Holland, MD, received his undergraduate degree from The University of Georgia. He earned his medical degree from Mercer University in 2005. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Virginia in 2008. He went on to complete cardiology fellowship at Wake Forest University. After an additional year of training in interventional cardiology, Dr. Holland moved back to his home town of Athens, GA in 2012. Dr. Holland welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. Dr. Holland is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Angina, Coronary Heart Disease, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Kent Nilsson, MD earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2002 . He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2005. He completed both his Cardiology (2007) and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowships (2009) at Duke University Medical Center. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining Piedmont Heart Institute, Dr. Nilsson was in practice at Athens Regional Medical Center and at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Nilsson is board certified in both Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is a Fellow in both the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Georgia/Augusta University Medical Partnership in Athens, where he teaches and conducts research. In his spare time, Dr. Nilsson enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters. He enjoys gardening, hunting and fishing. The family is active in their church. Dr. Nilsson welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. Dr. Nilsson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Sick Sinus Syndrome, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

Dr. Patrick Lucas earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and completed his residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. He earned his Associates of Science in Biology from Middle Georgia College and his Bachelors of Science in Biology from The University of Georgia. Dr. Lucas is board certified in Internal Medicine.Dr. Lucas has been practicing medicine in Athens for 15 years. In additional to practicing Internal Medicine, Dr. Lucas serves as the Medical Director of a local Hospice company.Dr. Lucas was chosen as a Harry S. Truman Scholar in 1997 while attending the University of Georgia. He was also chosen one of UGA's 40 Under 40 outstanding alumni in 2013. He and his wife, Julie, were members of the 2016 Class of Leadership Georgia. Dr. Lucas has served on the Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees since 2018. The also serves on the Board of Directors of his home Methodist church.In his spare time, Dr. Lucas enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. He also teaches youth Sunday School and has coached his son and daughter in various youth sports. He also enjoys painting, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and playing golf. Dr. Lucas is not accepting new patients and welcomes most major insurance plans. Dr. Lucas is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Sitosterolemia, Familial Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Hypertension.

Kilian van Rijn, MD, earned his medical degree from Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands, and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Piedmont Athens Regional. He received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from The University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dr. van Rijn is board is board certified.Dr. van Rijn's special interests include general internal medicine, screening and management of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.In his spare time, Dr. van Rijn enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.Dr. van Rijn is accepting new patients and welcomes most major insurance plans. Dr. Van Rijn is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Cirrhosis, Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism.

Charles Bodine is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Bodine is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Anemia, and Acute Mountain Sickness. Dr. Bodine is currently accepting new patients.

Addie Hill is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Hill is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. Her top areas of expertise are Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Breast Cancer, and Anemia. Dr. Hill is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Braucher earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his residency at the University of Arkansas. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Georgia and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Hospice and Palliative Care.Dr. Braucher has been practicing medicine for 32 years. Prior to joining Piedmont Physician Group, Dr. Braucher was a member of the Athens Regional Physician Group. He has historically been in private practice as well.In his spare time, Dr. Braucher enjoys spending time with his family. He enjoys landscaping, canoeing, hiking, and swimming. Please call the office to inquire about becoming a new patient. Dr. Braucher is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. His top areas of expertise are Glossitis, Pernicious Anemia, Melorheostosis with Osteopoikilosis, and Melorheostosis.