Bulldogs Give Back
White Coats, Red and Black Spirit
As preceptors and supporters of UGA’s School of Medicine,
the Grows keep the future of medicine in focus.
For Kelly (BS ’94) and Parker (BS ’97) Grow, the University of Georgia isn’t just where their academic journeys began, it’s been the heartbeat of their personal and professional lives. As proud Bulldogs, Athenians and practicing physicians, their connection to the university runs deep, and their enthusiasm for the new School of Medicine is nothing short of contagious.
Both Parker, a cardiologist, and Kelly, a gastroenterologist, trained at Emory University after completing their undergraduate degrees at UGA. Their careers have flourished in Athens, where they’ve mentored countless students through shadowing opportunities and preceptorships, especially those from the AU/UGA Medical Partnership.
“People tend to stay where they train. The more doctors we train in Georgia, the more we’ll retain to serve our communities.”
– Kelly Grow BS ’94
“They’re always excited, young minds that just want to soak up all the information we can give them.”
– Parker Grow BS ’97
Their involvement with the School of Medicine was a natural next step. “There’s no way we wouldn’t have been involved,” Parker says. “Living in Athens, going to undergrad here — it’s exciting to finally have a UGA School of Medicine.”
Kelly adds that the pride students feel wearing the Georgia “G” on their white coats mirrors her own.
“We go to all the football games, the baseball games, gymnastics, even equestrian. We’re deeply invested in this university.”
Their motivation is rooted in a broader vision for Georgia’s healthcare future.
“There’s a huge shortage of physicians in the state,” Kelly says. “And people tend to stay where they train. The more doctors we train in Georgia, the more we’ll retain to serve our communities.”
Parker points out that UGA ranks among the top ten universities nationally for producing students who go on to medical school.
“We want to keep that talent here.”
With their son now a freshman at UGA and a daughter hoping to follow, Parker and Kelly’s legacy at the university continues to grow.
Their hope for the School of Medicine is ambitious and heartfelt:
“We want UGA to become the premier medical school in Georgia,” Kelly says. “When you meet a doctor from UGA, we want you to say, ‘That’s the doctor I want.’”
Join the Grows and support Georgia’s future physicians with scholarships at the UGA School of Medicine.
