Georgia Allocates $20M to Expand Coastal Medical Residencies

Funding aims to train more doctors in Savannah and Brunswick areas to address physician shortages

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Georgia state legislature has approved $20 million in funding to expand medical residency programs in the Coastal Georgia region, with the majority of the money going to support new residency slots at St. Joseph's/Candler in Savannah and additional positions at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick campus. The investments are part of a broader effort to address projected physician shortages across the state by encouraging more doctors to train and practice in the Savannah and Brunswick areas.

Why it matters

Georgia, like many states, is facing a looming physician shortage, with projections of a shortfall of over 8,000 doctors by 2030. Expanding graduate medical education programs in Coastal Georgia is seen as a key strategy to build up the regional healthcare workforce by training more doctors in the area and increasing the likelihood they will choose to practice there after completing their residencies.

The details

The $20 million in new funding will be distributed by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, with the largest share - about $16.7 million - going toward start-up costs for new residency programs at St. Joseph's/Candler in Savannah. Another $2 million will support expanding residency slots at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick campus. Additionally, over $432,000 has been earmarked for fellowship positions at Gateway Behavioral Health, which provides mental health services across the region. In total, the investments are expected to create more than 100 new residency positions at St. Joseph's/Candler over the next five years, along with 13 new slots in Brunswick this year.

  • The Georgia legislature approved the $20 million in funding this week as part of the state's amended budget.
  • The new residency positions at St. Joseph's/Candler are planned to be created over the next five years.
  • The 13 new residency slots at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick campus will be added this year.

The players

St. Joseph's/Candler

A healthcare system in Savannah, Georgia that will receive the majority of the new state funding to expand its medical residency programs.

Southeast Georgia Health System

A healthcare system based in Brunswick, Georgia that will receive $2 million to expand residency programs at its Brunswick campus.

Gateway Behavioral Health

A provider of behavioral health services throughout the Coastal Georgia region that will receive over $432,000 to fund new fellowship positions.

Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce

The state agency that will distribute the $20 million in funding to the various medical residency programs as they meet contractual benchmarks.

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What’s next

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce will distribute the $20 million in funding to the various medical residency programs as they meet specific contractual benchmarks over the next several years.

The takeaway

This significant state investment in expanding graduate medical education programs in Coastal Georgia represents a proactive approach to addressing the state's looming physician shortage. By training more doctors in the Savannah and Brunswick areas, the state hopes to encourage them to remain and practice in these communities, strengthening the regional healthcare workforce for years to come.