SOUTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES DONATION –GROW Wildlife, Inc. - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that is raising funds to build Georgia's first specialized wildlife veterinary hospital - has formed a partnership with Southern Regional Health System, leader in providing innovative healthcare to metro Atlanta, in which the Health System will donate medical equipment and supplies for use at the future GROW Wildlife Hospital & Research Center.

"We are extremely grateful to the staff at Southern Regional for this tremendous contribution to our wildlife hospital project," said Brenda Hudlow, GROW Executive Director. "While medical equipment and supplies have expiration dates for human healthcare due to healthcare regulations, they are still suitable for wildlife care. I'm thrilled Southern Regional recognizes this important need by its generous donation."

The equipment will range from anesthesia and ECG monitors to x-ray and ultrasound machines. Supplies will include syringes, bandages, and surgical tools.

“Southern Regional has been taking care of our community since 1971,” said Howard Valentine, Director of Materials Management at Southern Regional Health System. “The decision to help care for the furrier members of our community was an easy one. All of us at Southern Regional are pleased to help GROW Wildlife outfit its veterinary hospital.”

GROW Wildlife has started a capital campaign to raise $3.5 million to build their first specialized wildlife veterinary hospital in the country designed by world-class veterinary professionals. Plans call for an 11,000 square foot state-of-the-art medical facility in south Fulton County that will be environmentally "green" (seeking Platinum level LEED certification) and serve as an educational attraction for both children and adults.

"People often ask me why we can't locate the hospital in an existing structure," said Hudlow. "Adapting a building to the specific needs of native wildlife care is as expensive or costs much more. Separate holding areas for raptors, reptiles and both large and small mammals alone dictate a facility especially designed to accommodate them until they are healthy enough to be distributed to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator that will prepare them for release into their natural environment."

The GROW Wildlife Hospital & Research Center will provide professional medical care to all species of native wildlife injured or disadvantaged by human activity, such as urban sprawl. It will also serve as a teaching hospital for veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators.

In addition, GROW has developed a partnership with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine to help train residents, interns and veterinary students. This program will also include research to monitor infectious diseases as well as evaluate and improve the approach to wildlife medicine.

Naming rights opportunities for the new hospital and program sponsorships are still available. For more information or to donate, please call (770) 442-1400 or visit www.growwildlife.org.

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About GROW Wildlife, Inc. - GROW Wildlife, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation which seeks to encourage wildlife conservation by promoting and providing professional veterinary care, education, and humane treatment of wildlife injured or disadvantaged by human activity through wildlife veterinary hospitals.

About Southern Regional - Southern Regional, a leader in providing innovative healthcare to metro Atlanta, exists to improve the health status and quality of life for its community. The health system meets this mission by supplying comprehensive health resources starting with Southern Regional Medical Center, a 331-bed, full-service hospital in Riverdale, Ga. Of note, the medical center offers comprehensive testing and treatment for cardiovascular disease and recently received advanced stroke certification from the Joint Commission. Southern Regional’s state-of-the-art surgery department is equipped to perform complex procedures such as robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Southern Regional Health System is also comprised of the Georgia Orthopedic Institute, The Women’s Life Center for expectant mothers, six sleep diagnostic centers, and a Bariatric Center. Spivey Station, a second location in Jonesboro, Ga. offers women’s services, complete lab and imaging services, and a newly integrated outpatient surgery and pain management center.