VALDOSTA — Dr. Sid Staton is the new chief of staff for South Georgia Medical Center.

Sam Allen, Hospital Authority of Lowndes County and Valdosta, said Staton is the liaison between hospital staff and the authority. 

Staton practices at SGMC in conjunction with his private practice at South Georgia Medical Associates. 

He replaced Dr. Alex Culbreth, an obstetrics & gynecology specialist in Valdosta, and has been practicing for 25 years.

Staton was one of the most outspoken voices opposing the termination of Dr. Joe Johnson and Dr. Randall Brown and supported the departure of former chief executive officer C. Ross Berry.

Staton and Dr. William “Doug” Luke were also critical of South Georgia Medical Center’s cardiologist program during a hospital authority meeting in January 2018.

At that meeting, Staton alleged the hospital excluded the two of them from its hiring process for the hospital’s new cardiology program after three other cardiologists announced they were leaving Valdosta.

SGMC later nominated Luke to sit on the task force created to monitor its cardiology services.

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256