Dr. April McDonald, interventional pulmonologist for Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, performs a robotic bronchoscopy using Ion. NGMC Gainesville recently celebrated its 500th procedure — a milestone in advancing lung cancer detection in the region.
People in northeast Georgia can breathe easy knowing there’s advanced technology to diagnose lung cancer early at Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). The Cancer Services team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville recently completed its 500th Ion robotic bronchoscopy – a minimally invasive procedure that allows physicians to reach and biopsy even the smallest, hardest-to-access lung nodules.
“This technology helps detect and diagnose lung cancer earlier, which gives our patients faster answers and more treatment options when time matters most,” says Hisham Qutob, MD, medical director of pulmonology for Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG). “Congrats to our team for reaching this incredible milestone, which demonstrates our dedication to improving the health of our community in all we do.”
NGMC Braselton also began offering Ion robotic bronchoscopy in January 2025, expanding access to this life-saving diagnostic tool for patients throughout the region.
“Our data shows we are catching lung cancer in stage one 24% more often than the national average,” said April McDonald, MD, an interventional pulmonologist with NGPG who performs Ion robotic bronchoscopies. “By detecting and diagnosing suspicious nodules earlier, we’re giving patients a better chance at more effective treatment — and ultimately, saving more lives.”
For more information about advanced cancer care at NGHS, visit nghs.com/cancer.