A physician who was among the first residents with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is returning as a fellowship-trained specialist and a shining example that the organization’s goal to train the best and brightest to care for the region is paying off.
Martin Herrera, DO, is a graduate of the 2022 inaugural class of the Internal Medicine residency program at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), where he distinguished himself as a compassionate and skilled clinician. His return marks a meaningful milestone for the residency program and the health system, as he transitions from graduate to colleague.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Herrera back at NGHS,” said Donna Brown, PhD, interim Designated Institutional Official for NGMC. “His journey from resident to specialist is a testament to the strength of our graduate medical education program and our commitment to training physicians who return to serve our community.”
Dr. Herrera completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital, where he gained his expertise in managing complex respiratory and critical care conditions. He is now seeing patients at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Pulmonology, located inside Medical Park 2 on Jesse Jewell Parkway in Gainesville.
“I’m excited to return to the place where my career began,” said Dr. Herrera. “Gainesville has always felt like home, and I’m humbled and honored to serve the community that supported me throughout my training.”
Research conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government found NGMC’s residency programs to have a tremendous impact on Hall County’s economy – with a projected economic output of $66 million from 2019 to 2023, with an additional $18 million local economic impact for each year after. Similarly, the program has generated as many as 300 community jobs since 2019.
“Gainesville and the surrounding area continue to grow, so I knew this is where I can make the most impact,” said Dr. Herrera. “Plus, I’m still a car buff, so I’ve missed Road Atlanta and driving around the scenic routes in north Georgia!”
As of June 2025, a total of 48 resident physicians who graduated from NGMC’s program have stayed in state to practice – 17 of them with NGHS and 31 with other providers in the northeast Georgia region.
Learn more about NGMC’s residency programs at ngmcgme.org. To learn more about NGPG Pulmonology, visit ngpg.org.
About NGHS
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team cares for more than 1 million people across the region through five hospitals and a variety of outpatient locations. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has campuses in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest – with a total of more than 1,000 beds and more than 1,500 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.