Dr. Tom Gore, who has served the community for 33 years as a cardiologist, was honored as WellStar West Georgia Medical Center’s 2018 Physician of the Year. 

The award, given annually since 2007, recognizes an outstanding physician whose contributions have made a significant impact on patient care, the medical staff and WellStar West Georgia.

“It is impossible to know the number of lives Dr. Gore has touched as a physician and healer,” said Jerry Fulks, president of WellStar West Georgia. “As he attends to the physical needs of his patients, he also becomes their friend and confidante with his caring, compassionate and genuine approach to taking care of patients and their families.”

Born and raised in LaGrange, Gore began his career at West Georgia Medical Center in 1972 when he worked as an orderly while in high school. He graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and then continued at Duke to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1979. He completed a research fellowship in neurology in 1980 and then a residency in internal medicine in 1983 at the University of Virginia. He also completed a fellowship in cardiology at Vanderbilt University.

Gore then returned to LaGrange in 1985 to practice medicine with Dr. Robert Copeland at Southern Cardio Pulmonary Associates, which is now WellStar Medical Group Cardiovascular Medicine. 

Two team members in his medical practice nominated him, saying he is extremely compassionate and respectful to his patients and office staff. 

“Patients put their trust in him 100 percent, and they will express to me how wonderful he is with his bedside manner and how whole-hearted he is,” a medical assistant in Gore’s office said. “I fully agree, and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Gore also is a strong, hands-on community advocate, Fulks said.

“Whether it’s a long-term board appointment or a one-time musical performance to benefit the United Way, all his volunteer time gravitates to efforts that will have a lasting impact on improving the quality of life in LaGrange and Troup County,” Fulks said. 

Along with Copeland, Gore co-founded the Troup Cares Clinic, a free medical clinic that ensures the uninsured and working poor in the community will have their health care needs met. The clinic had its first patient in 2007 and continues to see around 100 patients a month.

Gore currently is serving his fourth term on the LaGrange City Council, following in the footsteps of his father, a LaGrange City Council member for 26 years. 

Gore also is passionate about community literacy and has participated each year for 20 years in the Community Corporate Spelling Bee to raise money for the Troup County Certified Literate Community Program. Part of the money from the fundraiser helps provide a copy of the book, “Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader,” to each of the approximately 1,100 babies born at WellStar West Georgia each year.

Gore is not only a physician, but he also is a musician. Last year Gore’s piano performance garnered him a top-10 slot in LaGrange Has Talent, a talent show to raise funds for the United Way of West Georgia. This year — along with Dr. Rod Duraski, Dr. Vince Scoglietti and Dr. Mel Stewart — Gore landed in the top 10 again, this time on the guitar. The money raised from the event benefits local early childhood and education initiatives.

A past president of WellStar West Georgia’s medical staff, Gore is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease as well as nuclear cardiology. He also is certified in cardiac pacing, coronary CT and cardiovascular MR. 

He is a member of the American Medical Association, Medical Association of Georgia, Georgia Chapter of American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians and is a fellow with the American College of Cardiology.