Southern ENT Specialists Expand to Woodstock By Patti Richter The city of Woodstock has continued to thrive in 2020, and one medical practice in Canton added to its growth. Southern ENT Specialists was founded just three years ago by Dr. James Courtney French, who chose this city for the site of his second location. Dr. French is excited to announce the recent opening of the office on Eagle Drive in Woodstock’s Towne Lake area. The new office welcomes patients four days a week — Tuesday through Friday. Practice Administrator Kristen Stackfleth, who helped establish Southern ENT Specialists, credits the practice’s growth to Dr. French’s integrated approach to medicine and his reputation for getting results. From East Point to Cherokee County Dr. French is a board-certified otolaryngologist — head and neck surgeon. Referred to as ENTs (ear, nose, and throat surgeons), these physicians have at least 13 years of graduate and postgraduate training to complete before testing for certification by the American Board of Otolaryngology. This choice of medical specialty was no surprise to those who know Dr. French, who grew up in the city of East Point, which forms part of Atlanta’s southern boundary. He served his local community as a medical assistant at an ENT office prior to attending medical school. Dr. French graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta before his completion of medical school and residency at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Southern California. After his residency, Dr. French returned to his roots in Georgia and spent more than 10 years working for a large group ENT practice in Alpharetta before establishing his own practice. The doctor’s caring, compassionate manner gained a large following of patients from his years in metro Atlanta, Stackfleth says, “but Dr. French wanted his own practice, which would allow him more control regarding staff selection and time spent with patients. He prides himself in the thorough explanation of treatment options, customized to each patient’s needs.” The doctor also values “Southern hospitality,” which served to inspire the name of his practice. Individualized Care Dr. French is in his element treating all sinus-related problems for those who can’t breathe, can’t smell, and those with infections or chronic post-nasal drip. His strengths include providing a diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to the individual and helping those with chronic sinus conditions. While Dr. French provides both surgical and nonsurgical treatments, he specializes in balloon sinuplasty — an in-office alternative to traditional sinus surgery. He has performed this procedure for many years, starting with its inception during initial clinical trials. With such extensive experience, the doctor has trained physicians from around the country in performing this and other sinus surgeries. According to Southern ENT’s website, there are great benefits in choosing balloon sinuplasty over traditional sinus surgery performed under general anesthesia. Besides the cost-saving factor, this technique only requires a local anesthetic and about a third of the medication needed for surgical patients. It also takes around a third of the recovery time (an average 1.6 days compared to 4.8 days). Dr. French also performs many surgeries having to do with the head and neck for cosmetic concerns. His nonsurgical aesthetic procedures using injectable filler products effectively stand in place of facial plastic surgery. He is very skilled at these procedures, according to Stackfleth. Dr. French can recommend and provide skin care products for those looking to improve skin hydration and the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. In both 2019 and 2020, Dr. French received a “Top Doctor” award as one of the best otolaryngologists in the nation by Castle Connolly, a physician-led team of researchers who follow a rigorous selection process that screens thousands of doctors nominated by their peers. Dr. French has also been recognized by GA Top Doctors and, in the metro area, by Atlanta Magazine, which named him “Top Doctor” in his field of medicine for both 2019 and 2020. Southern ENT Specialists has an audiologist on staff to assist Dr. French in evaluating hearing function to detect impairment and to determine the anatomical site involved in its cause. The audiologist assists in the selection and maintenance of hearing aids and also helps with balance disorders and tinnitus (ringing in the ear) through testing and treatment plans for those affected. In Woodstock While Dr. French is seeing patients in both the Canton and Woodstock locations, the new office is anchored by Keevil Helmly, P.A., whose 25-plus-years of ENT experience as a physician assistant include the training and management of professional providers. The Woodstock location will also accept new patients and offer allergy testing, in-office procedures, and evaluation of sleep problems, snoring, and aesthetics. Southern ENT Specialists1816 Eagle Drive, Building 200, Suite B, Woodstock460 Northside Cherokee Boulevard, Suite 410, Canton678-786-7430SouthernENTSpecialists.com
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