Christie Somers, MD, a primary care physician, has joined Athens Internal Medicine Associates (AIMA) and St. Mary’s Medical Group, effective June 17. She is now accepting new patients, with same-day or next-day appointments available in many cases.

Dr. Somers is double board-certified in internal medicine as well as hospice and palliative medicine, and also has functional medicine certification. Previously, she practiced as a palliative medicine physician at University Cancer and Blood Center in Athens, served as medical director and palliative medicine physician at University Health System in Augusta, and taught as an assistant professor of internal medicine at Augusta University. Dr. Somers was born and raised in Asuncion, Paraguay, where she completed medical school at the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion in 2007. After moving to the United States, she completed her internal medicine internship and residency at Metropolitan Hospital Center, associated with New York Medical College, in 2013.

She continued her medical education with a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, which she completed in 2014.

“I am committed to excellence in internal medicine and palliative care,” Dr. Somers says. “I advocate for whole-person care, emphasizing the importance of empathy, respect and professionalism. I am dedicated to continuous learning so that I can be a valuable asset to the medical community and my patients.”

At AIMA, Dr. Somers provides adult wellness and routine follow-up care for a wide range of conditions, as well as treating acute care needs. As a provider within the AIMA team, she works to create relationships with patients that promote trust and open communication, regardless of whether the patient has an ordinary cold or a complex chronic condition. She is fluent in English and Spanish. AIMA is located at 1500 Oglethorpe Ave., Building 400, Athens, Ga. As part of St. Mary's Medical Group, AIMA accepts most major insurance plans and Medicare and offers virtual visits for certain provider appointments. You can make a new patient appointment by calling 706.548-8600. Learn more at www.stmarys-health.org.