Dr. Amanda Bortle Thomason, a board-eligible family medicine physician with deep family ties to Franklin County and the Athens area, is joining Sacred Heart Primary Care (SHPC) effective March 3, 2025.

A native of Athens, Dr. Thomason comes to SHPC and St. Mary’s Medical Group from Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, Tenn., where she recently completed her residency in Family Medicine, including providing clinic coverage at Church Health Center, a community-based clinic for the underserved.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in microbiology with a minor in Public Health from the University of Georgia. She then received a Master’s degree in preclinical sciences from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon before completing her Doctor’s degree in Osteopathic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, Ga. Prior to entering college, she graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School, both in Athens.

Dr. Thomason brings an extensive history in clinical services to her new role, including working as a medical assistant for her mentor, Dr. Billie Jackson, in her dermatology practice in Macon, Ga. She also worked with Five Points Psychiatry, Five Points Eye Care, and Dr. Alan Glassman, pediatrician, in Athens throughout her journey in medicine.  In addition, she has experience as a first grade teacher with Campus Clubs, a community development center in Macon that focuses on inner-city children and families, and as a special needs caregiver for an Autistic adolescent in Athens.

“It's a very full circle moment to join a healthcare system I was literally born into,” she said. “My mentor, Dr. Billie Jackson, inspired me to approach every patient by addressing the ‘whole body’ – the physical, mental, emotional, and social components of health. And my faith has always been an important part of me, my values, and my outlook towards patient care.”

Dr. Thomason and her husband, Lavonia native Russell Thomason, their 2-year-old son and their new puppy are happy to be back in Georgia, close to friends and family. Outside of work, they enjoy UGA football, cooking, gardening and antiquing.

At SHPC, Dr. Thomason joins Nurse Practitioners Amy Evans and Cassie Dawkins as part of the practice’s patient care team.