Faculty

Robert (Butch) Pallay, MD

Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago
Residency: Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, New Jersey

Dr. Pallay is the Family Medicine Residency Program director at Memorial Health University Medical Center. He is also professor and chair of the department of family medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine's Savannah campus. Prior to this, Dr. Pallay was the owner/manager of a private group practice and medical director in the department of family medicine at Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Medical School in New Jersey. He served as vice-chairman of the family medicine department at RWJ Medical School from 2002 through 2005.

Since 1975, Dr. Pallay has served on and chaired numerous committees, and held officer positions in the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Medical Society of New Jersey. In 1999, he was appointed to the New Jersey Public Health Council by then-Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. He served as its chairman for four years. In the AAFP, he served on the Finance Commission and chaired the Commission on Public Health.

In 2005, Dr. Pallay was elected to a three-year term on the AAFP board of directors. He was on the New Jersey bioterrorism task force and the advisory task force on bioterrorism for the AAFP. He has established a strong track record with all of these organizations as both consultant and advocate for integrating fitness, sports medicine, cultural diversity, and the clinical practice of medicine and public health, pharmaceutical issues, competitive intelligence, and startup ventures. Dr. Pallay has assisted Mercer Health Consultants on several medical projects. Throughout his career, he has been involved in many entrepreneurial ventures, including new medical practices, an urgent care facilities company, and other medical device and pharmaceutical-related companies.

Ryann Cowart, MD

Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Residency: University of Virginia

A native of Savannah, GA, Dr. Cowart recently moved back to join the faculty of Family Medicine Residency Program at Memorial, where she focuses on her special interests in evidence-based medicine, women's health, global health, providing care to disenfranchised populations, and resident and patient education.

During her residency, Dr. Cowart completed the Global Health Leadership track and participated in a month-long rotation at a maternity ward in Tanzania. She served as an international family medicine provider at a clinic that served refugees from around the world who resettled in Charlottesville through the International Rescue Committee.

She enjoys spending her spare time with her husband and their growing brood of four-legged companions, cooking, trying new restaurants, working out, sports (especially football and NASCAR) and traveling.

Mary Mier, D.O.

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, North Carolina

Dr. Mier chose to specialize in Family Medicine because of her desire to treat the patient as a whole- mind, body, and spirit, and having the ability to treat everyone in the family. She is passionate about providing care to the underserved, and she is always working to be an advocate for the vulnerable populations. Within Family Medicine, her interests include women’s health, care for the LGBTQ+ population, preventive medicine, and teaching residents and medical students.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Mier spends most of her time with her three dogs, and she enjoys traveling, watching Michigan State Spartan athletic events, and finding new craft beers to enjoy.

Bonzo Reddick, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta
Residency: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Fellowship: UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine Career Development Fellowship

Dr. Reddick's work interests include health disparities, broad-spectrum family medicine (including obstetrics and procedures), and helping family doctors pass their board exams. He is the associate dean of diversity at Mercer University School of Medicine, and the advisor for the Diversity in Medicine Interest Group. Outside of work, he enjoys anything related to sports, his family, or his church. Dr. Reddick is currently training for an Ironman triathlon.

Marvin Sineath, MD

Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Residency: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Fellowship: Military National Capital Consortium Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship, Bethesda

Dr. Sineath's interests include sports medicine and teaching medical students and residents. He and his family enjoy exercising, playing sports, anything involving the water, their local church, and serving in the community. He served in the Air Force for 12 and a half years and is currently in the Air National Guard.

Shameka Jones, MD

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: The Medical Center of Central Georgia/Navicent Health

I enjoy the full scope of Family Medicine, but my focus has been outpatient. It is a privilege to be involved in resident education and witness the process of developing amazing physicians.

I enjoy traveling, spending time with my husband and three children, photography and fellowship at my church, Compassion Christian.

Jeri Miller, MD

Medical School: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Residency: Carswell Air Force Base, Texas

Dr. Miller has served on and chaired numerous Medical Staff Committees, and has also held Medical Staff Officer positions.

Her career interests include Urgent Care, Emergency Medicine, and teaching.

She enjoys shopping for bargains, reading, gardening and spending time with her family.

Amethyst Wilder, MD

Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Residency: Memorial Health University Medical Center

Dr. Wilder is a Southeast Georgia local that never meets a stranger. As a recent graduate of this program, she loves the educational environment and looks forward to teaching residents, medical students and patients. She and her family enjoy getting outdoors and good food. Her career interests are maternity and pediatric care.

Meghan Rosenquist, DO

Medical School: Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg VA
Residency: Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Augusta GA

Dr. Rosenquist has been called by her colleagues "a family-centered mom practicing family-centered care”. She has discovered her favorite part of medicine is teaching residents, but she also practices as a hospitalist in several local hospitals. She is also a veteran of the Army, where she enjoyed treating military families. She and her husband, along with their five children, love to travel by RV around the US. They have only 13 states left to visit! They have a dog, a cat, 2 fish tanks and 11 chickens to keep their kids busy at home!

Additional Faculty

Allison Andrews, PA-C

Physician Assistant School: South University, Savannah, Georgia

Allison Andrews grew up in the Savannah area and completed both her undergraduate and graduate training here. She previously worked at the Chatham County Detention Center providing medical care to inmates. She joined the Memorial Health University Physicians – Family Medicine Center in January 2014. Andrews' areas of interest include women's health, preventive medicine, and serving as a clinical preceptor for South University P.A. students. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants.

Richard R. Hightower, MD

Geriatrics Specialist

Dr. Hightower earned his medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, GA, and did his residency training at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. Dr. Hightower is board certified in family medicine.

Steve Livingston, PhD, LMFT

Behavioral Medicine Specialist

Dr. Livingston earned his doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Florida State University. He served as director and associate professor of the family therapy graduate program at Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon/Atlanta, prior to joining the family medicine faculty at Memorial Health University Medical Center. Previously, he served as the coordinator of the Ph.D. program in marriage and family counseling at Barry University in Orlando, FL, and as adjunct faculty for Florida State University's School of Social Work.

Dr. Livingston was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists in 2011, and currently serves as chairman of the board. In 2016, he began serving as chair of the ethics committee for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Dr. Livingston is the director of behavioral services for Mercer University School of Medicine - Savannah campus. He holds Georgia licensure as a marriage and family therapist and has 30 years of clinical experience with individuals, couples, and families.

Robert Pallay, MD

Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago
Residency: Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, New Jersey

Dr. Candace Murbach, DO

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Ft. Wayne Medical Education Program

Dr. Murbach is a family physician with many years of experience practicing full scope family medicine in several states and residency programs. She recently relocated to Savannah Family Medicine after working in Florida for the past several years. Dr. Murbach serves as the Associate Program Director of Family Medicine and the FM-OB Program Director, and will be developing rural training tracks in Georgia.

Dr. Murbach has been active in Family Medicine organizations including President of the Colorado Academy of Family Medicine, and she was Family Medicine Teacher of the year for several years as faculty at Southern Colorado Family Medicine. She was named Colorado Academy of Family Medicine’s teacher of the year in 2013.

Currently, Dr. Murbach serves on the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine GMEC Committee.

During her free time, Dr. Murbach enjoys spending time with her family, close friends, and her dog. Her interests include, travel, boating, reading, and home projects.

Ryann Cowart, MD
Core Faculty

Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Residency: University of Virginia

Marvin Sineath, MD
Core Faculty
Clerkship Director

Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Residency: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Fellowship: Military National Capital Consortium Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship, Bethesda

Amethyst Wilder, MD
Core Faculty

Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Residency: Memorial Health University Medical Center

Bowden Templeton, PhD
Core Faculty

Behavioral Health Specialist
BA, Anthropology and Sociology, Rhodes College
MFT, Marriage and Family Therapy, Mercer University
PhD, Child and Family Development, Marriage and Family Therapy, The University of Georgia

Dr. Templeton serves as our program’s behavioral health specialist who can assist with clinical questions and patient crisis. He leads our program’s curriculum in integrating behavioral health into primary care. He also serves as a personal resource to our residents if needed. Dr. Templeton has served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and as program director for the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Mercer University. He also has a knack for creating beautiful pottery.

Additional Faculty

Richard R. Hightower, MD

Geriatrics Specialist
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta
Residency: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Fellowship: UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine Career Development Fellowship

Dr. Hightower is a local private family physician who serves as medical director for the long term care facility that residents rotate monthly to see their own panel of patients. He enjoys teaching about the business of medicine and caring for an aging and chronically debilitated population.