Introducing Barbara Joy Jones, DO from GMC Primary Care & Specialty Center

In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, Rico chats with Dr. Barbara Joy Jones, D.O. She is the lead physician at the new GMC Primary Care & Specialty Center. Barbara gives some insight into the field of medicine, diving into the similarities and differences of being a doctor of osteopathy versus doctor of medicine, the timeshare structure of their multi-specialty clinic, and the growing use of CBD in medicine. She also shares her personal journey into medicine, and we learn about how she went from pursuing a career in modeling to becoming a doctor.

“When I was younger – so my name is Barbara, and I have an Aunt Barbara who we call Aunt Babs, and my grandma was named Barbara as well. When I was younger, I used to give my grandma massages, and she told me, ‘You have healing hands.’ And at the time, I didn’t understand what that meant. I didn’t understand at the time. But it seemed as other doors were closed, path to medicine was open. It didn’t have its obstacles, but I got into medical school, I passed all the boards and I just – I had a heart for healing. And the gift of mercy. So I was – it was always important. And I really enjoyed people’s stories.”

Dr. Barbara Joy Jones, D.O.

Resources

GwinnettMedicalGroup.org/PTC
Phone: 678-312-8430

Barbara Joy Jones:
Facebook: Dr. Barbara Joy Jones
Instagram: @themodeldoc

Transcript of the podcast:

Rico [01:18 ]: Hi everyone, this is Rico Figliolini, host of Peachtree Corners life, and also the publisher of Peachtree Corners Magazine. We’re here with a special guest today. Her is Dr. Barbara Joy Jones, DO. And she is with the GMC Primary Care Provider that just opened. They took over – for those people in Peachtree Corners who know well, it used to be the old Ippolito’s restaurant. You would never know. I mean, they gutted out the whole thing, and it looks beautiful inside. We’ll show you some pictures later. But I’d like you to introduce yourself a little bit to the listeners, the audience here. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Barbara [01:53 ]: Hello everybody, I am Dr. Barbara Joy Jones, thank you Rico for the introduction, and I am the lead physician at Primary Care and Multi-specialty Clinic in Peachtree Corners. We used to be Gwinnett Medical Center, and now we are Northside. This is day 2 of officially being Northside. And I am the lead physician, and I’m primary care, which means I’m diapers to depends, and I’m there five days a week. And then we have timeshares of specials that work on the other side. So we have gastroenterology, OBGYN, orthopedics, I think we’re bringing in neurology. And cardiology.

Rico [02:31 ]: That’s amazing. When I first visited, they had the great opening and, we walked through there, I found out there were time-sharing specialists? I didn’t realize that’s how some of these practices work. So they can be quite a few specialties, specialists, and you don’t have to leave the primary care facility.

Barbara [02:54 ]: Yeah, there’s been examples of a person who had a heart condition, very common atrial fibrillation, needed a heart check up. I finished my exam and walked them across the hall to the cardiologist. Easy.

Rico [03:05 ]: Okay, look at that. You don’t have to go out 30 minutes to somewhere else or make another appointment or something. Really great place. Tell us a little bit about you personally, too. Where you come from, who you are, a little bit about yourself.

Barbara [03:18 ]: Gotcha. So I am a military brat – Air Force. My father was in the air force, and I was born at West Point. Mother’s from Thailand. And I have three siblings – parents had four kids in five years. And I played basketball at Charleston Southern University in the Big South. So after three years, I told my dad – “Hey, I want to model and act,” so he sent me up to Los Angeles. And I failed at that. Door closed right away. So I was like, “Okay, well at least I tried.” And I went and finished my degree at Loyola Marymount University. So spent two years out there finishing my degree. And then moved back to Georgia, applied to medical school, and got into medical school in Gwinnett at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Georgia campus, which has been open since 2005. And then, I renewed my lease to my apartment when I got accepted to Gwinnett Medical Center’s residency program for family medicine, and I was one of the five guinea pigs. The first five, and we were all women, and now there’s 61 residents on the campus, and two sports medicine fellows.

Rico [04:27 ]: So you live in Gwinnett County.

Barbara [04:29 ]: I do. I live in Duluth. I love Gwinnett. If I could be here lifelong, I would. And one thing I wanted to clarify – I have a DO behind my name. So the difference between a DO and MD is, there are a million fully-functioning physicians in the county, meaning can perform surgery, can deliver babies, can prescribe narcotics and Benzodiazepine. 108 thousand of us are DOs. So that means, in medical school, we learn manual manipulations. So 400 hours of something that I personally said is basically like chiropractic massage therapy and physical therapy all in one, as a physician. And we just augment care. So, an example would be, if a child comes in with an ear infection, if it’s bacterial infection, I would give the antibiotic, but I also have a way of manipulating trying to decrease the pressure and some of the pain by draining some of the fluid out of the eustachian tube, and that decrease of pressure actually helps the child feel better. And also helps the parents feel better cause their kid stops crying. So I am a DO, and starting in 2020, DOs and MDs will have one accreditation. Meaning one match process. We all train side by side currently. But in the future, in 2020, it would be one match.

Rico [05:50 ]: So other than surgery, or, not surgery – if you compare yourself to a general practitioner, let’s say, for lack of a better phrase, what are the differences then?

Barbara [06:02 ]: Well, okay. So 56% of DOs go into primary care, which consists of internal medicine, family medicine, and peds. The others go into whatever they choose. Cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and they never use their hands ever again. They just practice like an MD.

Rico [06:21 ]: So you’re along the same lines as an internist to a degree? Or, there’s other – 

Barbara [06:25 ]: Well, MDs and DOs are fully functioning physicians and can go to any residency. We are just trained, the mind and the body, you know – you just catalyze that the body will heal itself. Just a more holistic thought process. But we can practice in any form of medicine.

Rico [06:45 ]: So how long has this – I mean, there’s a trend on doing this, right? G – Gwinnett Medical – you know, it has expanded, and there’s quite a few facilities in Gwinnett County. I know there was none on this side of the county, and that’s why GMC opened over here. Are all the facilities similar to that degree, with DOs and such?

Barbara [07:09 ]: DOs can practice just like MDs. You’ve probably been treated or done surgery with a DO. You just don’t know unless you look behind their name. We practice the same. It’s just that, a lot of us, more than half, choose to go into primary care. We just have the heart for primary care.

Rico [07:27 ]: So how long have you been doing this now?

Barbara [07:30 ]: Um, graduated from medical school in 2014, graduated from residency 2017. So I’m entering my third year of attendinghood. Being an attending physician. I practice on my own.

Rico [07:40 ]: So do you learn a lot more with, I mean, obviously the amount of residents has expanded there. I mean, is it your colleagues – do you get together? Do you talk about things going on in medicine and community?

Barbara [07:54 ]: Well, I am an attending. I actually teach the residents. So because I am proficient in osteopathic, manipulative treatment, which is that manual manipulation, and half of the residents in the family of medicine are MD and half are DO. The DOs currently need to have a certain amount of osteopathic, manipulative treatment training. So I teach them that. So what we – yeah. I teach them as an attending. So I get to see them once a week – it’s Wednesdays. And other than that, we do have CMEs. So physicians are required to do a certain amount of learning new things in medicine to stay up on the times.

Rico [08:34 ]: So if people come to the – this side here on Peachtree Corners, then they’re gonna see you on a regular basis. You’re out there regularly. You’re the lead, obviously.

Barbara [08:44 ]: Yes, I’m the lead physician, so I see diapers to depends. I do pap smears, I work on mammograms, I do prostate exams, I do child vaccinations, child wellness exams, annuals, preventative exams, acute visits if you have sinusitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, I got you. Sprained your ankle, I got you. Possibly pneumonia, I got you. We have a chest x-ray machine.

Rico [09:09 ]: Yeah, you don’t have to go far. You don’t have to leave the city of Peachtree Corners. And it’s an interesting city because, for as much as is 44,000 odd people that live in the city, there’s 87% of the people that work in the city don’t actually live in the city. They leave the city, go back home to wherever they go. So, I mean, corporate health, does that reach to what you want to say?

Barbara [09:35 ]: Yes. That was part of the model. So, I don’t know about Northside, but for Gwinnett Medical Center, and we just became Northside yesterday, we had one facility in Sewanee that was a multi-specialty clinic that was successful. So they modeled my clinic, which opened on August 5th, after that. Where you have primary care there, and then you have five or six different other specialties that time share during the week.

Rico [09:59 ]: Right. And corporate health – 

Barbara [10:00 ]: Yes. That is part of it. So the hospital is working on corporate health where people would be able to come in and get their physicals done with me.

Rico [10:11 ]: You know, you’ve been a lot of different things, which is cool. It’s a well rounded person that you are by doing that. What I’d like to ask you is, what brought you – what got you to pursue the medical part of it? The medicine part? I mean, you were acting, modeling a bit. What turned you onto medicine?

Barbara [10:36 ]: When I was younger – so my name is Barbara, and I have an Aunt Barbara who we call Aunt Babs, and my grandma was named Barbara as well. When I was younger, I used to give my grandma massages, and she told me, ‘You have healing hands.’ And at the time, I didn’t understand what that meant. I didn’t understand at the time. But it seemed as other doors were closed, path to medicine was open. It didn’t have its obstacles, but I got into medical school, I passed all the boards and I just – I had a heart for healing. And the gift of mercy. So I was – it was always important. And I really enjoyed people’s stories.

Rico [11:13 ]: You know, that’s interesting. It almost seems like you were guided that way without even realizing.

Barbara [11:18 ]: Right. So people ask – was there a time? I can’t remember just an epiphany – oh you’re supposed to be a doctor. It was like, the path was paved, and it was a little bit easier – and not easier, but just directed in this path where everything else, the doors were closed immediately in my face.

Rico [11:34 ]: You know, it’s funny because Malcom Gladwell – he wrote several books about leadership and stuff, and one of the things he mentions is, you need the little nudges, not things – that huge that comes across. It’s always those little nudges, the right people that talk to you at the right moment, that get you sort of moving along that path over a period of time. So that’s kind of nice to be able to see that. So the professional journey so far that you’ve experienced. Do you have any anecdotes that you want to share about, you know, getting into it, what stories you may have on it?

Barbara [12:13 ]: Well, I guess more so, like, testimony of when I got into med school, there were only two spots left, and I got one of them. So I almost didn’t even get into that class.

Rico [12:22 ]: So that was the Philadelphia – 

Barbara [12:24 ]: The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia Campus. It’s in Sewanee, off of Peachtree Road. Take 85 N and take 109. Go right.

Rico [12:31 ]: You know it well.

Barbara [12:33 ]: Yes. But having – but getting in – that was, I was very thankful. Because with as much work as it took, I was very thankful that I had the capacity, the intelligence, and the wherewithal and the health to go through it. Cause it’s very stressful. And then even in residency, having had difficulties there with certain subjects, I would have trouble learning, but the residency did a very good job of giving me opportunities to go above and beyond to learn. So those obstacles, and to make it through, and by the end of residency in 2017, I was named resident of the year. So overcoming those obstacles and using that as a platform to become great in my field.

Rico [13:21 ]: I mean, determined too. Because lots of young people would drop out, or maybe chemistry’s not their thing, maybe biology, maybe whatever they’re learning could be tough. And they find out it’s not for them.

Barbara [13:37 ]: The cliche. It could have made me or it could break me.

Rico [13:40 ]: Exactly. That you go in there like that. So the role that we discussed for a little bit. So what excites you and motivates you when you, you know, your day off? Do you think about medicine all the time?

Barbara [13:56 ]: No. When I go home, I have a lot of really good friends and family, so I enjoy spending time with them. So that would include having love and fellowship over a nice meal. I play basketball, so there is a league in perimeter. I play D1 Georgia Sports League. And sometimes I’ll join one of the seasons and play basketball with girls who were active in college or overseas and want to stay active in their 30s and 40s, so I enjoy that. What else?

Rico [14:27 ]: That’s good. And you’re a doctor, so you can always see if you’re not feeling well or stress in your bones.

Barbara [14:33 ]: And I enjoy traveling as well. Whether it be out of town or just staycation just to enjoy different parts of Atlanta.

Rico [14:40 ]: Have you been to places where you might have, I mean, I’m sure on vacation you don’t go visit medical facilities, but being in the industry and stuff, do you see anything in other cities, other places, other countries that you may have visited, where you might look at that and say –

Barbara [15:00 ]: Anytime I go overseas and come home, I’m always very thankful for our healthcare system. I just think like that.

Rico [15:06 ]: Alright. With the emerging technology and research, and the techniques that are out there, are you excited about anything particular out there in the future that’s coming that you see? On the horizon maybe?

Barbara [15:21 ]: The one thing that comes to mind is CBD oil. That’s a new thing. 

Rico [15:27 ]: Yes, now, okay. Some one I know would like to use it, and but she’s not feeling that maybe would help that. So how would that work? Is that something that you even can recommend in your practice?

Barbara [15:43 ]: It is legal in all 50 states. So you don’t – we’ll prefer someone who is knowledgeable to tell you how to start to take it as a supplement. It is legal – you do not need a prescription, but it is legal in all 50 states.

Rico [15:59 ]: So is that something you would recommend to someone? If you felt they needed it?

Barbara [16:03 ]: If someone has pain or trouble sleeping and relaxation, they’re looking for that, yes, I do recommend it for pain, relaxation, and sleep. We do have endocannabinoid receptors in our body, so there’s a place for them to go. And, just like, say somebody is vitamin D deficient, they would take a vitamin D supplement. If you’re deficient in endocannabinoids, you would take it as a supplement.

Rico [16:31 ]: Do you find that it helps – I mean, some people I would imagine just like pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals, when they come out, maybe 50, 80% of the people that take it, it helps. And maybe the other 20, 30 it doesn’t, because that’s just the way things are.

Barbara [16:45 ]: Well, if your issue – it could be possibly due to endocannabinoid deficiency – the top 4 things that it would be would be migraines, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, refractory to treatment, and irritable bowel syndrome. A lot of times, those patients really would do well with it. Also, cancer patients dealing with pain – it’s always good for them to take it as an option. But there’s rules to it. You want to make sure it’s bought in the USA. Made and bought in the USA. Organic, and in full spectrum without the THC, because, you know, the THC portion is psychoactive, and we’re not trying to do that. We’re just trying to get the benefits of the endocannabinoids.

Rico [17:26 ]: That’s right, that’s right. The legal part anyway doesn’t have any of that. Or at least that’s the smallest percent anyway.

Barbara [17:32 ]: Well if it’s full spectrum, and you don’t want the active THC, it’s gonna have a 0.0002 or 3 percent. But yeah. It’ll have a tiny, tiny bit, but not enough that it will cause any psychoactive effects.

Rico [17:48 ]: I’m sure there are people out there that may, I mean there’s so many places that sell it, so you’re correct in saying to investigate what you’re getting.

Barbara [17:57 ]: Yes. You definitely want to investigate where you’re getting it from.

Rico [18:03 ]: Because there’s too many places. Like, even gas stations. I mean, there’s too many places – 

Barbara [18:05 ]: Don’t get it from a gas station. It is worth spending the extra money to make sure it’s USA grown, organic, full spectrum, active THC.

Rico [18:11 ]: I think there is a local pharmacy that sells it. Not a chain pharmacy, a local compound pharmacy that sells it also. So, tell me a little bit more about, just a little bit more about the facilities here in Peachtree Corners, and we’ll share some of those pictures of – and I know you hit upon it before a little bit, but let’s talk about that.

Barbara [18:33 ]: So the facility has a primary care pod, and that’s where I am. And then there also is a physician’s assistant – her name is Molly, and she’s with us on Wednesdays, Thursday mornings and Fridays. And I’m there all five days. And we have our six rooms, beautiful rooms, and it has a spa type feel as soon as you walk in.

Rico [18:54 ]: Hospitality, yes.

Barbara [18:55 ]: Right. So when you come in, there’s also a pod for the specialists. So each morning, each afternoon, you’ll have a different specialist that time shares for that morning or afternoon if you’re there for that. And then for us, when I’m back in our little pod, and if you need a mammogram or xray, we have that capability as well.

Rico [19:15 ]: And I understood from the visit when I went there that the, I guess it’s the mammogram, it’s a 2D and a 3D machine. So for those people that might need a 3D – so what’s the difference between the two? Can you share that as far as 2D, 3D?

Barbara [19:34 ]: From what I know, and I’m not an expert on it, you can see things better because it’s 3D versus 2D. I can talk to a radiologist and I can get back to you.

Rico [19:46 ]: No, you’re good, you’re good. So it’s true, if you have thick tissues and stuff like that, 3D is really the way to go. And it’s interesting that it’s the same machine that’s doing it, so, so it’s there. So, I mean, you know, if I remember taking my in-laws to the doctor sometimes if they had to go get an xray, they had to leave where they went, go somewhere else – this is all in one place.

Barbara [20:13 ]: It’s really convenient. Someone comes in and to rule out pneumonia, we can send them down the hall to get a chest x-ray. And if a woman needs a mammogram, we can send her down the hall. And if at that particular time, the specialist that’s time sharing at the time you need, you can just walk on over. Dr. Tonya Ruttledge is the gastroenterologist, so if someone needs a colonoscopy, we can just take them over to do their consult. And Dr. Donroe is the cardiologist. He’s there on Tuesday afternoons. I’ve walked a couple people down to him as well.

Rico [20:44 ]: So do they do that stuff there as well? Colonoscopy down there also?

Barbara [20:47 ]: No. They have either in the hospital or an endoscopy suite.

Rico [20:53 ]: Right. That makes more sense. And I know they keep telling me, I’m over 50 and I need to do that.

Barbara [20:59 ]: Yes. It’s very important. Colon cancer is preventable with a colonoscopy. You can get the polyps removed.

Rico [21:05 ]: Is there anything you want to share with us a little bit more about the facility or the way GMC – I mean I know Northside took over a couple days ago, and we don’t know yet how that’s gonna affect things, but certainly the GMC, Gwinnett Medical sign is still out front.

Barbara [21:25 ]: Yes, yes, yes. They chose to plant feet here because it was a primary care desert, and we’re here to serve the community. So we are open and you guys should call and get an appointment. 678-312-8430. Come on in.

Rico [21:43 ]: Is there a website also? There’s a website I think, right?

Barbara [21:44 ]: Yes. It’s GwinnettMedicalGroup.org/PTC. But I don’t know if that’s gonna change, if we’ll become a Northside website. So stay tuned.

Rico [21:54 ]: Okay. And I imagine if that changes, they’ll probably forward that URL. 

Barbara [21:57 ]: Yes.

Rico [21:59 ]: So that should be fine.

Barbara [22:01 ]: Mail forwarding to the new website.

Rico [22:01 ]: And if you want to follow – is there any way they can follow you?

Barbara [22:08 ]: So my instagram is @themodeldoc. Yeah. The Model Doc. Very simple. And on Facebook, Dr. Barbara Joy Jones.

Rico [22:20 ]: If you have any more questions that you want to put to the doctor, you can put them in the comments. She’s liked the page, so she’ll get noticed when those comments are made. And if you want to field visit there, like she said, five days a week. Just go make an appointment and you can go out there. This has been Peachtree Corners Life with Dr. Barbara Joy Jones, DO. Appreciate you coming in.

Barbara [22:50 ]: Thank you, I enjoyed it.