Dr. Wayne Friedman, an OB/GYN physician has just moved to Bainbridge with his family, preparatory to beginning his practice with Magnolia Women’s Center on Monday, July 16.

The Friedmans moved here from Knoxville, Tennessee, where he taught for eleven years as an assistant professor and maintained a private practice.  He came to the realization that he had a preference for solely being a practicing physician and began looking for a new location.

Both he and his wife Tara, to whom he has been married 22 years, grew up in Florida in relatively small towns and they made the decision to find a small town where they could continue to raise their four children: Isaac, 15, Hannah, 13, Naomi, 11 and Luke age 4.

“We are loving Bainbridge,” he proclaims. “It feels like home. As we interacted with a diverse group of people, we saw the benefits Bainbridge has to offer.” Another plus  is the proximity to Florida, where both sets of parents reside.

Dr. Friedman is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he was a music major with a concentration in percussion. He played in orchestras in Florida before he went to medical school.

He graduated from Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans, did his residency at Mercer in Savannah, then worked for 18 months in Americus before going into academic medicine in Tennessee.

He said he has always had an interest in healthcare, as his father was a dentist. He had planned to be a pediatrician, but after he delivered a couple of babies he was hooked on OB/GYN. He also found he liked doing surgery, and providing surgical care for women.

In addition to music, his hobbies have included tennis when he had time. As a point of interest, he shared that he grew up in Dade City near where Christy Surratt, the wife of Dr. Surratt, lived. Her father was his tennis coach, while his wife Tara grew up near Dr. Surratt’s home. They did not know the Surratts were living in Bainbridge prior to their interviews.

It would seem Bainbridge has much to offer the Friedman family. Tara has an interest in art and ballet, having once had her own studio. Daughter Hannah loves volleyball, Naomi loves singing and Isaac is described by his father as “a techy,” who loves scientific pursuits.

The older three children are enrolled to attend Grace Christian Academy when school begins.