A special advertising section championing our local women in business. In partnership with Cox Communications. Photo by Jessica Whitley.

OrthoGeorgia Surgery Center 

Director of Surgery Center 

3708 Northside Dr., Macon 

478–254-5410 

ljohnson@orthoga.org 

orthoga.org 

What is the mission of your business?

To deliver the highest quality care to our surgical patients. 

Your advice for women wanting to start their own business in Macon?

Although I do not own my own business, I would tell them that any woman can accomplish anything they put their mind to. The only thing that will stop you is yourself. 

How do you define success?

I believe success is an attitude. It is knowing that you made every effort to do your very best. I know that OrthoGeorgia Surgery Center is successful because the staff who work here are the finest you will find anywhere.  

What are you most excited about right now in our community?

The recent expansion of Mercer University including the OrthoGeorgia baseball field, as well as the positive growth in downtown Macon. 

You might be surprised to know:

My experience in orthopaedics started in the operating room at Navicent Health in 1981. I joined OrthoGeorgia in 2004 as the director of the Surgery Center, which opened in 1999. Last year, we did 6,445 outpatient cases. We started doing Total Joint Replacements in our facility on an outpatient basis about a year and half ago. These cases are Total Knee and Total Hips. We also do partial Total Knees with the Mako Robot. We were the first Ambulatory Surgery Center to use the Mako Robot in Georgia. Our total joint patients are going home the same day as their procedure. These patients are generally discharged from the facility about two hours after their procedure is finished. 

What is the most gratifying part of your job?

Knowing that I have done my best for the patients, the surgeons and the staff who work here.  OrthoGeorgia’s community contribution to DayBreak, United Way and the back-pack ministry. 

What has been the most challenging part of being a woman in business?

How to juggle all the things that need to be done. Not always taking things so personally. 

I admire women who:

 Can speak their mind in a respectful and knowledgeable manner without being pushy or obnoxious, and who are committed to their cause. I also admire women who acknowledge that they did not get where they are by themselves and that many people contributed to their success. 

What was the best business advice you ever received?

To treat people in the manner in which you would like to be treated. This applies in business as well as in our daily lives. 

I hope more women will:

Believe in themselves, take chances and be the best they can be. 

How could women better support each other?

Talk to each other. Be excited for each other’s success. 

I wish I had known:

What a great adventure this was going to be.