Three years ago, SGMC Health partnered with LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank to introduce a powerful way for families to make a difference by donating their baby’s umbilical cord blood. Since then, that small act of generosity has grown into a life-changing program. With more than 1,630 cord blood units collected and many listed on the Be The Match Registry®, SGMC Health is helping patients around the world find hope in the fight against over 80 serious diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia.

Cord blood, typically discarded after birth, contains powerful stem cells that can be used in transplants to treat a wide range of conditions. Through this program, families delivering at SGMC Health have the opportunity to make a lasting impact—at no cost—by donating their baby’s umbilical cord blood.

“This program is about turning the joyful moment of the birth of a child into a ripple effect of healing,” said Pamela Temples, MD, SGMC Health OB/GYN, who collected the hospital’s first and 201st cord blood units. “Each donation represents a family’s selfless decision to give hope to someone they may never meet. It’s an honor to be part of that legacy.”

The program’s success is driven by a dedicated team of physicians and midwives, including top collectors like Dr. Temples, Nikki Yarbrough, MD, and Sharon Eanes Kennedy, CNM, ARNP.  Additionally, Alex Culbreth, MD, made history by collecting a unit that was sent to the International Space Station in January 2024 as part of groundbreaking research in regenerative medicine.

SGMC Health’s collaboration with LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank, a nonprofit, FDA-licensed public cord blood bank, ensures that each donation is carefully screened, processed, and made available for transplant or research. LifeSouth also provides education and recruitment, helping families understand the life-saving potential of their donation.

“SGMC Health has become a cornerstone of public cord blood banking in Georgia,” said Luis Hernandez, Director of LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank. “Their unwavering commitment and clinical excellence are changing lives every day. We are deeply grateful for their partnership.”

SGMC Health delivers approximately 2,000 babies annually, supported by a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, and the region’s only Level IIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With 24/7 coverage from board-certified neonatologists, the NICU is equipped to provide advanced care for premature and medically fragile infants.

Looking to the future, SGMC Health is currently constructing a new Women & Infants Tower and Emergency Department, expected to open in late 2026. Central to this expansion is the Women and Infants Center, which will provide specialized prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal care in a state-of-the-art environment. This $150 million investment underscores SGMC Health’s commitment to advancing care for mothers and newborns, ensuring families across the region have access to the highest quality services for generations to come.

To learn more about cord blood donation or SGMC Health’s women and infants services, visit sgmc.org.