Research
Beyond the Clinic
AT THE DR. JOE SAM ROBINSON JR. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, we recognize that no clinical practice exists in a vacuum. Medical research must extend beyond the clinic and address policy, access, affordability, and the global economy.
With that fact in mind, Dr. Robinson and his team are working to expand the body of medical research and view traditional topics through a wider lens.
President Dr. Joe Sam Robinson, Jr. MD
Dr. Joe Sam Robinson, Jr. is one of Middle Georgia’s most experienced neurosurgeons, having served the area since 1981. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Harvard University with honors in 1967, he continued his studies at the University of Virginia, from which he received his doctorate in medicine in 1971. He completed neurosurgery training with rotations at St. Bart’s Hospital, London; Northwestern University, Chicago; Emory University, Atlanta; and Yale University, New Haven, where he was named a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar.
Based in Macon, Georgia, he has served as the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Medical Center of Central Georgia (now Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center) and as a founding member of the Georgia Trauma Commission. He is currently the President of the Georgia Neurosurgical Institute and is a member of the board of trustees of Mercer University. Additionally, he has served as a member of the Georgia Composite Medical Board and the Georgia Stroke Commission.
His resume includes many teaching assignments, including stints at the University of Illinois, Yale University, Mercer University, and The Medical College of Georgia, as well as visiting professorships and lecturer positions in Thailand, Scotland, Honduras, Italy, China, Lithuania, and Peru.
Dr. Robinson’s devotion to service has extended beyond traditional clinical settings; he proudly served his country as a Neurosurgical Consultant for the Georgia National Guard and Army Reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Research is a lifelong passion of Dr. Robinson, and he and his research team continuously look for ways to improve healthcare and cost efficiency. He has contributed more than 115 articles for publication in noted journals, including the Journal of Chronic Diseases and the Journal of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience. He is the author of two books, Toward Healthcare Resources Stewardship and A New Chapter in an Old War: COVID-19 Strikes the World Order, and currently hosts a weekly television show called Observations, where he discusses current topics of politics, religion, and healthcare with a variety of guests.
Research Director Harold E. Groce
Harold (Harry) Groce is the Research Director at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute in Macon, Georgia. There, he oversees various research projects, engages with policymakers on public health policy, and assists clinicians with their publications and conference presentations.
Groce received his B.A. in International and Global Studies in 2018 from Sewanee: The University of the South, where he graduated summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then received his Master of International Policy Degree from the University of Georgia in 2020.
He has conducted extensive research on the economic development and history of Latin America and the Middle East, and his graduate research emphasized the connections between economic development, traditional security concerns, and climate change.
In addition to his work at GNI, Groce is an adjunct professor at Mercer University, teaching a writing-intensive course on nationalism and ethno-religious conflict. With his remaining free time, he is very involved with the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. He currently chairs the Global Mission Commission, helping to oversee and organize the Diocese’s international partnerships in the Episcopal Dioceses of Haiti, Cuba, and Cape Coast (Ghana). Groce is also a member of the Ministry Innovation Task Force, which helps churches across the Diocese of Atlanta to develop new, innovative ministries in their communities and built relationships at home and abroad.
Researchers
Sara Auger
Sara Auger grew up in Tifton, GA, before attending Emory University from 2016 to 2020, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology. During her undergraduate years, she participated in the Grady Memorial Research Project. She was a member of the Systems Neural Engineering Lab. Sara is currently a medical student in the Mercer University School of Medicine class of 2024. While at MUSM, she has participated in clinical research with the Grady STAR program and community outreach with Changing the Streets. In 2022, she joined as a research assistant at GNI, where she enjoys exploring neurological disease processes and observing procedures in the OR. Her research and clinical interests include deep brain stimulation, movement disorders, and cauda equina syndrome. When she’s not in the hospital or studying, Sara loves going to concerts, reading, and exploring Macon with her friends.
Abdulraheem Kaimari
Abdulraheem Kaimari is from Atlanta, Georgia, but lived abroad in Jordan for seven years. He is attending Mercer University for his undergraduate studies, majoring in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry. He graduated in May of 2023.
He joined the GNI team as a research assistant in May 2021. Although he has been heavily involved in many bench and wet-lab research projects at Mercer, the Georgia Neurosurgical Institute was his first introduction to clinical research and rural healthcare. As a research assistant, he has enjoyed perusing the current literature on the various clinical projects GNI works on, comparing results to the data collected from our patient cohort, discussing gaps in specific fields of study, and investigating potential solutions.
Jihyun (Kelly) Moon
Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Jihyun Moon earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Georgia in 2021. She joined the GNI research team in the fall of 2019. Since coming to GNI, she has enjoyed being able to engage in different types of projects under the guidance of a respected neurosurgeon. She particularly enjoys research like that she performed for A New Chapter in an Old War, where the scope of the research extends beyond the boundaries of traditional neurosurgical studies.
Zaid Al-Husein
Zaid Al-Husein is a current medical student at Mercer University School of Medicine, driven by a profound desire to address healthcare disparities in underserved areas of Georgia. His journey began at Mercer University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemical Commerce, uniquely equipping him to tackle healthcare challenges from both scientific and business perspectives.
A pivotal moment occurred during his undergraduate years when he volunteered at a local clinic in rural Georgia. Witnessing the healthcare disparities firsthand ignited his passion for medicine and a commitment to his community. With that in mind, Zaid’s vision for the future became crystal clear – to establish a primary care practice in a rural Georgia community while serving as a leader and advocate for healthcare equity.