Korotkin Receives Prestigious Medical Award

At the 2022 Obstetrics-Gynecology conference at The Cloister at Sea Island, retired OBGyn, Dr. Jeffrey Korotkin, received the Distinguished Service Award presented by the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. This year’s conference recognized both 2020 and 2021 award recipients, due to COVID.

While thousands of high-risk patients have benefited from Korotkin’s care with his 40-plus years as a maternal fetal medicine specialist, this significant lifetime achievement award is the highest level of recognition given by the society for extraordinary efforts to improve women’s health in Georgia.

Korotkin deservedly joins previous honorees of this award, ranging from legislators to community advocates to distinguished professors. The accolades for Korotkin were outstanding as, “rarely does the society have an awardee who possesses all of these characteristics.”

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Korotkin, a graduate from Tulane University, received his medical degree at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and went on to complete his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University where he was the chief administrating resident and the winner of the resident research day competition.

Later, Korotkin became the medical director of obstetric ultrasonography which served to launch his career in maternal fetal medicine.

A sought-after lecturer worldwide about maternal fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Korotkin has lent his expertise to many organizations, committees and hospitals, including his roles as: head of gynecology and obstetrics ultrasound for Crawford W. Long Memorial Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital; chief of gynecology-obstetric service at Crawford W. Long Memorial Hospital. Chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Northside Hospital; and associate professor at Emory University.

He was also the president of the Georgia OBGyn Society from 1998-99 and a long-serving board and advisory council member. Devoted to his profession, he is a member of the GOGS Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the standard level of care in gynecologic practices; and served as president of the Atlanta OBGyn Society, helping to form and establish the Atlanta Women’s Health Group.

Following his successful career, Korotkin is enjoying retirement and family, and continues his involvement to make a difference. Medically, Korotkin is still active at the Geogia Department of Public Health including the leadership role in the regional perinatal center which are rated as centers of excellence throughout the state supporting difficult maternal situations.

Korotkin said, “It’s so rewarding as they are the leader in proving healthcare in the state of Georgia, especially women at risk who are socially and economically deprived. We must still try to improve the healthcare delivery system.”

Korotkin’s legacy alongside the well-being and healthcare of women in Georgia, his adopted state, focuses on his beloved family-wife Cathy, who is his rock, along with their adult children, Julie, Eric and Esther and Samantha.

He shared, “My wonderful wife, Cathy, ran our family, and it allowed me to do my work. My other legacy is my patients who continue to express their gratitude for the compassionate care they received during difficult situations which means a great deal to me, even after all these years.”

Korotkin’s patients span over decades, since in 1990, Korotkin co-founded with Dr. Larry Stone, Georgia Perinatal Consultants. He shared, “When I started studying maternal fetal medicine, I was one of the only doctors in town specializing in this area. Because of ultrasound prenatal pre diagnosis, we blossomed. I have always treated high-risk obstetric patients throughout my training, and I developed an instinct about how to get patients out of difficult situations.”

My wonderful wife, Cathy, ran our family, and it allowed me to do my work. My other legacy is my patients who continue to express their gratitude for the compassionate care they received during difficult situations which means a great deal to me, even after all these years.

And now in his retirement, Korotkin currently serves on the Regional Perinatal Center committee and the Maternal Mortality Review Committee in Geogia. Findings from these reports are used by the Georgia legislature to set policy such as the recent state Senate bill, SB 338, which provides an extension of Medicaid services for mothers for a full year postpartum. He can also be found at the state Capitol lending his expertise to legislators.

While Korotkin admits he misses his patients, he’s certainly busy giving back and enjoying retirement. He added, “My golf game is reasonable, not great, but the vistas in the mountains in Cashiers, North Carolina provide pure relaxation.”