Georgia Lung Associates: A Legacy of Leadership, Innovation, and Community
In 1984, Dr. Edward I. Swartz founded Georgia Lung Associates (GLA) with a simple but powerful mission: to provide exceptional pulmonary care grounded in compassion and community. Over the next three decades, that mission would shape one of the most respected pulmonary practices in the Southeast.
Dr. Swartz’s leadership was both clinical and cultural. He believed that medicine was not just about treating disease, but about caring for people. “He was a talented physician and a wonderful person,” recalled Dr. Stuart Simon, one of GLA’s early partners. “His patients were always his top concern.”
His passion extended beyond the exam room. A devoted Atlanta Braves fan, he filled the offices with memorabilia—signed jerseys, bats, and posters—creating a space that felt personal and welcoming. His commitment to the community was equally strong. Under his guidance, GLA began providing care to the uninsured through the Cobb Clinic and launched the Edward I. Swartz Magnet Scholarship in 2002, supporting South Cobb High School students pursuing careers in healthcare.
ABOVE: One of our first ever websites in 2001
The entrance to the office
Dr. Edward Swartz
Dr. Simon and the Research Program
The Annual Scholarship award
The 2000s: Growth, Recognition and Research
By the early 2000s, GLA had become the largest pulmonary practice in Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of services: pulmonary medicine, sleep disorders, allergy and asthma care, occupational lung disease, critical care, and long-term acute care. The group was also a pioneer in sleep medicine, opening Cobb County’s first sleep lab in 1990.
GLA’s research program, led in part by Dr. Simon through SouthEast Research Associates, positioned the group at the forefront of clinical innovation. GLA was selected as a testing site for the National Lung Screening Trial by the National Cancer Institute, a rare honor for a community-based practice.
As the practice expanded, it welcomed a new generation of physicians who would help shape its future. These additions reflected GLA’s commitment to growth without compromising its values. “We were always focused on doing the right thing for the patient,” said Dr. Steven Harris, a long-time physician with the group. “That’s what made GLA different.”
In July 2009, GLA lost its founder, Dr. Edward Swartz, to cancer. His passing marked the end of an era. “We all suffered a tremendous loss,” said Dr. Simon in his obituary. “Dr. Swartz was a talented physician, and a wonderful person. His patients were always his top concern.”
GLA’s work was widely recognized. Physicians were featured in the Marietta Daily Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifestyles Magazine. In 2010, Susan Bose Stempek, PA-C, received the GAPA Distinguished Service Award. The group continued to support the Edward I. Swartz Scholarship, honoring students like Hannah Krzeminski and Orayne Mullings, and participated in public health events like the American Lung Association Stair Climb.
A Turning Point in 2010
Before the 2013 merger, GLA provided inpatient pulmonary and critical care services at Wellstar Cobb Hospital (Austell, GA) and Wellstar Kennestone Hospital (Marietta, GA). Providers were on call, often driving between Cobb and Kennestone, placing central lines, managing ventilators, and caring for critically ill patients. This demanding schedule required extraordinary dedication and stamina. As the workload increased, GLA began hiring more Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to support inpatient and outpatient care.
In May 2013, GLA joined Piedmont Physicians Group, becoming Piedmont Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep. The group continued operating in Austell, Buckhead, and Marietta, and began providing care at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.
Key developments included:
A 12-bed sleep lab at Piedmont Atlanta.
Pulmonary rehab centers in Austell and Marietta.
Continued care for COPD, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and sarcoidosis.
Following the merger, only one of the original GLA physicians remained with Wellstar Pulmonary. The rest went to Piedmont. The merger expanded the group’s reach and resources, allowing it to continue offering specialized services in pulmonary rehabilitation, sleep medicine, allergy and asthma care, and subspecialty care for interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension.
From its founding through its evolution into a regional leader, our team has remained committed to clinical excellence, innovation, and community service. Its legacy lives on in the patients it has served, the providers it has trained, and the community it continues to support. As Dr. Zolty once said, “The future of pulmonary care is collaborative, data-driven, and deeply human. That’s what we built at GLA—and that’s what we carry forward.”
Dr. Harris in clinic