Dr. Loy D. Cowart III has officially retired as the medical director at the Hearts and Hands Clinic, a title he held for ten years.
The Hearts and Hands Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides free medical care and prescription medication to Bulloch County residents who are uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid and Medicare. The clinic has been open for 15 years, and Dr. Cowart has played an integral role in the the clinic during those years.
Over his ten years, he has dedicated 650 hours to patient care and strategic guidance.
Currently recorded, of the volunteers who have learned from him, 17 student volunteers have gone on to medical school, 19 to physician assistant school, 6 became nurse practitioners, 11 have gone to nursing school, one has become a medical researcher. Two others are a pharmacist and a social worker.
By former Hearts and Hands volunteer Morgan Alford, Dr. Cowart is known as a "knowledgeable, level-headed provider and leader." Alford worked in the clinic for nearly two years before attending physician assistant school.
"Dr. Cowart was a fixture in the clinic on many Tuesday nights and several times throughout the week checking in, reviewing labs, and answering questions we may have had from patients," Alford said. "His service throughout the years has had a lasting impact on not only the patients he cared for, but also for students like myself."
His leadership and guidance have helped the clinic navigate growth while still offering compassionate care.
"His skill, wisdom, and compassion have guided us for the past ten years as we've doubled our capacity for patient care and expanded the scope of services we offer," former Hearts & Hands Executive Director Kara Holland said. "He understands that our patients face challenges such as food insecurity, housing issues, and financial hardship that have an effect on their health in ways that are often overlooked. I'm grateful for his guidance and influence."
Dr. Cowart's last day as medical director at Hearts and Hands was March 31st, 2025. He will continue to volunteer seeing patients on Tuesday evenings, and he will also continue seeing patients at his office, Bulloch Family Practice.
"I hope he knows his time spent with us student volunteers has had a lasting impact as we went into our own practice of medicine," Alford said.
Cowart grew up in Emanuel County. A Magna Cum Laude University of Georgia graduate, he attended the Medical College of Georgia medical school, and completed his residency at Anderson Area Medical Center in South Carolina. He returned home to practice in Claxton more than 29 years ago.
He opened a solo family practice at that time that included OB, a nursing home, and hospital services, winning several awards in relation to the field of medicine over the years. During the pandemic, Cowart decided to return to the way he started in an independently owned family practice, where he continues to see patients now.
For more information on The Hearts & Hands Clinic, please visit their website at theheartsandhandsclinic.org.
