The Weekly Check-Up is joined by Dr. Andrew Thornton of Wellstar Health System on August 31, 2025.

Andrew Thornton, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician specializing in urgent care with Wellstar Health System in Georgia. He currently serves as the lead physician at three of Wellstar’s urgent care centers: Cherokee Health Park (Holly Springs), Avalon Health Park (Alpharetta), and Towne Lake (Woodstock).

Dr. Thornton brings a well-rounded, forward-thinking approach to patient care, with strong interests in pediatric care, sports medicine, infectious diseases, and medical technology. He plays a key leadership role within Wellstar, serving on the Urgent Care Cabinet to help drive improvements in safety, quality, and patient experience. He also contributes to the advisory council for Wellstar’s electronic medical records system and has been a champion for DAX, an AI-powered documentation tool that enhances clinical efficiency and accuracy.

Dr. Thornton earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his residency in family medicine at Wake Forest University. Prior to joining Wellstar, he practiced primary care with Novant Health in North Carolina.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Thornton has a unique background in gymnastics. A former Division I scholarship athlete at the University of Iowa, he has served as a gymnastics analyst and researcher for major media outlets, including NBC Sports, contributing to coverage of the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.

He lives in Kennesaw, GA with his wife, Claire, a practicing dentist, and their two children.