Long before Susann Whittle became clinical manager of Women’s Services at Piedmont Newton Hospital, she was personally connected to it: She was born there. Growing up in Covington, Whittle could not have known that the hospital where her life began would become the place where she would welcome thousands of other lives into the world. Her story reflects deep community roots, professional growth and a commitment to providing Newton County families with compassionate care close to home.
Whittle’s first opportunity to serve at the hospital came while she was a student at Newton High School. As a candy striper, she volunteered alongside hospital staff and gained an early view of the demands and rewards of healthcare. Her interest was strengthened by health occupations teacher Nancy Knight, who helped her recognize that nursing could become both a calling and a career. After she was awarded a nursing school scholarship, Whittle attended what was then DeKalb College, now part of Georgia State University. After graduation, she spent two years at Morgan Medical Center in Madison before returning to her hometown hospital in 1995.
Whittle originally expected to work in medical-surgical nursing. However, after experiences as a certified nursing assistant and in the emergency room, she joined Piedmont Newton’s float pool. She was repeatedly assigned to Women’s Services and soon discovered that labor and delivery was where she belonged. More than three decades later, the work of caring for others still matters deeply to her. She has coached mothers through hours of labor, helped partners participate in the birthing process and assisted with babies who arrived before everyone had time to prepare. Whittle has also supported families through the difficulty and complications of loss, her career marked by longevity and passion.
“Helping women have the best experience possible, even during a difficult time, fills my cup,” she said.
"Helping women have the best experience possible, even during a difficult time, fills my cup." — Susann Whittle
For Whittle, excellent care is both clinical and personal. Every birth is different, and not every outcome follows a family’s plan. She takes pride in helping mothers feel safe, heard and empowered while meeting each family with compassion. With every new opportunity, Whittle expanded her impact from caring for patients at the bedside to guiding the nurses who care for them. Her experience as a charge nurse and clinical coordinator prepared her to step into broader leadership, including serving as interim director, before assuming her current role as clinical manager of Women’s Services in April 2021. Her advancement came through dependable service, continued learning and a willingness to accept greater responsibility. It was Beth Murdock, Piedmont Newton’s chief nursing officer, who encouraged Whittle to pursue her Bachelor of Science in nursing, which she earned from Western Governors University in 2021.Today, Whittle leads and mentors nurses who provide care across labor and delivery, postpartum and newborn support. She takes pride in the team she has helped build—a group of compassionate professionals who are eager to learn and committed to providing families with an excellent experience. Her loyalty to Piedmont Newton works in concert with her loyalty to the community, and after 31 years, she has cared for multiple generations of Newton County families.
Whittle regularly encounters former patients and their children around town, at the grocery store and even while camping. Those moments remind her that labor and delivery nursing creates relationships that extend far beyond a hospital stay. Whittle embraces the call to provide a critical service for the local community. “I want women to know they don’t have to drive to Atlanta for excellent care and that it’s right here in Newton County,” she said. That commitment increases in importance as the county grows. The addition of a Level III neonatal intensive care unit allows Piedmont Newton to keep more newborns near their families rather than transferring them to hospitals in Gwinnett County or Atlanta. Since the NICU opened in December, more than 30 babies who might otherwise have required transfer have received care locally.
The hospital also offers access to specialized services on campus, including neonatology, maternal-fetal medicine and a heart clinic. Together, these resources support mothers and babies with more complex medical needs while reducing travel and helping families remain close to their support systems.
Service is equally important in Whittle’s personal life. She grew up at Covington Mill United Methodist Church and remains involved in its food pantry, school-supply collections and other outreach efforts. As a mother of three, she has volunteered with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and coached archery. Whittle and her team also extend their work beyond hospital walls through community events, business visits and educational initiatives. A new breastfeeding education “sip and stroll” offers families information and connection in a relaxed environment. In addition, Women’s Services participates in events at Legion Field, including an annual Christmas tree display. As Whittle looks to the future of care, she brings the same clarity to the development of student nurses. She often counsels students that while nursing offers opportunities, financial motivation alone cannot sustain them through its emotional and physical demands.
“You have to love what you do,” she said. “It’s not just about the pay. It’s about the passion behind the care.”
