Mark R. Hannay, M.D.

On his journey to becoming a physician, Dr. Mark Hannay, a Rome, Georgia native, followed in the footsteps of his father and sister—both of whom served in the United States Navy and pursued careers in medicine. Inspired by their example, Dr. Hannay charted a similar yet unique path.

After completing his undergraduate degree, he attended Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon and Columbus. While in medical school, Dr. Hannay was awarded a Health Professionals Scholarship from the U.S. Navy, which covered his education expenses in exchange for a commitment to serve after graduation.

He fulfilled that commitment serving as a Navy physician trained in aviation medicine. In his primary role, he cared for a flight squadron, working closely with instructor pilots and trainees—and even logging flight time himself.

“It was an incredible experience and really reinforced the importance of being a detail-oriented physician,” Dr. Hannay says. “Medical issues are a big deal in aviation and can have major career impacts. Building trust with my patients was key—they knew I was looking out for them, their careers, and their health, while making sure everyone stayed safe. Those strong communication skills set the stage for my career as a civilian doctor.”

Following his Naval service, Dr. Hannay completed an internal medicine residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, fulfilling his dream of becoming an adult primary care physician.

“I absolutely love my specialty,” he says. “Although it can be challenging, I find it deeply rewarding to navigate medical issues with patients—figuring out what’s going on, identifying causes, and working together toward solutions. Over time, you build a shared history of overcoming challenges, which strengthens the trust between doctor and patient.”

Driven by the same curiosity that first drew him to medicine, Dr. Hannay considers himself a lifelong student. He is committed to staying current on the latest guidelines and research to better serve his patients.

“Studying is a constant for me,” he explains. “Medicine is always evolving. If you become complacent, you can fall behind quickly. Staying up to date is a challenge, but it’s also one of the things I enjoy most.”

Outside of medicine, Dr. Hannay enjoys landscaping and gardening, home improvement projects, watersports, running, and spending time with loved ones—including long walks with his dog.