According to the American Immigration Council, about 25 percent of the nearly one million physicians who practice medicine in the United States were trained in foreign medical schools. In Georgia, about 17 percent of doctors were born in another country, but they face high barriers to entry into the U.S.

That could be a cause for concern in states like Georgia, which has a severe shortage of physicians. The problem is especially pronounced in rural areas. Nearly a third of Georgia counties don't have a pediatrician. Six have no doctor at all. In places like Houston County, doctors from India have revitalized the landscape of medical care."On Second Thought" for Monday, December 11, 2018

Andy Miller, editor of Georgia Health News, and Max Blau, a freelance reporter, recently collaborated on a five-part series about immigrant doctors in Georgia. They told "On Second Thought" about doctors from other countries who have been slowed down by President Trump's immigration ban or stymied by underfunded residency programs, which are a required step toward becoming a doctor in the U.S. 

Miller and Blau also spoke about the potential of an assistant physician program, in which internationally trained physicians could care for patients under the supervision of doctors who have completed a residency in the U.S.

Chef Pat Pascarella trained under Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin in New York, but earned his Southern street cred as executive chef of The Optimist in Atlanta. In 2018, he went on to open The White Bull in Decatur. We caught up with Chef Pat at The White Bull, where he told us his "Main Ingredient." The White Bull churns its own butter and mills flour from Georgia red wheat. The menu changes to reflect what the restaurant can buy from farmers across the state, so Chef Pat threw a little twist. Instead of the country ham that is the centerpiece on many a Southern Christmas table, he chose Ossabaw pork, from a Spanish breed of pig that evolved in isolation on Ossabaw Island in south Georgia. You can find Chef Pat's recipe for Ossabaw porcetta here.

Atlanta-based author Joshilyn Jackson has written eight novels, including "The Opposite of Everyone" and "Almost Sisters." She stopped by "On Second Thought" to give her picks for our "Southern Reading List" series, in which authors and readers share books that both define and reflect the South. Jackson recommended Anna Schachner's "You and I and Someone Else," Octavia Bulter's "Kindred," and Tayari Jones' "Leaving Atlanta."

If you're looking to take a break away from holiday shopping, several holiday events in and around Atlanta are attracting friends and families from all over. "On Second Thought" invited theater critic and Arts ATL contributor Kelundra Smith to give her picks of holiday performances and shows. Floyd Hall also joined the conversation from Miami, where he's wrapping up work from the 2018 Art Basel show. Hall is also an Arts ATL contributor and co-host of Blklanta podcast. Hall and Smith also gave their picks for their favorite shows from 2018 and what they're looking forward to in the new year.

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