Our Providers
James Small, MD, MEd, FACOG
Dr. Small is a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist from Madison, Georgia, where much of his family still lives. He was born in Athens and lived in Madison until moving to Lilburn in 1981. Upon graduating from Berkmar High School, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1991. He worked for a short time in the family radio business (WYTH in Madison) before starting his tenure as a high school science teacher in Gwinnett County. He taught at Central Gwinnett, Collins Hill, and Shiloh High Schools. During this time, he obtained his Masters in Secondary Science Education from the University of Georgia. He advanced to Department Chair and was selected as Georgia Science Teacher of the year in 2003.
He made the decision to change careers that year and was accepted to Tulane University School of Medicine with the USAF Health Professions Scholarship Program. At this time, he was commissioned into the USAF Reserves. Hurricane Katrina interrupted his training and he transferred back to Georgia where he graduated with his Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University in May 2007. He recommissioned as a Captain in the USAF to attend his OB/GYN internship at the University of Mississippi/81st Medical Group Keesler AFB joint program. After one year, he transferred his OB/GYN residency to the US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA where he graduated in June of 2011. His first assignment was as a staff OB/GYN at the 633d Medical Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis where he served as OB/GYN provider and lead physician on the Expeditionary Medical Support System-Health Response Team culminating in a 6-week Mission to Huancavelica, Peru. In March of 2013, he was selected to be Medical Director of the OB/Gyn service at the 374th Medical Group, Yokota AFB, Japan.
Dr. Small joined the Georgia Air National Guard in September 2014 where he became a flight surgeon for the 116th Medical Group, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He was tasked to serve with the medical element for the homeland defense mission for Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV. In this role, he has served as triage officer as well as emergency medicine provider, From June of 2017 until November of 2020 he served as Deputy Commander of the Medical Element. Lt Col Small served as Commander from that November until September 2021. During this time, the Detachment took part in multiple national level exercises, set a record 99% compliance during the Standardized Evaluation and Assistance Team inspection and achieved a sixth consecutive perfect score during the Deployment and Training Proficiency Exercise. He has achieved numerous awards for his military service including the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Georgia Commendation Medal with cluster and Outstanding Unit Award with 8 oak leaf clusters.
In his civilian capacity, Dr. Small practiced as an OB/GYN in private practice Albany, Georgia at The Veranda from the Fall of 2014 delivering babies at Phoebe Putney Hospital. In January 2016 he moved to Moultrie, Georgia where he assumed the role of OB Chief and Medical Director for the Sterling Center for Women’s Health and Colquitt Regional Medical Center. It was here he was able to establish a leading center for Women’s Health in South Georgia including bringing Vaginal Birth After Cesarean back to the community. In the Summer of 2020, he moved to Solomons, Maryland where he became OB/GYN Chief and Medical Director for the MedStar Medical Group Women’s Health, Leonardtown and MedStar St Mary’s Hospital overseeing a large practice of 11 providers including Certified Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners and associated staff. He is very excited to return to his home state and set up practice with the oldest Women’s Healthcare Practice in Statesboro.
Dr. Small has been married for over 30 years to his high school sweetheart. They have three children and are expecting their first grandchild.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology
1998 Masters of Science in Secondary Education, University of Georgia
2007 Doctor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
2008 OB/GYN Internship, University of Mississippi/Keesler AFB
2011 OB/GYN Residency, US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth
2018 Aerospace Medicine Primary, Wright Patterson AFB
Chelsea Mikell, MD, FACOG
Dr. Mikell is a Board-Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist originally from Dahlonega, Georgia. She has been a physician at Ogeechee OB/GYN since 2018.
She graduated from The University of Georgia in 2010 as a First Honor Graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in Anthropology. She attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. She graduated from medical school in 2014 at the top of her class and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honors Society.
In 2018, she completed residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Clinical interests include minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, evidence-based medicine, up-to-date clinical practice, and advocacy and support for breastfeeding.
Dr. Mikell is married to Scott Mikell from Statesboro, Georgia. Scott is also a physician, trained in Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. They have three young daughters together.
EDUCATION
2010 Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Georgia
2014 Doctor of Medicine, The Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta, GA
2018 Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Training, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.
Jamie Bohler, CNM, FNP-C
Jamie joined Ogeechee OB/GYN in September of 2022.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia Southern University in 2013. Immediately following graduation, she worked for 3 years in the Intensive Care Unit. She then transitioned to Labor and Delivery and has served there for the past 6 years.
This is where her passion for women’s healthcare grew and she was encouraged to seek a master’s degree. She returned to South University in the year 2020 to pursue a master’s degree. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2022 and is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Jamie is a native of Statesboro and resides here with her husband, Mitchell, and her two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to new places, and reading.
Tressa Cheney, FNP- C
Tressa joined Ogeechee OB/GYN in August of 2008.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Georgia Southern University in 1999 where she was also a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
After working as a Labor and Delivery nurse for three years, Tressa returned to Georgia Southern University to pursue a master’s degree in nursing. In 2005, she graduated from the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Georgia Southern, and was board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
After graduation, Tressa worked for Georgia Southern University in the Rural Nursing Outreach Program before joining Ogeechee OBGYN full time. She continues to work part-time as a Labor and Delivery nurse.
Born and raised in Metter, Tressa currently lives with her husband and two children in Pulaski.
Nikiya Lewis, DNP, FNP-C
Nikiya joined Ogeechee OB/GYN in November of 2011.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia Southern University in 2006.
After working as a mother-baby nurse for two years, she returned to Georgia Southern to pursue a master’s degree. After graduating with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2011 from Georgia Southern, Nikiya was certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
She joined the practice in 2011 as a full-time nurse practitioner in the Statesboro office.
While continuing to work full-time in our practice, Nikiya returned to school and went on to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2018 from Georgia Southern University.
Nikiya currently works full-time as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Georgia Southern University. She continues to practice part-time as a family nurse practitioner at Ogeechee OBGYN.
Nikiya is a native of Alamo, GA and currently resides in Statesboro with her son, Brayden. She enjoys traveling, trying new foods, exercising, and spending time with her friends and family. She is an active member of the Statesboro Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Denise Peebles, FNP-C
Denise joined Ogeechee OB/GYN in August of 2022.
She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Middle Georgia State College in 2000. She was employed at Emanuel Medical Center for 15 years in Labor and Delivery, Newborn Nursery and Postpartum.
She returned to school in 2017 and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In 2022, Denise graduated from the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Georgia Southwestern State University and was board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
After graduation, she joined Ogeechee OB/GYN at their clinic in Swainsboro. Denise now sees patients at 3 of our locations, Swainsboro, The Annex, and our Main Office.
Denise was born and raised in Swainsboro, Georgia. She currently lives there with her husband and three daughters. In her spare time, Denise enjoys thrift shopping, gardening, and spending quality family time with her family.
Jennifer Williamson, PA
Jennifer Williamson joined Ogeechee OB/GYN in July of 2025.
She was born and raised in Indianapolis and graduated from Franklin Central High School as the valedictorian of her class. From there she moved on to The University of Indianapolis. While attending college, Jennifer became a certified EMT and worked full time at Franklin Township Fire Department. Balancing this demanding role with her studies, she was able to graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1998.
Shortly after graduating college, Jennifer married her husband, Matthew. Together they moved to Statesboro during the summer of 1999. She then pursued her interest in medicine by graduating from the Physician Assistant program at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in 2002. Initially she worked in pediatrics for three years before transitioning to OBGYN. Henceforward, she has continued to work in the field of women’s health throughout the community.
Jennifer resides in Statesboro with her husband and their three children, Andrew, Nate, and Abigail. She values spending time with her family. She also looks forward to traveling, exploring new places and cultures, learning more about her faith, reading books of different genres, and seeking adventure through activities like snorkeling, hiking, ziplining, and riding roller coasters.