Harbin Clinic Welcomes Gastroenterologist to Rome
ROME, Ga., Sept. 15, 2025 – Harbin Clinic is pleased to welcome Dr. Jonathan Beard to Harbin Clinic Gastroenterology Rome. He began seeing patients on Aug. 31.
Originally from Fayetteville, Georgia, Beard initially set his sights on a career in music, attending the Juilliard School in New York City where his primary instrument was the trombone.
“Music was kind of like a second language in my house,” said Beard, whose father was a long-time high school band director and mother was a pianist and organist.
After graduating from Julliard, however, he felt a pull to medicine. “I always said I wanted to be a doctor as a kid,” he said. “Once I learned I could do it, I was like, I’ve got to do this too.”
He returned to Georgia and worked a variety of jobs, from waiting tables at Chick-fil-A to teaching elementary band and directing a church choir. All the while, he took night classes at Georgia State University to complete his pre-med requirements. He earned his medical degree from West Virginia University, where he also met his wife.
“It may look like a bit of a winding road,” he said. “But I don’t regret it. Having all those experiences — music, teaching, waiting tables, driving a forklift — it’s rare that I don’t feel like I can connect with someone in the office.”
Beard completed his internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship at Dartmouth College. He then pursued an additional year of advanced endoscopy training at Duke University.
“Gastroenterology has changed so much in the last 10 to 15 years,” he said. “It used to be mostly diagnostic, but now we’re doing so many therapeutic procedures, removing large polyps, placing stents, suturing. It’s a really exciting field.”
He chose gastroenterology because it offered the best of both worlds: meaningful patient relationships and hands-on procedures. When asked about his medical philosophy, Beard emphasized trust and education.
“Good medicine is a partnership,” he said. “When your patient knows you care, they’re more likely to take ownership of their health. I try to make sure everything is simple, so patients know what’s going on and what their options are.”
He also acknowledges the emotional weight of being a physician and how it motivates the work. “Unfortunately, you don’t always remember the good cases,” said Beard. “You remember the 26-year-old with a newborn who is diagnosed with cancer. It reminds you that life is really special, and you don’t want to take any day for granted.”
Beard said he was first drawn to Rome for its beauty, “We used to come here for cross country meets when I was in school,” he said. “It’s a beautiful area.” But he and his wife were also looking for a smaller community to raise a family, and when they visited Harbin Clinic Gastroenterology Rome, it felt like a perfect fit.
To learn more about Harbin Clinic Gastroenterology Rome or to schedule an appointment, visit https://harbinclinic.com/location/gastroenterology-endoscopy-gi-lab-rome/.
