By: Tracy Sanders, Co-Owner | tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
WOODRUFF — A new era of healthcare is on the horizon for the City of Woodruff. On Tuesday morning, community members, elected officials, and healthcare leaders gathered to break ground on Medical Group of the Carolinas – Family Medicine – Woodruff, a state-of-the-art facility that will bring expanded medical services to one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.
The future 18,000-square-foot building will sit on a four-acre site along Highway 101 and will feature 10 provider offices, 29 patient exam rooms, digital X-ray services, expanded lab capabilities, and space for mobile imaging services such as mammograms, MRIs, and CT scans. Designed with long-term growth in mind, the building will serve as a hub for primary care and eventually offer specialty telehealth services as well.
“This practice has desperately needed a new home for quite some time,” said Sara Beth Hammond, Senior Vice President of Operations and Administration with Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. “Each time we made plans, Woodruff’s growth pushed us to think even bigger.”
She credited Woodruff City Manager Lee Bailey for his consistent support and vision. “Lee’s enthusiasm for this city is infectious. From the first meeting, he saw what we saw—and he’s never let that go,” Hammond said.
In a post-ceremony interview with The Woodruff Times, Bailey reflected on the long journey to get to this point. “This all started five years ago with a vision. To see that vision come to life today is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “It’s more than just a building—it’s opportunity. Opportunity for care, for jobs, and for the continued growth of our community. Healthcare is one of the top things families look for when deciding where to live. This project strengthens our city in a lasting way.”
Though the facility will not offer emergency services, it will operate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with room to expand hours as the need arises. Patients will no longer have to travel to Spartanburg for routine X-rays and lab work, and more providers will be added as demand grows.
Dr. James M. Gragg, who has been a fixture in the Woodruff medical community for years, will move his practice to the new facility alongside Dr. Kristen Starnes. He spoke with The Woodruff Times about what this investment means. “We’ll be able to do a lot more than we have been. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see specialists using the space in the future. I think this could become a lot like Pelham [Medical Center] in time,” Gragg said.
The project is slated for completion in summer 2026.
Mayor Kenneth Gist described the groundbreaking as a “promise of care, compassion, and continuity” for Woodruff. “This will be a place where our children get their first check-up, where our neighbors find comfort during illness, and where our seniors receive the care they deserve.”
Mayor Pro Tem Toni Sloan, a lifelong Woodruff resident, was visibly emotional. “This is more than bricks and mortar—it’s hope, healing, and opportunity,” she said. “We’re taking a bold step forward that assures high-quality, accessible healthcare is not a luxury, but a right.”
Councilman Allen Durham, born in the original Woodruff hospital, spoke about the personal meaning of the day. “To see that hospital close was heartbreaking. But this gives us hope—it makes us proud.”
Allen Smith, President and CEO of OneSpartanburg, Inc., emphasized the broader impact: “Spartanburg County is the second-fastest-growing county in South Carolina and 10th in the nation. People follow jobs, and they follow healthcare—and Woodruff is leading in both.”
As the ceremonial shovels of dirt turned, one thing was clear: this is more than a building project. It’s a critical piece of Woodruff’s future—and a reminder of what’s possible when a community grows with intention, compassion, and leadership.
Author: Tracy Sanders
