ATLANTA—Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm, announced that its portfolio company EyeSouth Partners has completed a strategic partnership with Georgia Retina, one of the largest retina medical practices in the Southeast.

“Our primary aim at Georgia Retina has always been to deliver exceptional medical and surgical retinal care combined with an outstanding patient experience,” said Dr. Michael Jacobson, who along with Dr. Scott Lampert founded Georgia Retina in 1994. “To further build upon this mission in the rapidly changing health care environment, we have decided to enlist Shore Capital and EyeSouth as our partners to help us strengthen and expand our administrative and organizational structure.”

For over 20 years, Georgia Retina and its 13 board-certified ophthalmologists have offered expertise in the treatment of diseases of the retina, macula and vitreous to patients via 12 locations in the Atlanta metro area and throughout Georgia, including a strong commitment to providing care in underserved areas, the announcement said.

Georgia Retina, EyeSouth and Shore Capital share similar cultural values,” said Dr. Atul Sharma, managing partner of Georgia Retina. “We are all committed to clinical excellence, increasing access to high quality care and providing our employees with opportunities for personal and professional growth. “We have a common vision of building a leading ophthalmology practice in the Southeast.”

Georgia Retina will continue to operate under its brand in the community with no changes to its physician base or locations. Paul Lucas, CFO and administrator of Georgia Retina, will continue to lead Georgia Retina as the president of EyeSouth’s Posterior (retina) Division.

“In the early days of forming EyeSouth, it was clear to us that Georgia Retina had a reputation in Georgia and the Southeast for leading clinical quality that aligned well with EyeSouth’s culture and vision,” said Justin Ishbia, managing partner at Shore Capital. “We are very excited to partner with the Georgia Retina physicians, Paul and their team as we continue to build a premier network of medical and surgical eyecare services in Georgia and the Southeast.”

EyeSouth was formed by Shore Partners earlier this year and previously completed an affiliation with Georgia Eye Partners in February 2017. EyeSouth’s affiliate network consists of 26 doctors providing medical and surgical eyecare services at 17 locations in Georgia.

EyeSouth Partners is an eyecare services organization committed to partnering with leading physicians to build a premier network of eyecare services in Georgia and the Southeast. EyeSouth supports its affiliated practices and physician partners with capital, administrative resources, operating expertise and strategic guidance.