Lourdes welcomed Dr. Griffin K. Bicking to its medical staff. Bicking graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is board certified in general surgery. Bicking is now accepting patients at West Kentucky Surgical Associates at 2603 Kentucky Ave., Suite 105. For appointments, call 270-415-4802.

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Virgie Darrow has joined Murray-Calloway County Hospital as the Director of Case Management and Social Services.

Darrow comes to Murray-Calloway from Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., where she served as Nurse Case Manager and Utilization Review Specialist. Prior to that she worked in similar roles at several other hospitals and health insurance companies.

She earned her LPN from the Department of Education in Missouri; Associated Degree of Nursing from Hillsboro Community College in Hillsboro, Fla.; Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay, Wis.; and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration, Research and Education from Norwich University in Vermont.

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Laurie Latham, director of Western Baptist Hospital Foundation, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement.

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Amy Baker, R.N., Western Baptist Hospital Intensive Care Unit, recently graduated with a Master’s degree in nursing from Liberty University.

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Mitch Clark, Western Baptist Hospital Infection Control, recently received his Certification in Infection Control.

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Morgan DeMeyer, R.N., Western Baptist Nursery, and Debbie Cornwell, R.N., Western Baptist NICU Clinical Coordinator, recently received their bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University.

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Lisa Feldsien, R.N., Western Baptist Radiation Therapy, was recently named historian of the Oncology Nursing Society’s Radiation Special Interest Group.

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Gina Leeper was recently promoted to Development Coordinator of the Western Baptist Hospital Foundation. She is responsible for coordinating development activities and events for the Foundation.

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Lourdes hospital announced the promotion of Tara Miller to Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for Lourdes and Lourdes Foundation. Miller currently serves as Executive Director of Lourdes Foundation. She has been with Lourdes for 10 years.

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Lourdes hospital announced the promotion of Lee Syphus to Vice President-Mercy Medical Associates-KY Region. Syphus currently serves as Executive Director of Mercy Medical Associates, Lourdes’ employed physician practice.

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Dr. Michael L. Bobo and Dr. James W. Pledger, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, announced their official partnership in serving the Murray and Union City, Tenn. areas. The two joined services in an associate relationship two years ago.

The newly formed partnership ensures a commitment to serve the region’s patients more efficiently with the highest level of care. The original practice was started by Dr. Michael T. Ridley in the summer of 1978. This expanded partnership builds on the success of these relationships, which has enabled many patients to receive oral and maxillofacial procedures closer to home.

Pledger received his dental degree from the University of Tennessee, College of Dentistry in 2001. He completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at UT Memphis in 2005.

Pledger is Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, a member of the Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons and a distinguished graduate of the USAF Air Education and Training Command.

Both doctors maintain faculty appointments at their respective training programs in Memphis, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn.

The practices provide a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures including: removal of diseased and impacted teeth, IV anesthesia, dental implants, facial trauma surgery, oral and facial pathology, corrective jaw surgery and cosmetic facial surgery.

Call the Murray office at 270-759-4063, or the Union City office at 731-885-7891.

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Jackson Purchase Medical Associates recognized Dr. Jonathan Wilkerson for his completion of board certification in internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine.