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You always hear the bad news: heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. But the good news is many of these deaths and risk factors are preventable. Symptoms like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess weight and obesity can be improved with lifestyle changes and healthful eating. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends these small changes in diet for a big impact on your health: Eat more fruits and vegetables. One good goal is to fill half your plate with colorful fruits a... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley welcomes two new providers to the Pine Belt. Abhishek Jaiswal, M.D., is joining the organization’s cardiology group and Kirk Moses, M.D., is joining the hospitalist team. Abhishek Jaiswal, M.D., specializes in cardiac electrophysiology. An electrophysiologist studies your heart's electrical system or activity and is used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia. Jaiswal obtained his medical degree from the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal.... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency program, which has seen great success since its inception, recently held graduation for 27 resident physicians. At the same time, the GME program welcomed a new class of 26 residents. The program now includes 24 emergency medicine, 31 internal medicine and 12 transitional year residents. “Training these physicians brings fresh talent into our state and into the communities we serve,” says Kurt Bruckmeier, M.D., who was recent... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Medical Group welcomes two new primary care providers. Stephen Massey, M.D., will be opening a new clinic location in the Wesley Towers. Mallory Stockstill, N.P., will be joining Merit Health’s Primary Care location in Petal. Massey previously practiced in the Pine Belt for more than fifteen years, providing both family medicine and medical weight loss services. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Alberta, where he also completed residencies in family medicin... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Osteoarthritis can make everyday activities difficult to perform, and if non-surgical treatments aren’t effective, surgery may be your best option to relieve pain and stiffness. Knee replacement surgery is more precise and effective than ever before with robotic-assisted knee replacement. As part of the hospital’s continued investment in modern technology, Merit Health Wesley has acquired a robotic surgical system to perform robotic-assisted joint replacement procedures. Robotic-assist... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS – Employees of Merit Health Wesley are now eligible for new and enhanced benefits designed as pathways to help them eliminate existing student debt faster, pursue additional professional education, and advance their careers. The goal in offering Merit Health Wesley Pathways benefits is to support and retain employees and attract a strong workforce, especially frontline nurses, technicians, therapists and other clinicians and caregivers, along with support personnel. “This program allows ... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Wesley is celebrating the recent launch of their cardiac electrophysiology (EP) program. This program is a key component of the hospital’s recent expansion of cardiovascular services. “Bringing enhanced cardiac care to our patients is an exciting moment,” says Chief Executive Officer Matthew Banks. “The addition of Ronald Jones, M.D. and EP services at Merit Health Wesley complements our top-notch interventional cardiology and cardiovascular surgery teams to provide advanc... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Wesley recently launched a new cardiovascular procedure, successfully implanting their first left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device. The procedure is a treatment option that will now be available to patients who are diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation as an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners. “Being able to offer these types of alternative treatments to our patients is important,” said Interventional Cardiologist Alan Covin, M.D. “As technol... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Medical Group welcomes John Nelson, Sr., M.D., to the primary care clinic in Petal. Nelson is a long-time resident and physician of the Pine Belt. He began his career in emergency medicine in 1978, and served as the president of South Mississippi Emergency Physicians from 1982 until 2020. He has served on numerous local and state medical committees, councils, and task forces, often acting as the president or vice president during his tenure. “Building relationships with your p... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS – The new updated dietary guidelines from the American Heart Association focus more on your overall eating habits rather than a list of foods to avoid. Taking in sufficient nutrients will support your heart health and general well-being over your lifetime. Research on dietary patterns has found 14% to 28% lower cardiovascular disease mortality among U.S. adults with high compared with low adherence to high-quality dietary patterns. Filling your diet with whole, unprocessed foods brings t... ... Read More