Newsroom

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley is celebrating Heart Month with the unveiling of an enhanced cardiac catheterization lab with high-end technology. "This cath lab is built with modern technology that will allow us to offer our patients many types of procedures that we were not previously able to perform,” says interventional cardiologist Alan Covin, M.D., FACC. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the nation’s leading cause of death for men and women. A cardiac cath provid... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Medical Group welcomes William E. Walker, M.D., to their primary care clinic located at 4891 Highway 589 in Sumrall. “Dr. Walker’s broad experience makes him uniquely qualified to treat a wide range of conditions, both chronic and acute, " says Matthew Banks, CEO of Merit Health Wesley. "We are happy to further invest in the Sumrall community.” Walker is trained in both family and emergency medicine. He attended medical school at the University of Mississippi, after which he j... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley has named Infection Control Coordinator Patty Cabana, RN, 2020’s Employee of the Year. This award is the highest honor bestowed on a hospital employee each year. Cabana was chosen from among more than 1,000 employees for the honor. “Patty has been an invaluable resource to us as we have faced the multi-faceted challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Vice President of Quality and Clinical Transformation, Debbie Johnson. “She has answered every request to lend a helpin... ... Read More

Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy Boosts Mood Improves Sleep Keeps heart, body and mind healthy Reduces Pregnancy aches and pains Helps prevent gestational diabetes and preeclampsia Eases discomfort during pregnancy Makes it easier to get back in shape after childbirth Restricts maternal weight gain without compromising fetal growth Helps with pregnancy-related constipation Can contribute to a healthier baby (healthier birth weight, baby is able to weather labor and delivery better, and recovers fro... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley announced today the availability of a toll-free helpline designed to help Medicare beneficiaries select a health plan that fits their needs and budget. The free helpline connects callers with licensed agents who can assist in comparing traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Supplement and Prescription plans, and then facilitate enrollment in the plan selected. Through this program it will be easier for Medicare beneficiaries to find a plan that is best for them durin... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Medical Group announces the expansion of cardiology services with Alicia Pace, ACNPC-AG, practicing in her hometown of Tylertown. Pace is a graduate of Walden University, where she received her Master of Science in nursing after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi. Pace began her practice in Hattiesburg in 2019 at Merit Health Wesley. Her prior experience as a Registered Nurse included working in telemetry, cardiovascular inte... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley welcomes internal medicine physician Aravind Raghavan, MD to the medical staff as a hospitalist. “Hospital based medicine is an important part of our organization’s inpatient care,” says hospital CEO, Matthew Banks. “Hospitalists coordinate care throughout a patient’s stay, ensuring that each patient receives full-spectrum medical attention in conjunction with the care of their specialty providers.” Raghavan comes to Merit Health from Baystate Medical Center in Springfi... ... Read More

Program increases to 67 resident physicians HATTIESBURG –Merit Health Wesley’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency program, which has seen great success since its inception in July 2015, recently held a virtual graduation for 23 resident physicians. At the same time, the GME program welcomed a new class of 28 first-year residents. The program now includes 25 emergency medicine, 30 internal medicine and 13 transitional year residents. The program started with two areas of focus, Emergency Medicine... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley welcomes Karl Duncan, M.D., FSCAI, Kurt Duncan, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, and Alicia Pace, NP, to the cardiology department. “We are very excited to expand our cardiology department by three providers,” says Matthew Banks, Chief Executive Officer. “We know that by adding these three individuals to the cardiology team, we will be improving the quality of care to our patients.” Merit Health Wesley welcomes Dr. Karl Duncan who joins us from Jackson, TN, where he dedicated his tal... ... Read More

Merit Health Wesley has named Anita Nobles, CNA, as 2019 recipient of the Margaret LaFon Employee of the Year Award. This award is the highest honor bestowed on a hospital employee each year. Nobles was chosen from among more than 1,000 employees for the honor. “Individuals who work in health care desire to help others and to make a difference,” said Matthew Banks, Chief Executive Officer. “It’s a pleasure to recognize our employees for their dedication to our patients and to providing outstanding care.... ... Read More