Newsroom

Merit Health welcomes B. Judson Colley III, M.D., MPH, cardiac electrophysiology (EP) specialist to our medical staff. An electrophysiologist specializes in the study of the heart’s electrical system or activity used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias may be harmless, while others are more serious and require lifestyle changes and intervention. Dr. Colley works with an experienced team of nurses and nurse practitioners to provide evaluation and treatment using advanced healt... ... Read More

Stress is an unfortunate fact of life for most people: that feeling of worry, dread or nervous anticipation that accompanies the challenges we deal with on the job or in the home, during our daily commute or errands, or in our dealings with family, friends or colleagues. When we encounter a stressful situation – no matter how nerve-racking it may be, our body physically reacts, releasing hormones that enable us to deal with the circumstances: the well-known ‘fight or flight’ reaction. These hormones – a... ... Read More

August 8, 2022–Merit Health Medical Group, in Vicksburg, is proud to welcome a new addition to our medical staff, Dr. Kimberly Zachow, Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN). Dr. Zachow joins us from El Paso, Texas, where she completed her OB/GYN residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She received her Doctor of Medicine at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. When asked why she chose OB/GYN, Dr. Zachow states “While in medical school, I realized that OB/GYN m... ... Read More

The new school year is here, which means the lazy, relaxed days of summer have been replaced with hectic school mornings, homework and after school activities. Most likely, your kids have been staying up late and sleeping in during the summer break, so getting them back to a healthy sleep routine may be a challenge. “Lack of sleep is not just an issue of motivating cranky children in the mornings,” said Jennifer Russum, MSN, NP-C. “Studies have shown that lack of quality sleep increases the likelihood o... ... Read More

Mayor “FoFo” Gilich Declares August 3rd "Ira Fay Day" (August 3, 2022) Today, Mayor “FoFo” Gilich honored local healthcare hero, Ira Fay Tremmel, by declaring August 3 “Ira Fay Day.” Ira Fay has been a nurse for 46 years, 30 of which have been spent working at Merit Health Biloxi, with August 3 being her work anniversary. During her time at Merit Health Biloxi, Ira Fay has served as an ER nurse, ER director, and is currently the employee health nurse, a position she holds to this day. She has won numero... ... 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

Emergency preparedness is a focus on the national, state and local levels, but how ready are you to deal with a personal medical emergency? The Emergency Department (ED) of Merit Health Biloxi has some pointers to help you recognize an emergency and to aid our staff in treating you. When do you need ED care? To avoid wasting precious time wondering if you need to seek treatment, consider these factors: Severity of symptoms : Is the pain unbearable? Is vomiting excessive? When pain or discomfort is sever... ... Read More

BILOXI, MS—(July 20, 2022) Vision was the first big symptom for Britney Le, a 27-year-old resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. While doing her makeup one day, she noticed the inability to see out of part of her eye. Over the next two months, her vision worsened until she had no peripheral vision at all. After visiting a specialist, a mass was identified on her pituitary gland. Britney was referred to Miguel Melgar, M.D., a board certified neurological surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surger... ... 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

Natchez, MS (July 18, 2022) – Merit Health Natchez welcomes Deena Keasler as the chief financial officer, effective immediately. “Deena has over 10 years of experience in healthcare finance,” said Chief Executive Officer Garett May. “Her experience, combined with her proven leadership and credentials, makes her a perfect fit for this position." Keasler comes to Merit Health Natchez from our sister hospital, Merit Health Wesley, in Hattiesburg, MS. She served as the assistant chief financial officer for ... ... Read More