Mercy Medical Associates and Lourdes announced the promotion of Cari Wildharber, APRN, NP-C, to nurse practitioner with Mercy Primary Care Reidland, the office of Dr. Terri Telle. Wildharber graduated from the University of Kentucky and Austin Peay State University. She has been with Mercy Medical Associates for six years, previously as a nurse in Mercy OB/GYN, the office of Dr. Lisa Lasher and Dr. Amanda Wagner.

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Baptist Health, formerly Baptist Healthcare System, named Stephen C. Hanson president and chief executive officer effective March 8. Hanson succeeds President and Chief Executive Officer Tommy J. Smith, who announced his retirement last year.

Hanson, 61, has served in various senior leadership positions for Texas Health Resources since 2005, most recently as executive vice president and operations leader for the region covering Dallas-Fort Worth.

The announcement was made Friday following a special Baptist Health Board meeting and after an extensive national search that began in July.

Hanson’s accomplishments include more than 30 years of experience in key executive roles and a solid background in clinical service development, physician integration, development of strategic alliances, and financial and quality improvement efforts garnering national recognition.

Hanson also served as president and CEO of Kentucky-based Appalachian Regional Healthcare from 1999 to 2005, so this represents a return to Kentucky for him and his family.

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Curtis Prewitt, Lourdes hospice palliative care chaplain and counselor, has been promoted to Army Reserve colonel. The appointment was made by the U.S. Senate. Prewitt is a 25-year veteran of the Army Reserve.

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Misty Waller, finance manager for Lourdes Hospice, was named the 2012 Sister Mary Eleanor Mission award winner during the Lourdes annual service awards banquet.

Waller was voted on by her peers for exhibiting the core values and mission of Lourdes in helping extend the healing ministry of Jesus. The Sister Mary Eleanor Mission Award, established in 1988, is named for Sister Mary Eleanor Rahig, a leader in the first group of St. Franciscan Sisters at Lourdes who set the standard for patient care and employee relationships that truly continue the healing mission of Christ. Misty is a 13-year associate of Lourdes.

Ron Hagan, PACS administrator in radiology, was recognized as the 2012 Associate of the Year. His peers recognized him for living Lourdes’ mission and core values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life and service. Hagan has worked at Lourdes for 20 years.

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Dr. Sarah Shelton, of Psychological Wellness Group in Paducah, was elected to a four-year term on the Board of Directors for the National Register of Health Service Psychologists in Washington, D.C., beginning this month. Shelton is one of eight psychologists in the nation elected to serve on the board.

The organization was founded by the American Psychological Association and the American Board of Professional Psychology to distinguish licensed clinical psychologists with specialized education and training in psychological factors associated with injury and illness.