Natchez — Natchez Regional Medical Center recently announced the appointments of Gwen Ball, Nelson Baughman III, John Serafin III and James Walker by the Adams County Board of Supervisors to serve on the board of trustees at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

Supervisor and board president Darryl Grennell said these appointments were chosen because of proven leadership.

“These carefully chosen community and professional leaders have all demonstrated their commitment to the preservation, vitality and growth of our county hospital,” he said.

“They have joined Chairman of the Board Bill Ernst, Vice Chairman Rev. LeRoy White and Dr. Jennifer Russ, who have all been entrusted with the major public responsibility and authority to ensure that comprehensive medical services are being delivered in a quality manner consistent with the needs of our community,” Grennell said.

Ball is no stranger to community service. She has served as vice-chair of the Natchez Festival of Music, co-chair of the Pilgrimage Garden Club Antiques Forum, Mayor’s Youth Council Advisor, and Adams County 4-H Associate Leader.

Ball is currently a board member of the Mississippi Heritage Trust.

A graduate of Mississippi College with a bachelor of science degree in nursing, Ball has years of nursing experience in the hospital setting, as well as volunteering as a nurse with the Red Cross in both Kansas City, Mo. and Natchez.

She served as a community health clinic nurse-volunteer in Joplin, Mo. Ball also designed and implemented an after-school program for children at risk in the Joplin, school system.

“Our hospital is an important economic resource for our community, as well as a regional healthcare center,” Ball said. “Since becoming a board member, I have witnessed first hand the intense desire of all associated with the hospital to maintain and continue our excellence in providing quality and compassionate care.”

Baughman recently retired from Hill-Rom Company as a vice president of sales after a successful career that spanned 30 years.

Hill-Rom is a hospital bed company, as well as a major innovator in the field of medical technology.

Baughman, a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College, made Natchez his home after his retirement.

He has a continuing interest in better healthcare in our community.

“I want to see our hospital develop into a truly regional center with a strong fiscal vision,” Baughman siad. “I fully understand the responsibility of being assigned the care and oversight of Natchez Regional Medical Center, and I want to use the knowledge I gained through the years in working in the healthcare field to help our hospital reach its full potential.”

Serafin joins the board of trustees after a successful 30-year career as a self-employed certified public accountant.

A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Serafin is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants.

His desire to help the citizens of Adams County and assist other board members led to his decision to become a hospital trustee.

“I hope to see Natchez Regional continue to grow and provide superior services and continue to recruit outstanding physicians to help ensure that our citizens do not have to travel out of town for healthcare,” Serafin said.

Serafin’s prior community involvement includes being the treasurer for the Vidalia Lions Club, vice president and president elect of the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce, as well as a prior board member of the Vidalia Economic Development Authority.

Walker is a long time employee of the Mississippi State Department of Health, as well as past employee of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Walker is a graduate of Alcorn State University, and has continued studies at Mississippi State University and Louisiana State University.

He currently serves on the board of trustees for Pilgrim Baptist Church, and as a board member of the Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center and a member of Clover Hill No. 13 AF & AM Masonic Lodge.

“As a Natchezian, I have had several friends and family members work at Natchez Regional through the years; and I want to be a part of helping move the hospital to greater achievements,” Walker said.

“My vision for the future of the hospital is to remain financially sound and continue to be the leading medical facility and recruit physicians to our area.”