Newsroom

Hattiesburg, MS (11/03/2026) - Brad Polk, R.N., MSN recently joined Merit Health Wesley as chief operating officer. Polk has more than 20 years of experience driving operational excellence, patient safety and staff engagement. He has worked at Merit Health hospitals for the majority of those years. Most recently, he served as chief nursing officer at Merit Health Rankin, having previously served as chief nursing officer at Merit Health Madison and assistant chief nursing officer at Merit Health Central.... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Medical Group welcomes Qasim Jehangir, M.D., to its cardiology clinic, located at 5003 Hardy Street on the Merit Health Wesley campus. He is part of our cardiovascular healthcare team that focuses on the evaluation, prevention, management and treatment of complex cardiovascular conditions, as well as management of chronic conditions. Common conditions treated include coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure, heart valve disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD)... ... Read More

Employees at Merit Health Woman’s Hospital have raised $1500 through a workplace sweatshirt fundraiser to support the Jackson Stitchery Guild (JSG), a local volunteer group dedicated to providing handmade comfort items for surgical recovery patients. Since July 2020, the Jackson Stitchery Guild has crafted and donated more than 800 specialized recovery pillows to mastectomy patients at Merit Health Woman’s Hospital. Each pillow is individually sewn, fully machine washable and dryable, and takes over 90 ... ... Read More

Vicksburg, Mississippi — Merit Health River Region has reached a new three-year agreement with the City of Vicksburg and Vicksburg Fire Department for emergency and non-emergency patient transportation services, strengthening collaboration between two organizations committed to serving the health and safety of the Vicksburg community. Under the agreement, the Vicksburg Fire Department will provide transportation services for Merit Health River Region patients, including emergency and non-emergency hospi... ... Read More

Vicksburg, MS – Merit Health River Region welcomes Christine Peddapanga, D.O., to Merit Health Medical Group Family Medicine, where she will provide primary care for patients of all ages. Dr. Peddapanga is a board-certified family medicine physician who is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and providing personalized, compassionate care. She offers preventive care, wellness exams, treatment for acute illnesses, management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hyperten... ... Read More

NATCHEZ, MS – July 15, 2026 – Merit Health Natchez recently announced that Naomi Hayes, registered nurse and nursing supervisor, has been selected to receive its 2025 Nursing Excellence Award. This peer-nominated award, given in recognition of the critical role nurses play in treating our patients, was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care position who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence. "We are fortunate to have exceptional nurses like... ... Read More

Merit Health is pleased to announce that cardiothoracic surgeon Stephen K. Ball, M.D., has joined the medical staff, bringing more than three decades of experience in advanced cardiac surgery and minimally invasive heart procedures to patients throughout the region. Dr. Ball specializes in coronary artery bypass surgery and the surgical treatment of valvular heart disease, with particular experience in minimally invasive approaches that can help reduce recovery time and improve outcomes for patients. “D... ... Read More

Merit Health River Oaks is seeing a strong response from the community following the opening of its OB emergency room (OB ER), the first and only obstetric emergency department in Rankin County. Since launching earlier this year, the OB ER has provided specialized care for hundreds of expectant mothers experiencing urgent pregnancy-related concerns. The OB ER is currently serving over 250 patients a month with continued growth, highlighting the growing demand for dedicated obstetric emergency service in... ... Read More

Recently, Merit Health River Oaks and Merit Health Woman’s Hospital welcomed back dozens of former neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients and their families for a special NICU reunion celebration honoring the journeys of some of the hospital’s tiniest patients. The event brought together NICU graduates, parents, nurses, physicians, therapists and staff members for a day filled with smiles, hugs, laughter and heartfelt reunions. Families had the opportunity to reconnect with the caregivers who supp... ... Read More

At more than 410,000 patient encounters last year, the Jackson area Merit Health hospitals delivered on their commitment to provide quality healthcare for the central Mississippi community. The health system’s 2025 Community Benefit Report shows care extended well beyond the hospital and clinics, contributing more than $495 million to the region through charity/uncompensated care provided, capital dollars reinvested in services and facilities, employee payroll, charitable projects, and payment of more t... ... Read More