Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital considers medical staff applicants

ALBANY — Eight physicians and four affiliate staff applicants, or mid-level providers, are looking to come onboard at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, a recent report shows.

The prospective staff members were listed on a report that came before the hospital’s Professional Affairs Committee on Monday. Prior to Monday, the report had been before the Credentials and Bylaws Committee on March 28 and the Medical Executive Committee on April 5.

The eight physicians include four radiologists, Drs. Lawrence Briggs, Lawrence Crimmins, William McCuskey and Timothy Norton. Two are coming in on a consulting basis, pediatrician Dr. James Logan and Dr. Phillip Roberts, the latter of whom is a long-time Albany oncologist who retired in 2014.

Dr. Diane Whiteman will be at Phoebe Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Dr. Samer Zeayter is working with Phoebe Inpatient Medicine Specialists. Both are coming in on a locum tenens, or temporary, basis to fill in for someone else, the report said.

The affiliate staff applicants, who require a physician sponsorship, are Victoria Bohan, who is working with Logan; Missy East, who is being sponsored by emergency physician Dr. James Black; Adrian Godwin, who is working with anesthesiologist Dr. Richard Bowe, and Magan Grigg, who is with internist Dr. Chika Ezigbo.

Four affiliate staff members and one physician were listed under resignations in the report. Katherine Griffis in Hematology and Oncology, Kimberly Phelps in Critical Care, Cynthia Summerlin in Palliative Care and Amanda Thomas in Obstetrics and Gynecology were the affiliate staff resignations. Critical care specialist Dr. Mureeruddin Mohammed was the physician who resigned, the report said.

Another change impacting the affiliate staff is a sponsorship addition for Joyce McCook, a nurse practitioner who has been sponsored by Dr. Walisa Maynard in Palliative Care. She is also adding Drs. Robert Stahl and Edward Oleen as sponsors, the report said.

Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Wall requested a one-year leave of absence effective Feb. 1, while Dr. Gregory Pittman from Hillcrest Health System in Oklahoma has asked to proctor Dr. Craig Murray on robotics cases after a proctor approved last month was not available for a rescheduled date earlier this month.

The Professional Affairs Committee serves as liaison between the medical staff and the hospital’s full board and handles matters relating to applications for medical staff membership. The committee is also meant to watch over and report to the board on matters of quality and safety within the hospital.