New medical staff leaders were recently elected by Medical Center of South Arkansas physicians.
Cindy Grimmett, executive assistant to interim MCSA CEO Dwayne Blaylock, said the elections are held regularly every two years.
"The term for this slate of officers will begin in July 2022 unless the medical executive committee appoints them earlier," Grimmett said in an email.
Dr. Ken Gati was voted to act as Chief of Staff, a role currently held by Dr. Ezinne Nwude. Nwude will continue to serve as Vice Chair of the medical staff's executive committee once Gati takes office, though as of Wednesday, Nwude was no longer employed by MCSA as a hospitalist, per a lawyer representing several MCSA physicians.
Other officers include Dr. Joe Deluca, Secretary; Dr. Johnnie Hinton, Chief of Medicine; Dr. Donya Watson, Chief of Surgery; and Dr. Michael Schonefeld, member at-large.
Grimmett said the search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer is still underway. Blaylock has served as interim CEO since Aug. 30. He replaced former CEO Scott Street, who resigned from MCSA following two votes of no confidence by the hospital's general medical staff.