Hattiesburg Clinic Honors Employees with Annual Awards | 2025 Recipients
Hattiesburg Clinic recently celebrated a year of achievements and dedicated service with its Annual Awards Banquet, held on . The event recognized both long-term employees marking significant anniversaries and individuals who demonstrated exceptional commitment throughout .
During the banquet, Hattiesburg Clinic Chief Executive Officer Bryan N. Batson, MD, highlighted several key accomplishments from the past year. These included the addition of 22 new physicians across 16 medical specialties, expanding access to care for the community. The clinic also opened Immediate Care – Bellevue, offering convenient options for urgent medical needs and expanded clinical services at the Lowery A. Woodall Outpatient Surgery Center, enhancing surgical capabilities. Notably, Hattiesburg Clinic achieved its sixth consecutive year earning Epic Gold Stars 10, a prestigious distinction shared by only three organizations worldwide, demonstrating a commitment to utilizing electronic health records to improve patient care.
The annual awards recognized outstanding contributions from staff members in various roles. Paige Fillingim was named Employee of the Year, in memory of Annie Ruth Johnston. Loretta Davis, LPN, received the Nurse of the Year award, dedicated in memory of Faris Allen. Brandie Carney, RN, was recognized as Manager of the Year, while Jana Carter was honored as Receptionist of the Year. Nicole Polk, RN, received the Administrative Support Employee of the Year award, and Cheryl Pertuit, CMA, was named Medical Support Employee of the Year. Lisa Dykes, RN, was recognized as Dialysis Employee of the Year.
In addition to recognizing current employees, the banquet also honored those who had recently retired after years of dedicated service. Anita Ainsworth, with Lowery A. Woodall Outpatient Surgery Center, Diane Baughman, with Patient Representatives, and Susan Blakeney, NP, with Nephrology, were among those celebrated for their contributions. Also recognized were Vickie Bonner and Janice Cloy, both with Insurance; Beth Coats, with Immediate Care – Petal; Cecilia “Diane” Cooley, with Laurel Dermatology and Bookkeeping; Anita Dillon, with Bookkeeping; India Dunaway, with Pathology; Billy Ray Ellis, with Patient Representatives; Sherry English, with Owl Drug Store; Dedra Higgins, with Patient Account Representatives; Dr. Rodney Lovitt, with Petal Family Practice Clinic; Teresa Maloney, with Switchboard; Theresia Mardis, with Forrest General Hospital Dialysis; Tandy Martin, UNP, with Urology; Cynthia McKenzie, with Columbia Family Clinic; Donna Parker, with Imaging; Dr. Andrew Rogness, with Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine; Debbie Shattles, with Refunds; Dr. David Sicard, with Anesthesiology; Lisa Smith, with Release of Information; Connie Sumrall, with Precertification; Lisa Thompson, with Insurance; Carolyn Upchurch, with Refunds; Shirley Ward, with Bellevue Family Medicine; and Joyce Williams, with Bookkeeping.
Hattiesburg Clinic, Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic, was founded in . Today, it encompasses over 450 physicians and providers, along with a staff of 2,500, serving patients across more than 17 counties in Mississippi. The clinic’s commitment extends beyond providing medical care; it actively strives to be the healthcare provider of choice within the communities it serves.
The clinic recently announced the recipients of its second annual 2025 Physician Awards on . These awards acknowledge physicians for their dedication and contributions within their respective specialties. Shomari D. Thompson, MD, with Hattiesburg Clinic Pine Street Primary Care, was named Hattiesburg Clinic Rising Star for . Steven W. Stogner, MD, FCCP, with Hattiesburg Clinic Critical Care Medicine, received the Department of Medicine Physician of the Year award. Katie O’Neal Royals, MD, with Hattiesburg Clinic Orleans Park Family Medicine, was honored as the Department of Primary Care Physician of the Year, and Jeremy B. Wells, MD, with Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, was recognized as the Department of Surgery Physician of the Year.
“We see a privilege to recognize these physicians for the impact they have on their patients and colleagues,” said Bryan N. Batson, MD. “Their dedication, expertise and thoughtful approach to care are vital to the continued growth and success of Hattiesburg Clinic.” The clinic emphasized that the awards reflect its ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare and acknowledged the contributions of all its physicians in supporting the health and well-being of the communities it serves.