University Medical Center CEO Saad Ehtisham has been appointed to represent the middle district of Tennessee on the Tennessee Hospital Association Board, according to a news release issued by UMC on Oct. 19, 2010.

The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) was founded in 1938 and serves as an advocate for hospitals, health systems, home health agencies and other healthcare organizations as well as the patients they serve.

"I am honored to be selected by my peers to serve in this capacity. My commitment to healthcare delivery begins here at University Medical Center and serves the residents of Wilson County. I am pleased to also be able to contribute to Middle Tennessee and excited about this opportunity."

University Medical Center is a 245-bed, two-campus acute health care facility with over 250 physicians on staff. The hospital has approximately 800 full and part-time employees and is the sole provider of health care service in Wilson County. The hospital provides 24-hour emergency services, inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services along with intensive care and telemetry services. UMC's diagnostic imaging services include basic radiography, digital fluoroscopy, MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, ultrasound and mammography. The hospital's rehabilitation services include an inpatient rehabilitation unit as well as outpatient, physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapies. Specialties include: orthopaedics, cardiology, neurology, general surgery, psychiatry, ENT, urology and obstetrics/gynecology. UMC is proud to be owned and operated by Health Management Associates, Inc. of Naples, Florida.

In 2009, construction was completed on the $26 million, four-story patient tower that offers 60 new private patient rooms. The 77,000-square-foot facility provides state-of-the-art health care for Wilson County. The multi-specialty Surgery Center at UMC is the hospital's latest construction project to meet the needs of Wilson County ... the place to be. The center will begin welcoming patients in early 2011.

For more information, please visit www.universitymedicalcenter.com.

University Medical Center is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Sam Crutcher, board-certified Family Physician, to the medical staff.

Dr. Crutcher earned his B.A. in Biology, graduating magna cum laude from Lipscomb University in Nashville, where he was president of the student government association and in the Alpha Chi Honor Society. He earned his M.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, and completed his residency program at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, S.C., where he received the Most Compassionate Resident Award, Resident Teacher of the Year Award and served as Resident Council President. Dr. Crutcher completed a fellowship in healthcare quality improvement while serving as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

Dr. Crutcher is board-certified and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. He received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for providing quality care to diabetic patients in the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program.

Dr. Crutcher is a native of Lebanon and an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Friendship Christian School in 1997. Dr. Crutcher is the son of Johnnie and Ramona Crutcher. His father is a pharmacist at Kroger in Mt. Juliet, and his mother is co-owner of Ramona & Company at Providence in Mt. Juliet.

Dr. Sam Crutcher is in practice at Family Medical Associates - with Drs. Roger McKinney, Bill Robertson, George Robertson and Bernard Sy - located on the University Medical Center campus at 1407 West Baddour Parkway in Lebanon. For more information and to schedule an appointment, please call 615-444-6203 or visit online at www.familymedicaldocs.com.

Dr. Crutcher and his wife Julie, a physician and native of Memphis, have one daughter, Anna. The family is looking forward to establishing their home in Lebanon and being active in the Wilson County community.