Memorial Health System 2025 Highlights
Behind every headline is a story. A patient finding comfort. A family feeling supported. A caregiver giving their all. Over the past year, moments like these defined our journey, alongside meaningful successes, real challenges, and opportunities to grow.
Even as the healthcare landscape continued to change, our team remained committed to our mission and the communities we serve. As we reflect on the previous year, we do so with pride in what we’ve accomplished and a renewed dedication to showing up for our patients and neighbors every day.
Below are highlights that reflect the lives touched and the impact made along the way.
January 2025
To make CT exams as fast, safe and accurate as possible for patients, Memorial Health System in Gulfport, Mississippi, installed the AquilionTM PRIME CT system from Canon Medical Systems. Aquilion PRIME provides faster exams at as low as reasonably achievable doses, while producing high-quality images required for accurate diagnoses
Anne Musgrove, Nurse Practitioner, was named Vice President of Ambulatory Services at Memorial Health System. With three decades of experience in ambulatory care, Musgrove brings exceptional expertise to her new role. Her professional journey spans diverse settings, including private practice, pharmaceuticals, and hospital-based ambulatory care.
Kristian Spear, Family Nurse Practitioner, was named Administrator of Memorial Hospital Biloxi. With more than 20 years of healthcare experience, including 18 years with Memorial Health System, Spear brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her new role. She most recently served as Clinical Director, where she was responsible for overseeing clinical operations at multiple ambulatory sites, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving operational efficiencies.
Memorial offered free health screenings and the opportunity to speak with various health specialists during the 2025 Community Resource Expo, welcoming more than 500 attendees!
Memorial announced the opening of a new diagnostic center, conveniently located at 4320 15th Street in Gulfport. This center includes women’s diagnostic services as well as comprehensive diagnostic imaging services.
During the Memorial Auxiliary Annual Awards, 55 volunteers were recognized with certificates and hour badges for their unwavering commitment to serving our patients, families, and staff. Together, these volunteers have contributed an astounding 75,341.57 hours. Among this year’s honorees, Sandra Morrison reached an extraordinary milestone of 7,500 hours of volunteer service.
February 2025
Located in the heart of downtown Biloxi, Memorial Hospital Biloxi is a 153-bed acute care facility offering 24/7 emergency care, staffed by Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians and supported by state-of-the-art technology and specialized programs. With private patient rooms, advanced diagnostic imaging, a fully equipped Cath lab, and an innovative robotic surgical platform, we are expanding access to high-quality, patient-centered care.
Memorial Physician Clinics announced the addition of Dr. Cyril V.K. Bethala, a distinguished specialist in Primary and Interventional Cardiology, to its esteemed team of medical professionals.
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Dr. Benjamin Watson in the practice of Colorectal Surgery at Memorial Medical Group Colorectal Surgery in Biloxi.
Dr. Laura Tasan, MD, a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist, joined the Dysautonomia Center of Mississippi at Southern Mississippi Heart Center in Pascagoula. Dr. Tasan brings specialized expertise in pediatric dysautonomia, a condition affecting the autonomic nervous system.
March 2025
The Neurointerventional Radiology team celebrated one year of 24/7 coverage. Around-the-clock stroke intervention capabilities being readily available is crucial for our community! It takes several teams and departments working together to make the program successful.
On March 11, 2020, Memorial Health System cared for its first COVID-19 patient, stepping into an unknown that would reshape us. Hear stories from the frontlines, witness what our team members experienced, and remember this unprecedented time together in our Faces Behind the Mask Series by clicking here.
Kent Nicaud, President & CEO, was selected to the 2025 class of Mississippi Top 50 in the business category! His leadership and dedication continue to inspire us all as we work together to provide exceptional care to our community.
A huge thank you to Ambassador Girl Scout Mackenzie Sterling for bringing Books For Babies of South Mississippi to life in the Memorial NICU! Through her Gold Award project, Mackenzie worked to provide families in our NICU with books to encourage reading during their hospital stay – helping with bonding, neurodevelopment, and stress relief for both babies and parents.
With support from the Memorial Hospital Foundation, Krewe of Neptune Poker Run, and community donations, a book vending machine is now stocked with over 350 books for NICU families! Plus, thanks to the Upsilon Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the machine will continue to be refilled for future families.
Members of our GME team and medical residents joined together to learn who matched with Memorial on Match Day 2025!
April 2025
Memorial Physician Clinics announced the addition of Eric M. Anderson, MD, to its Radiation Oncology team at Memorial Radiation Oncology Services. Dr. Anderson received his Medical Degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, before completing his residency in Radiation Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. In addition to his residency, Dr. Anderson earned a Brachytherapy Fellowship from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Stephen Simpson was appointed by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to serve on the Memorial Health System Board of Trustees. Mr. Simpson is a long-time resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and brings more than 30 years of legal and public service experience to the Board. He has practiced law since graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1988, representing plaintiffs and defendants in civil and criminal matters, including personal injury, insurance, and governmental cases. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney and later as a Circuit Court Judge in the Second Circuit Court District of Mississippi, presiding over hundreds of civil and felony cases.
May 2025
Memorial earned an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for Spring 2025! This national recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing safe, high-quality care and reducing preventable harm.
This achievement isn’t just a letter grade—it’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and focus our entire team brings to patient safety each and every day. From the front lines of care to behind-the-scenes support, every team member plays a critical role in helping Memorial stand out on a national stage.
Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grade evaluates nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide and is the only rating system focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections, and injuries. Grades are based on 30 performance measures that examine both the systems we have in place and the outcomes we deliver.
Memorial celebrated Hospital Week and held Nurses Oath Ceremonies at each campus during the month of May!
June 2025
Memorial Health System welcomed 16 new medical residents to its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program during its White Coat Ceremony held on June 25 in Gulfport. White Coat Ceremonies are a rite of passage to emphasize the importance of compassionate patient care at the very start of training.
This ceremony celebrates the fifth class of Family Medicine residents and the third class of Internal Medicine residents for the program, aimed to train and graduate well-balanced, compassionate physicians who are willing and dedicated to practice the highest level of medicine.
July 2025
Memorial Hospital Gulfport has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
Memorial Hospital Stone County has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award.
The award recognizes hospitals for their efforts toward acute stroke care excellence demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.
Memorial Hospital Gulfport was named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals edition as a High Performing hospital for Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion), Hip Fracture, and Prostate Cancer Surgery. This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Theresa Case, DO, to the practice of Pulmonology at Memorial Physician Clinics Pulmonology. Dr. Case earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Kentucky. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
August 2025
Memorial Sleep Center Gulfport proudly announced its accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the gold standard for quality and safety in sleep medicine. This designation recognizes the center’s commitment to excellence in diagnostic practices and ongoing patient care.
Memorial Hospital Gulfport earned an Overall Star Rating of 3 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a national measure of hospital quality based on key performance metrics. The Overall Star Rating evaluates hospitals across five critical areas: Mortality, Safety of Care, Readmission, Patient Experience, and Timely & Effective Care.
September 2025
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Tori Clark, MD, to its team of healthcare providers specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Clark earned her medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi, where she also completed her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Haylie Reed, MD, to the practice of Vascular Surgery at Memorial Physician Clinics Vascular Surgery Consultants. Dr. Reed earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama. She completed her residency in General Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she also went on to complete a Fellowship in Vascular Surgery.
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Vibha Mishra-Nicaud, DO, MPH, to the practice of Oncology and Hematology at Memorial Physician Clinics Hematology Oncology Partners. Dr. Mishra-Nicaud earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and went on to complete a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Memorial Physician Clinics is welcomed Douglas Williams, MD, to the practice of Internal Medicine at Memorial Physician Clinics Orange Grove Medical Specialties, located at 15286 Community Road, in Gulfport. Dr. Williams earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.
Memorial Health System welcomed Rachel E. Drouilhet, MD, to the practice of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Drouilhet earned her Doctor of Medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee, Florida. She completed her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida, where she served as Chief Resident.
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Noel Duplantier, MD, to the practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Memorial Hancock Women’s Center. Dr. Duplantier earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed her internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, also in New Orleans.
Memorial is transforming neurological care for critically ill patients with the adoption of the Ceribell System, an FDA-cleared electroencephalography (EEG) device powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The system has been available at Memorial Hospital Gulfport since March 2024, and it was introduced at Memorial Hospital Biloxi on August 4, 2025.
Designed for rapid seizure detection and continuous monitoring, this groundbreaking technology enables hospital teams to quickly make critical treatment decisions and potentially provide better outcomes for patients at risk of non-convulsive seizures.
Our team participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Gulfport!
In September, our Women’s & Children’s staff at Memorial Hospital Gulfport helped welcome 198 beautiful babies into the world!
October 2025
The official ribbon cutting for Memorial Hospital Biloxi and The Gift Shoppe II marks continued growth and dedication to bringing quality care and convenience to our patients, visitors, and staff.
Team Memorial took part in several events in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, including a Mammogram-A-Thon and Carter’s Champions Pink Dress Run where important resources were shared and a Parade of Pink!
November 2025
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Van Wurm, MD, to the practice of Pediatrics at Memorial Mississippi Pediatric Associates. Dr. Wurm earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He completed both his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, also at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Memorial Physician Clinics welcomed Marc Lozano, MD, to the practice of Endocrinology at Memorial Physician Clinics Endocrinology.
Dr. Lozano earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at HCA Florida Citrus Hospital in Inverness, Florida, followed by a fellowship in Endocrinology at HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, Florida.
Memorial Hospital Gulfport has expanded access to specialty care for mothers and babies through a new partnership with Obtelecare, offering Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) services via secure telehealth technology.
This collaboration allows patients and providers to connect virtually with board-certified MFM specialists for high-risk pregnancy management — bringing expert guidance and added peace of mind to patients across the Gulf Coast.
December 2025
Our Christmas Tree Lightings at each campus were heartwarming celebrations of the season!
During our Employee Service Awards, we celebrated your years of dedication, growth, and heart for our mission. Thank you for the countless lives you’ve touched, the teamwork you bring every day, and the pride you carry in serving our community!
