Licking Clinic Ribbon Cutting ushers in new era

By Editor | July 17, 2024 |

Photo by Shari Harris
Hospital board members, administrators, Licking Clinic staff and Licking Chamber of Commerce members were among those celebrating the ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. Whitney Hall, PA, received the honor of wielding the scissors at the event.

By Shari Harris

Publisher

The new TCMH Licking Family Clinic opened its doors to community members at a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, July 11. The new clinic, located at 139 W. Highway 32, just east of Friend Lumber Company, is a modern, fully-equipped healthcare center designed to provide family healthcare services to Licking and surrounding communities.

The clinic is designed to accommodate three healthcare providers. Whitney Hall, P.A., who has been a provider in Licking for 10 years, will be joined in mid-August by Dr. Amanda Lemp. Stephanie Thurman, FNP, Jennifer Trout, receptionist; Kayla Drury, MA; Gina Pursifull, LPN; and Melanie Scavone, clinic manager, round out the team at the Licking Clinic.

TCMH Interim CEO Bill Bridges welcomed visitors to the event and introduced TCMH Chaplain Grant Heithold, who provided the invocation.

Bridges and guest speakers Dr. Mylhan Myers (grandson of B.J. Myers), Whitney Hall, P.A., Licking Mayor Keith Cantrell, Rep. Bennie Cook, and MHS President/CEO Jon Doolittle took their turns at the podium. Bridges thanked the City of Licking for participating in gaining the $1.87 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which the hospital matched with $250,000, to make the renovation of the previous car dealership possible.

Dr. Mylhan Myers brought back memories of his grandfather’s dedication to the community, from 1953 to the time of his death in 1990. He happily met with several community members after the ribbon cutting and heard numerous “BJ stories.”

In addition to offices for three providers, the clinic offers nine examination rooms, an x-ray facility, laboratory services and a phlebotomy station, a procedure room and three nursing stations.

Community member Bob Green was excited to see the clinic opening at the “front porch into the community.” He is optimistic that the new clinic will not only provide professional healthcare to the community, but will spur development in Licking as well.

Refreshments were served after the ribbon cutting ceremony, as attendees were allowed to tour the clinic. The pediatric treatment room, complete with a beautiful mural of animals painted by Leah Sullins, with the assistance of Finley Sullins, was a welcoming touch to the professionally renovated clinic.

The clinic planned to open to patients on Monday, July 15.