Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2015

COASTNOTES
ENHANCINGHEALTHCARE Stone County Hospital names CEO
Joan M. Strayham
Joan M. Strayham, a leader in the health care management field in Mississippi, has been named
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stone County Hospital in Wiggins, Mississippi.
Joan’s impressive resume includes senior management positions at four Mississippi hospitals within the HMA system including River Oaks Hospital, Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, Riley Hospital and Biloxi Regional Medical Center.
“It is an honor to join the Stone County Hospital team and continue the important work of providing and enhancing healthcare services to residents in Stone, Pearl River and northern Harrison County,” said Strayham.
Strayham’s healthcare career began in 1980 as a staff nurse at Biloxi Regional Medical Center. She progressed through a variety of leadership positions including Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Executive Officer, where she was actively involved in
all aspects of administration, service line development and physician recruitment activities.
She received her Master of Science
in Nursing from The University of Southern Mississippi and is very active in numerous community and civic organizations related to health care. She and her husband, William, have three children and five grandchildren.
story and photo courtesy of Stone County Hospital
Chefs of the Coast will take place Sunday, September 20, from 5 to
9 p.m. in a new venue. The 33rd annual event will be held at Island View’s new Beach Tower in Gulfport. Presented by the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association, Chefs of the Coast is the state’s premier food and wine event.
“We are eager to eat, drink and dance the night away at this year’s gala,” said Beverly Martin, director of the Coast Chapter. “It’s always the
most anticipated culinary event of
the year when restaurants from along the Coast spotlight their best culinary creations to impress guests amid wine tastings, a wide variety of beer, live entertainment and other surprises.”
Chefs of the Coast is the primary fundraiser for the Association
and benefits the educational and scholarship funds of the Gulf
Coast Chapter. Proceeds provide scholarships and aid to community college and high school culinary arts programs.
Chefs of the Coast
228.324.0032 www.chefsofthecoast.org
Mississippi’s premier food & wine event story by Lynn Lofton
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • September 2015
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net