Dr. James C. Matthews, Jr., a general surgeon who has practiced with Rush Medical Group in Meridian for 40 years will now use his skills and expertise to serve as the Medical Director of Rush Foundation Hospital’s Wound Care, Hyperbaric and Limb Salvage Center according to an announcement made by the leadership of Rush Health Systems.

    “The hospital’s Wound Care, Hyperbaric and Limb Salvage Center first opened in 1997, and has aided thousands of our patients in experiencing healing and improved health. Our center has an outstanding staff and until recently, an extremely skilled and knowledgeable medical director in the person of Dr. James R. Gleaves. When Dr. Gleaves passed away earlier this month, we lost a wonderful physician who had a tremendous heart for the work of the center and for his patients. Dr. Gleaves was deeply committed to operating a top-notch program and was a very caring physician,” said Wallace Strickland, CEO of Rush Health Systems.  “We feel very fortunate that Dr. James Matthews, Jr., a man of deep personal faith, a talented surgeon and a long-time leader on the medical staff at Rush Foundation Hospital will take on the role of medical director. Dr. Matthews and his son, Family Medicine Physician James (Jimmy) Matthews, III, MD have both been very involved with the center’s operations since its inception. Dr. Matthews was a close personal friend of Dr. Gleaves, and has said he considers it an honor to continue to tradition of excellence in wound care and hyperbaric medicine established by Dr. Gleaves and the staff of the center. Dr. Jimmy Matthews will work alongside his father, continuing to take a very active role in the center operations as well,” Strickland said.

    Dr. Matthews, a native of Silas, Ala., received his medical degree from the Medical College of Alabama, now known as the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency training at Lloyd Noland Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.  Dr. Matthews is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the Southeastern Surgical Conference. Dr. Matthews and his wife Peggy are the parents of six children and 21 grandchildren. Dr. Matthews and his family are also musically talented and have performed at many local and regional events. He is affectionately known as Meridian’s “Singing Surgeon.”

    Rush Health Systems is headquartered in Meridian, Miss., with healthcare facilities in East Mississippi and West Alabama. The organization includes Rush Foundation Hospital, Specialty Hospital of Meridian, Medical Foundation, Inc., Rush Medical Group, Laird Hospital, Union, Mississippi, H.C. Watkins Hospital in Quitman, Mississippi, Scott Regional Hospital in Morton, Mississippi, John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital, DeKalb, Mississippi and Choctaw General Hospital in Butler, Ala.