Pikeville Medical Center President Walter E. May, Sen. Ray S. Jones II (D-Pikeville), Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley (D-Richmond), Sen. Jerry P. Rhoads (D-Madisonville) and Stephen S. Huffman, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, pose for a picture during PMC’s first-ever reception gala for state lawmakers last Thursday

By Mark Grayson

FRANKFORT, Ky. – By all accounts, Pikeville Medical Center’s first ever reception for state lawmakers last Thursday was a huge success. PMC President Walter E. May and CEO Joann Anderson, along with several key administrators, were on hand at the exclusive Buffalo Trace Clubhouse in Frankfort to meet and greet dozens of legislators from all parts of Kentucky.

Event organizer Jerry Johnson, CEO of Pikeville Medical Development Corporation, said the purpose of the event was to show lawmakers and other officials just how much progress the hospital has made in recent years and to encourage continued support for PMC projects already in the planning stages.

“We wanted to make sure the people in Frankfort know exactly what Pikeville Medical Center has done and is doing to promote economic development in our region with its advanced quality medical facilities,” Johnson said. “And we wanted to honor the members of the General Assembly for all the good things they do for eastern Kentucky.”

Johnson added that the reception, which included catered food and live entertainment, allowed PMC executives to exchange ideas and mingle with top-level state lawmakers.

“We were extremely happy with the number and quality of those in attendance,” Johnson said.

In attendance were Pike and Floyd county lawmakers including state senators Ray S. Jones II, (D-Pikeville) and Johnny Ray Turner (D-Drift.) as well as state representatives Howard Cornett, Chuck Meade and Hubert Collins.

(From left) Juanita Deskins, Pikeville Medical Center vice president of Human Resources, Pam May, of Pam May Law Firm, Jane Robinson, PMC executive assistant, and Diane Holbrook, PMC executive assistant, attend PMC’s first-ever reception gala for state lawmakers last Thursday.

Other familiar faces in attendance included Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo, a Floyd County native and possible gubernatorial candidate next year, State Auditor Crit Luallen, also a rumored Democratic candidate for governor in 2007, and state representative Steve Nunn, (R-Glasgow) who may be eyeing another run for the state’s top office.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher was represented by General Counsel Jim Deckard, and Stephen Huffman represented Lt. Gov. Steve Pence. Also in attendance were: David Zeckman, senior vice president, Jewish Hospital Health Care Services; Michael Rust, president of the Kentucky Hospital Association,; Dana Mayton, special assistant to University of Louisville president Jim Ramsey; and Stephanie Stumbo, a Floyd County native. Stumbo is executive director for the Kentucky Community Development Office in the Governor’s Office for Local Development.

In addition to the food and fun, guests were presented with a digital slide show by PMC’s technology department that depicted innovative facilities including the state-of-the-art neonatal unit, the widely acclaimed Leonard Lawson Cancer Center and the first open heart surgery unit in eastern Kentucky.