Darnell to retire from OLBH 

Officials with Bon Secours Kentucky Health System have announced that Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital (OLBH) Chief Medical Officer, John Darnell, MD, will retire effective February 15, 2020.

“While I am sad to know that a leader of Dr. Darnell’s caliber is leaving us, I’m pleased that his decision to retire will mean that he can spend more time with his wonderful family, including his wife, three children and eight grandchildren,” said Jason Asic, Interim President, Bon Secours Kentucky Health System. “Dr. Darnell will be transitioning his duties over the next six months and we will announce plans to fill his role in the new year.”

Darnell earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Louisville in 1980 and has been a beloved fixture in Ashland since 1983, serving first as a family practice physician for 27 years before taking on roles as a hospitalist, physician advisor and OLBH Chief Medical Officer.

His many responsibilities at OLBH and Bon Secours Kentucky Health System include leadership of the Medical Staff Office; hospital-based physicians; Diabetes & Wound Care Center; Clinical Dietetics; ConnectCare; sleep, respiratory and neurology services; rehabilitation services; outpatient cardiopulmonary services; OLBH Pediatric Rehabilitation; Firm Fitness; laboratory; retail pharmacy;  Information Systems and Services and Kentucky GoodHelp ACO/Population Health.

Additionally, he served on the Bellefonte Physician Services Board of Directors and was the Research Accountable Executive for OLBH.

“His loss will be felt not only here in Ashland but also across the Bon Secours Mercy Health system, where he was a member of the Clinical Executive Management Team, Safety and Reliability Council, Acute Prioritization Council and IT Investment Council,” said Erin Fries, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health Mid-American Group.

During the course of his long and successful career, Darnell earned a number of honors, including Citizen Doctor of the Year 2004 and Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians Distinguished Service Award 2015, Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians. He also served as the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians President from 1997-1998.

Personally, he served 18 years as the Assistant District Administrator and District Administrator of Little League baseball for 3,500 boys and girls ages 5–18. He served as an assistant coach at Russell for boys basketball and was the team physician for Russell High School for 20 years.

“We are grateful to Dr. Darnell for his many years of service, especially as he has divided his time between Ashland to serve as our Chief Medical Officer and Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where his wife Brenda works,” added Asic. “We wish Dr. Darnell every happiness in this next phase of life.”

For more information concerning OLBH and the Bon Secours Kentucky Health System visit BonSecours.com.

OLBH is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the top 20 health systems in the United States and part of the top performing quartile of Catholic health systems for lowest cost per case for patient care. For nearly 200 years, the historical founders of Bon Secours Mercy Health have been providing care to those in need. This quality care is provided by more than 57,000 employees serving communities throughout Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.

The health care ministry provided care for patients more than 10.3 million times in 2017 through its network of more than 1,000 care sites, including 43 hospitals, more than 50 home health agencies, hospice agencies, and skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health provides nearly $2 million per day in community benefit.

The Mission of Bon Secours Mercy Health is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of its communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit www.bsmhealth.org.