Career Pulse

HMC Names Mlapah Chief of Medicine

HOLYOKE — Dr. Theodore Mlapah has been named chief of Medicine at Holyoke Medical Center.

A hospitalist at HMC, Mlapah obtained his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas in Irving. He performed his residency in internal medicine at Baystate Medical Center in Spring-field.

Mlapah is a member of the Mass. Medical Society, the American Medical Assoc., and the American College of Physicians. His past teaching experience includes work as a clinical assistant instructor at Tufts Medical School and as a teaching assistant in microbiology and immunology at the University of Dallas.

Mary Lane OB/GYN To Welcome Tappin

WARE — With new leadership recently announced, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital has outlined plans to increase its OB/GYN services to the community by adding a new physician specialist, while shifting obstetrical services to its sister hospital, Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Baystate Medical Practices – Mary Lane OB/GYN will welcome Dr. Dyanne Tappin to its team in the fall. With special interests in general women’s health, adolescent obstetrical and gynecological care, and laparoscopic gynecological surgery, Tappin will join Dr. Mohammed Ahmed, medical director, and Lisa Beaudry, certified nurse midwife, seeing patients at the Mary Lane OB/GYN offices in Ware and Belchertown.

Tappin is a graduate of the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Through its collaboration with Baystate Medical Center’s obstetrical and gynecological clinicians and physician specialists in Springfield, area women will be offered services at Baystate Mary Lane that include adolescent and adult gynecology, contraception, pregnancy planning, pre- and post-natal obstetrical and maternity care, childbirth classes, premenstrual syndrome treatment, menopause management, incontinence (bladder control) surgery, laparoscopic gynecological surgery, and minimally invasive surgery.

Due to the challenges of providing 24/7 coverage and the low number of births in Ware and surrounding communities, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital is planning to discontinue labor and delivery services as of Sept. 30. These services will be transitioned to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

“Patients will have ready access to the benefits of the region’s academic medical center, which offers a full array of services, including large, comfortable birthing rooms, 24-hour in-house OB coverage, 24 hour anesthesia, midwifery services, and the only neonatal intensive care unit in Western Mass.,” said Dr. Daniel Grow, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Baystate Health.

Commenting on the services offered in Ware and Belchertown, Ahmed noted that “we will continue to provide a wide variety of women’s services locally, including surgery. Partnering across our entities is vital to our future success, and redefining our services will allow us to focus our expertise here, in our community.”

Sekkal Joins Noble’s General Surgical Team

WESTFIELD — Noble Hospital has announced that Dr. Kacem Sekkal has joined its general surgical practice alongside Dr. Nathan Emerson.

Sekkal is a graduate of the University of Algiers Medical School and completed his residency at Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University. He has been practicing general surgery for more than 20 years and boasts extensive experience and expertise with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic procedures, and breast surgery.