Paducah obstetrician-gynecologist Bradley W. Housman, M.D., will become Western Baptist Hospital’s vice president and chief medical officer, effective Oct. 29.

He succeeds Patrick Withrow, M.D., who recently retired.

“We are pleased to have a local physician with Dr. Housman’s leadership experience join our team,” said Larry Barton, president and CEO. “He has shown tremendous ability in working with all of our medical staff in a variety of positions focused on quality and technology.”

Dr. Housman’s leadership and advisory roles at the hospital have included chairman of the ob-gyn department and physician champion of the computerized provider order entry team. He currently is chief of staff, a position that will be filled by radiation oncologist Peter Locken, M.D.

Dr. Housman has been on Western Baptist’s medical staff since 2000, when he joined a local practice with his father, Lloyd Housman, M.D., now retired, and Dennis Owens, M.D.

He said he has enjoyed private practice, especially seeing surgical advances with da Vinci robotic surgery and advancement in fertility options. “It’s especially rewarding to help someone achieve pregnancy who is struggling with infertility,” he said. “To be able to bring them this long-awaited miracle is remarkable.”

Dr. Housman also looks forward to his role in working with physicians in all specialties to improve quality care. “Medicine is changing quickly in many areas, such as the electronic health record, so I will work to be a liaison between technology services and physicians,” he said. “However, my reason for being here does not change. I am committed to helping the hospital provide the best quality medicine while treating each patient as if he or she is a member of our family.”

A Paducah native, he is a graduate of Baylor University and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He completed his internship at East Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville, N.C., and his residency at the University of Kentucky. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Housman and wife Kijsa, a local artist, have three children — Talia, Keaton and Tate. He has served on several mission trips to Honduras and worked with Starfish Orphan Ministry in Paducah.