Neurologist Joseph Ashburn named director of stroke program
Paducah native Joseph C. Ashburn, M.D., has been named director of the nationally-certified stroke center at Western Baptist Hospital.
“I am excited to return to my hometown to serve the patients at Western Baptist,” said Dr. Ashburn, a neurologist. “Western Baptist has the only certified stroke program in Kentucky west of Owensboro, so I am proud to continue the hospital’s commitment of providing outstanding stroke care to our patients and community.”
Stroke is one of the nation’s leading killers and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Western Baptist last fall was certified by The Joint Commission as a primary stroke center and recently received the Bronze Quality Achievement Award for stroke treatment from the American Heart and American Stroke associations.
Dr. Ashburn succeeds Jacqueline Carter, M.D., the hospital’s first stroke director. She recently moved away from Paducah for family reasons.
“In just two years, Dr. Carter built a strong public awareness about stroke,” said Dr. Ashburn. “We will continue to focus on public education, so people of all ages know they should call 9-1-1 immediately if they see anyone experiencing signs of a stroke. Time saved is brain saved, so if they seek immediate treatment, the effects of stroke may be reduced or even reversed.”
Patrick Withrow, M.D., chief medical officer, said Western Baptist welcomes Dr. Ashburn. “He is well-trained and has a passion for acute stroke care,” he said. “He collaborated well with Dr. Carter, and we are happy to have him back in his hometown to carry our stroke program forward.”
Dr. Ashburn is a graduate of Murray State University and St. Georges University School of Medicine in Bay Shore, N.Y. He completed an internship in internal medicine and residency in neurology at Wake Forest University.
He joins a medical staff at Western Baptist of approximately 240 physicians, representing 40 medical specialties.
Dr. Ashburn is accepting new patients at the Neurology Specialists, Doctors Office Building 3, Suite 202, Western Baptist Hospital, 2605 Kentucky Ave., Paducah, KY 42003. The office phone is (270) 415-4800.