Drs. Akerman, DeWitt to Retire from PCH/FMC

Two physicians at Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center will retire at the end of December, taking with them a combined 60 years of experience having served Edgar County and surrounding communities.

Dr. M. Bert Akerman, general practice, and Dr. Asuncion U. DeWitt, pathologist and medical director of the PCH/FMC laboratory, will retire effective December 31.

Dr. Akerman practiced in Paris for 22 years, joining PCH/FMC in 1994, bringing with him his wife, Marj, and young children. While in Paris, he served as consulting director of the substance abuse program at the Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties. He served on numerous committees and was the overseeing physician for the Kansas Family Medical Center. In his spare time, Dr. Akerman enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Cindy Belt, physician relations and business development manager at PCH/FMC, helped recruit Dr. Akerman as a PCH/FMC physician in 1994.

“It is very difficult to face the fact that Dr. Akerman is retiring, and that he and Marj will be leaving Paris,” Belt said. “I am confident that Paris will have a special place in their hearts forever. I know they will remain special to the Paris community.”

Following his retirement, Dr. Akerman plans to return to Canada where he will spend time with family and work as a locums physician. Patients of Dr. Akerman will need to establish a new provider for their healthcare needs. To change providers, patients should contact the Family Medical Center for assistance: (217) 465-8411.

Dr. DeWitt will retire from PCH/FMC with 38 years of service. For more than 20 years, Dr. DeWitt split her time between PCH/FMC and Terre Haute, but made a commitment to PCH/FMC at the start of 2013. She has worked at PCH/FMC as pathologist/medical director since 1978.

Dr. Amna Qureshi, from Terre Haute, will become the new pathologist at PCH/FMC effective January 1, 2017.

“[Dr. DeWitt] will be missed,” said Dave Galbreath, laboratory manager at PCH/FMC for the past 30 years. “We have had a good relationship. She has been a great asset to physicians when they needed that further diagnosis.”

At PCH/FMC, Dr. DeWitt’s responsibilities mostly have involved clinical pathology services. As the laboratory’s medical director, she has ensured testing of patients’ samples is performed timely and accurately. She also oversees the laboratory’s accreditation status from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), which PCH/FMC has maintained since 1995. During her retirement, Dr. Dewitt plans to spend time with her family.