Dr. Lucas McElwain Receives National Certification

TUPELO, Mississippi—Lucas McElwain, M.D., palliative care physician at North Mississippi Medical Center, recently earned a certification as a hospice medical director.

Physicians who earn their Hospice Medical Director Certification have met rigorous standards for experience, knowledge and skills in hospice medicine, passed an examination and agreed to a code of professional conduct.

He is only the fourth physician in Mississippi with this designation, and the only one north of Jackson.

Dr. McElwain joined NMMC in 2016 and serves as medical director for NMMC inpatient and home hospice. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi in Oxford with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. He received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, and completed a clinical fellowship in hospice and palliative care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, hospice and palliative medicine.

Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. Dr. McElwain is the first inpatient palliative care physician at NMMC.