Lynn J. Cheramie, III, has been named the new Business Office Director for Chestatee Regional Hospital. Lynn has relocated to Georgia from Bullhead City, AZ. He was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and spent almost six years in the United States Marine Corp where he traveled the world and landed in Albany, GA. After his discharge from the Marine Corp, Lynn relocated to Birmingham, AL. He says of the move to Dahlonega, "it was like coming home for me."

Lynn has been in the healthcare industry for approximately 20 years and has work in a number of states, in hospitals from 30 to 550 beds.

Orlando Dunson, MPA, recently assumed the duties of Assistant Director at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. He oversees Engineering Service, Environmental Management Service, Logistics, Prosthetics, Canteen Vending & Retail, and Information Technology. Previously, Dunson served as Associate Director for the Fayetteville (NC) VAMC.

Dunson obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University in August 1990 and began his VA career as a Graduate Health Administration Training Program resident at the Battle Creek VAMC in January 1991. Upon graduating with his Masters Degree in Public Administration in 1992, Dunson became a Health System Specialist (HSS) trainee at the Allen Park (Detroit) VAMC. Upon completing the HSS training program in 1993, Dunson served as the Medical Center’s TQI Coordinator for four years. In January of 1997, he changed career direction becoming the medical center’s DSS Site Manager during implementation.

In January of 1998, he joined the VA Maryland Health Care System during the integration of three separate health care facilities as the Staff Assistant to the Director. In April 2000, he became a Health System Specialist in the VA Capital Network (VISN 5). In VISN 5 he was responsible for: various aspects of the Network Director’s performance appraisal, DSS, HPDM, Employee/Patient Satisfaction and Network EEO activities. In November 2002, he joined VA Central Office as a Health System Specialist in (10N) the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management. He currently serves on various VISN 6 and VHA National Committees.

David N. Bennett, PhD, RN, has been appointed Assistant Dean for Special Projects at Kennesaw State University’s WellStar College of Health and Human Services. Dr. Bennett joined the KSU faculty in 1986 as an Associate Professor of Nursing. He has progressed at KSU in a variety of capacities in the WellStar School of Nursing. He initially headed the undergraduate program and in 2001 was appointed Chair of the School of Nursing. Dr. Bennett will be spearheading several initiatives in conjunction with Dr. Richard Sowell, Dean of the College.

Dr. Benjamin F. Johnson recently joined the Kennesaw State University's WellStar College of Health and Human Services as the new Associate Dean for Partnerships and Global Initiatives. He comes to KSU from the Department of Kinesiology and Health at Georgia State University. Dr. Johnson brings a wide range of experience to his new position including Interim Director of the Center for Sports Medicine, Science and Technology at GA. State, Co-chair, Committee for Biomechanics and Physiology of the Sport Olympic Medical Support Group, and Liaison to the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission sub-Commission on Biomechanics and Physiology of Sport.

Dr. Tommie Nelms has been hired as a graduate faculty member in the WellStar School of Nursing at KSU. She will become the director of the graduate programs in nursing in January, 2007. Dr. Nelms was the coordinator of the PhD program in nursing at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas prior to coming to KSU.