Kirby Kilpatrick, a retired physician and Kiwanian, introduced guest speaker, Dr. William M. Johnstone Jr., president of Pinehurst Surgical, at the Sept. 6 weekly luncheon of the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills.

Johnstone delivered an over-view of the new 131,135-square-foot state-of-the-art facility housing Pinehurst Surgical, describing how it was created and the many surgical treatments and services it offers. He praised the hard work and dedication of his staff and the dozens of citizens who made it all happen, highlighting the spirit of cooperation that ensued between Pinehurst Surgical, the Village of Pinehurst, and FirstHealth of the Carolinas, during all phases of planning and construction.

Johnstone noted that Pinehurst Surgical was founded 60 years ago by Drs. Clement Monroe, Michael Pishko, and William Hollister, and started as a clinic in the basement of the Moore County Hospital.

Pinehurst Surgical, located on the First Village campus adjacent to Moore County Hospital, has 280 employees in addition to its 37 surgeons and physicians. It comprises nine specialty centers (cardiac, thoracic, and vascular center; ear, nose, throat, head, and neck center; facial plastic center; general and bariatric center; neurological surgery and spine center; orthopaedic and joint replacement center; urologic center; vascular and vein care center; and women's care center.

Johnstone added that ophthalmology and plastic surgery centers will be coming soon. He was particularly proud of Pinehurst Surgical's new BioSkills laboratory, a world-class research facility, that allows its surgeons and visiting surgeons to learn and keep up with the latest technology. He noted that Pinehurst Surgical is the only privately-owned center in the nation that houses such a facility.