Public invited to retirement reception for Dr. Ken Azan and Dr. Elmer Van Dyke

Bothwell Regional Health Center will host a joint retirement reception for long-time physicians Dr. Ken Azan and Dr. Elmer Van Dyke from 4-6 pm Dec. 12 in the Bothwell Café on the hospital’s ground floor. Patients and the public are invited to attend.

Azan and Van Dyke will retire from their respective practices on Dec. 31 after each having cared for people in the area for decades.

Dr. Ken Azan, internal medicine physician and cardiac care specialist, joined the Bothwell medical staff in 1975. He practiced privately until becoming employed at Bothwell in 2019. He is credited with pioneering cardiac care at the hospital, which includes starting the echocardiogram program and using thrombolytic therapy in heart attack and stroke patients.

Dr. Elmer Van Dyke, OB/GYN physician, has been a member of the Bothwell medical staff since 1964. In his 60 years in private practice with Women’s Health & Surgical Center, Van Dyke has delivered over 7,000 babies and performed more than 18,000 surgeries. He performed the first laparoscopic surgery at Bothwell in 1972. Van Dyke also served as Chief of Staff of Bothwell’s medical team and was instrumental in updating medical bylaws to be in compliance with Medicare rules and regulations.

Bothwell Hospital is located at 601 E. 14th Street in Sedalia.