Local Graduate Joins Pomerene Family Care Team in Millersburg

Pomerene Hospital welcomed Carrick Miller, a certified physician assistant and lifelong Holmes County resident, to its family care team on December 3, 2025. A 2019 graduate of West Holmes High School, Miller completed the physician assistant program at Ashland University in 2025 and is scheduled to begin seeing patients in Pomerene Family Care offices in February 2026. Residents may schedule appointments by calling Pomerene Family Care at 330.674.3333.

The staffing addition brings immediate practical benefits for patients who rely on local primary care for chronic disease management, preventive services, and acute illnesses. Having a clinician who grew up in the county can improve continuity of care and build trust that matters when encouraging screenings, vaccinations, and routine follow up. For rural communities, retaining health care professionals is a public health priority because access to primary care helps reduce avoidable hospital visits and supports long term health outcomes.

Miller's path from local schools to a regional training program illustrates a workforce pipeline that community hospitals and educational institutions have sought to strengthen. When students from the area return to practice close to home, the community keeps both clinical capacity and the cultural knowledge that helps clinicians meet patients where they are. For Holmes County, where transportation and travel time to distant clinics can be barriers, new local providers help reduce those barriers and improve health equity.

Pomerene Hospital's announcement also highlights broader policy questions about how rural hospitals recruit and retain staff, how training programs can prioritize local candidates, and how funding for primary care can be targeted to support clinics serving underserved populations. Local leaders and health systems will need to continue collaborating to make such transitions sustainable, including supporting mentorship, competitive compensation, and opportunities for ongoing education.

For residents who want to schedule with Miller once he begins seeing patients in February, call Pomerene Family Care at 330.674.3333. The addition represents a tangible step toward stronger, locally rooted primary care for Holmes County families.