NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (March 29, 2004)-Morton Plant North Bay Hospital recently appointed new members to serve on its Board of Trustees. The following community leaders were appointed for three-year terms:

* Marsha Starkey, owner of the Palmetto Patch, a gift shop at Flatwood Adventures, and co-owner of the Starkey Ranch - both in Odessa. Mrs. Starkey is a graduate of the University of Alabama and is the past president of the Tampa Delta Gamma Alumnae, active in the West Pasco All-Children's Hospital Guild, an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs and a graduate of Pasco Leadership 2001.

* Richard C. Williams, Jr., an attorney at law in private practice in New Port Richey. Mr. Williams graduated from Columbia University Law School and is a member of the West Pasco County and American Bar Associations, The Florida Bar, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Estate Planning Attorneys Association. Mr. Williams is also a former city attorney for the City of New Port Richey.

* Carlos J. Bayron, M.D., F.A.C.C., a board-certified interventional cardiologist in private practice at Interventional Cardiac Consultants, P.L.C. with offices in Palm Harbor, New Port Richey and Hudson. He also serves as the medical director of the cardiac catherization lab at the hospital. Dr. Bayron attended medical school at the Central University of Cayey in Puerto Rico and completed his residency at Wayne State University in Michigan. He is active in the American Medical Association, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Physicians and the Florida Medical Association.

"We are very excited to have such dedicated community leaders on our Board of Trustees," said William Jennings, administrator and chief operating officer, Morton Plant North Bay. "The addition of these three wonderful individuals is a testament to the community-centric focus of our Board and our hospital."

Established in 1965, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, which is owned by Morton Plant Hospital Association Inc. in Clearwater, is a 122-bed facility dedicated to improving the health of all it serves through community-owned health services that set the standard for high quality, compassionate care. Morton Plant North Bay Hospital is located at 6600 Madison Street, New Port Richey, Fla., (727) 842-8468.

Contact: Jill Celeste/Beth Hardy

MPNB Public Relations

727/ 462-7416 Phone

727/ 469-2923 Pager