November 7, 2025

Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) honored Craig B. Cairns, M.D., M.P.H., and Bruce P. Miller, M.D., with A Lifetime of Care recognition. The award was created in 2018 to honor physicians for their extended service to the Licking County community. Physicians who have served on the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Active Medical Staff for 35 years or more, or have 50 years or more of service combined between the Active Medical Staff and Honorary Medical Staff, are featured on a display near the LMH Main Lobby.

Dr. Cairns was serving as Vice President Medical Affairs for LMHS when he retired on June 20. He joined Licking Memorial Health Professionals in 1999 after serving as the physician-owner of Newark Family Physicians for more than 20 years and has been affiliated with LMH Active Medical Staff since 1977. He is continuing his service to LMHS as part of the Honorary Medical Staff. Dr. Cairns received his Medical Degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, and completed his residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He received a Master of Public Health degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Prior to becoming Vice President Medical Affairs, he served as Chief of the Medical Staff and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff. As part of his role as Vice President Medical Affairs, Dr. Cairns provided leadership for Shepherd Hill and the Process Improvement Department. In 1989, Dr. Cairns was elected Physician of the Year by members of the Active Medical Staff. He received the Hometown Hero Award from the American Red Cross of Licking County in 2008. Recently, during the 2025 Employee Recognition Event, Dr. Cairns received the LMHS President’s Award, which is given to an individual or group of individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to LMHS and whose efforts contribute greatly to the organization’s mission of improving the health of the community.

Dr. Miller served on the LMH Active Medical Staff from 1982 until his retirement in October 2024 and continues his service as part of the Honorary Medical Staff. He also provided medical care to the community at his private practice in Utica, which he opened in 1982. Dr. Miller received his Medical Degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, in Guadalajara, Mexico. He completed internal medicine residencies at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland and at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Miller is dedicated to his community. He served as a volunteer physician for North Fork Local Schools in Utica and on the Board of Directors for the Licking County Chapter of the American Diabetes Association. He remains a member of the Sertoma Club and Utica Methodist Church.