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By WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

State Rep. Dr. Terry Johnson and Sondra Hash were introduced Thursday morning as The Counseling Center’s newest employees. Johnson is the new medical director and provider at The Counseling Center’s Family Health Care Center. Hash has been appointed as the Family Health Care Center’s first program director.

“With this announcement, we are looking forward to an expansion and bigger presence within our community,” said Ed Hughes, executive director of The Counseling Center. “Both of these folks come to us with a wealth of experience and a great history of accomplishments within our community.”

“Having been a practitioner in our community for the last 20 years, this organization has stood out like a beacon, doing good things in our community, addressing pressing needs that we have in a population that has been greatly under-served.” Johnson said.

Johnson is the first osteopathic physician (DO) to serve in the Ohio General Assembly and believed to be the first physician to be elected to a state office since the 1930s.

Johnson also is assistant dean at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, his alma mater.

He retired as a colonel from the Ohio Army National Guard after serving as the state surgeon and commander of the National Guard Medical Detachment. A veteran of the Global War on Terror, he completed three tours of duty. Johnson was also Scioto County coroner and has led humanitarian medical missions to Panama and Ecuador.

Johnson represents the 89th House District, which includes all of Scioto and parts of Lawrence and Adams counties.

Hash spent the last 21 years working at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

“I am delighted to be joining The Counseling Center. They have a great reputation, they are making a difference for a lot of people in our community. I think people can expect really exciting things,” Hash said.

For more information about The Counseling Center, visit www.thecounselingcenter.org.