Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has nominated a Jackson-area radiologist to serve on the 11-member state Board of Health.

Dr. Ed D. “Tad” Barham of Clinton awaits Senate confirmation. Bryant nominated him to serve through June 30, 2017.

“He is a highly qualified physician and also has outstanding leadership experience,” Bryant said in a news release Monday. “I am confident that he will utilize his skills to make great contributions to the health of Mississippians.”

Barham is medical director and chairman of the board of directors at Woman’s Hospital at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood, where he is also chief radiologist.

He has served as chief of radiology at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, chief radiologist at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood and chief of staff at Woman’s Hospital.

He also served as assistant clinical professor of radiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The state Board of Health sets state policies and hires the state health officer.

“There is no greater responsibility than to be entrusted with the public health of our citizens,” Barham said in the governor’s news release. “It will be a privilege to serve alongside of the outstanding members of the public health department, and I promise to be a quick learner and a diligent worker on the behalf of the people of Mississippi.”

Barham, a Belzoni native, earned his medical degree at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He did his radiology residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and remained on staff there until he left the Army honorably as a lieutenant colonel. He has practiced radiology in the Jackson area since 1975.

Bryant nominated Barham for the seat that Dr. Carl Reddix, a Jackson OB-GYN, had been filling since last July, when he was nominated by then-Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour submitted Reddix’s nomination to the Senate on Jan. 3, a week before ending his second term as governor. It’s not unusual for nominees to serve several months while awaiting Senate confirmation, particularly if they are nominated while the Legislature is not in session.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves scuttled Reddix’s nomination last week after The Associated Press questioned Reeves about whether Reddix would be confirmed.

Reeves’ spokeswoman said the lieutenant governor had concerns about Reddix’s connection to Mississippi’s only abortion clinic. Reddix said he doesn’t perform abortions at the clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, but helps if patients have complications.

Barbour, Bryant and Reeves are all Republicans.

The nomination is Senate Nomination 101.