NATCHEZ — A part-time drummer looking to start a band and a former military doctor who spent the last 15 years in America’s frozen frontier hope their change of scenery has a positive impact on your health care.

Dr. Karl Hubbard and Dr. Daniel McCallum recently joined the staff at Natchez Regional Medical Center as staff orthopedists.

Together, they bring close to 50 years of experience in orthopedics.

Hubbard, originally of Buffalo, N.Y., graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky. After practicing for seven years in Kentucky, he moved on to Elizabeth City, N.C., where he practiced for the past 17 years.

And Hubbard says Natchez isn’t much different from Elizabeth City.

“I’m used to a smaller town,” Hubbard said. “We have family near Ellisville, so moving to Natchez made sense.”

Hubbard’s specialty is joint replacements. Having had hip and knee replacements himself, he said he knows how life changing they can be.

“I love doing total replacements,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard and his wife Noemie have an 8-year-old daughter, Kirstyn. She attends Trinity Episcopal Day School.

McCallum has lived in Homer, Alaska for the past 15 years. He attended Georgetown University School of Medicine. As a doctor in the U.S. Army, he served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

“We were ready for a change,” McCallum said. “The winters were getting old.”

He moved to the area with his wife Cherish and three children, Daniel, 22, Hunter, 20 and Meaghan, 18.

Unlike Hubbard, McCallum isn’t new to Natchez.

“McCallum worked here before on a temporary basis,” NRMC Director of Physician Relations and Recruitment Sarah Smith said. “He was able to try us out, and we were able to try him out.”

McCallum’s specialty is in sports medicine, and one of the reasons he came to Natchez was to help Natchez Regional Medical Center start up a sports medicine/athletic training program in the Miss-Lou.

Smith said the hospital wants to provide a comprehensive sports medicine program to reach out to all the local schools and athletes, but said the program is still in the early stages.

Smith said Hubbard and McCallum are a good fit for Natchez.

“Although they have different personalities, both are very friendly and good in their fields,” Smith said. “Both are quality physicians.”

Both McCallum and Hubbard said they have been well received and have made themselves at home in Natchez.

“You can’t beat the friendliness of the people here,” McCallum said. “Natchez is a cool, old-fashioned town.”

Hubbard said it was important people in the area know that he and McCallum are here to serve the people of Natchez.

“In medicine, it is word of mouth,” Hubbard said. “You have to do good work with both your patients and colleagues.”

Although the doctors each have their own specialties, they are not limited by them.

“I think we have the right balance,” Hubbard said. “I like doing replacements, but I can do the other stuff.”

Hubbard said in a community like Natchez where there is a growing number of retirees and an elderly population, it is important to meet their needs at home.

“It’s nice to provide care to the elderly and others near to where they live,” Hubbard said. “We are able to get to know our patients, and we are happy to try to keep people at home.”

Smith said area residents and Natchez Regional were lucky to have two experienced and qualified doctors.

“Any time you can provide a specialty like orthopedics and doctors who can do a wide range of surgeries and care, it’s good for the area,” Smith said. “Our ultimate at goal Natchez Regional Medical Center is to provide quality care and physicians to the community.”