Dr. Ayodeji Lukula, a local doctor of obstetrics and gynecology, who has worked in the area for about 14 years, will be leaving soon.

Dr. Lukula's patients were referred to Dr. William Bock, also affiliated with Auburn Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Lukula's office said the doctor did not wish to comment.

“We have agreed to take on all of his patients as if they were our patients,” Dr. Bock said.

Although Dr. Bock said his patient load would increase somewhat, he has on staff a nurse midwife, MaryLou Chappell, and Melissa Hines-Bock, a family nurse practitioner.

“We anticipate being busy,” Bock said. “We're working on moving records of the active obstetric patients,” he said, “the most urgent ones coming due within a few months.”

Bock said he would be willing to extend his office hours if necessary to accommodate the new patients.

Beverly Miller, director of community relations for Auburn Memorial Hospital, said, “It's our understanding that he's (Lukula) in the process of making arrangements for his patients' care.”

The ob-gyn department will be receiving new doctors soon.

Dr. Loren Van Riper will be arriving in September, Roz McCormick, chief operating officer at AMH said.

“We are now in the process of recruiting,” she said.

Besides Dr. Bock, the department also has Dr. James W. Alexander, of Skaneateles and Dr. Mary M.Wilcsh, of Rochester with ob-gyn privileges, and Dr. Eileen Murphy, gynecologist, as well as Chappell.

Dr. Lukula graduated from the University of Lagos, College of Medicine in Lagos, Nigeria in 1982. He was trained at the Interfaith Medicine Center in obstetrics and gynecology. He was licensed to practice as a physician in New York in 1993 and began his affiliation with AMH in 1994. He has been practicing at the Cayuga Women's Health Service at 143 North St.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net