• To mark May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Hilton Head Dermatology will host a Melanoma Awareness event from 1 to 4 p.m. May 18 at its Okatie office, Suite 202 in the Legacy Center, 4 Okatie Center Blvd. South.

Skin cancer screenings will be available, as well as complimentary consultations, skin analysis and samples of sunscreen.

For more information, call 843-689-9200.

Lora Duncan, MSN, RN, MBA has been named Chief Nursing Officer for Optim Health System, a collaboration of Optim Imaging, Optim Therapy, Optim Surgery Center, Optim Medical Center-Screven, and the physician-owned Optim Medical Center-Tattnall.

She was selected for the position following a nationwide search and will have oversight of all nursing practice and development.

Most recently, Duncan was director of Nursing Practice and Professional Development at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, W.Va., a healthcare system that consists of four acute care hospitals with a total of 908 beds. Her scope of responsibility included more than 10,000 nursing professionals and coordination with 25 managers. She also served as the medical center’s nursing informatics specialist.

Duncan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from West Virginia University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University.

Duncan and her husband, Craig, recently moved to Savannah. The couple has two daughters: one is a teacher in Marietta and the other is a nurse who will relocate to Savannah soon.

  • Brain Boosters 101 classes will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays from May 23 to June 13 at Memory Matters, 117 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island.

Topics include how the brain works, techniques to sharpen focus and enhance memory, and tips for a health brain lifestyle.

The classes are open to the public. Cost is $80 for the four sessions.

Seating is limited. To reserve a space, call 843-842-6688.

Dr. J. Michael Williams has joined Howard Family Dental at its Bluffton location, where he will serve patients alongside Dr. Adam Squicquero.

Dr. Williams was born in Atlanta, grew up in Louisville, Ky., and now resides in Bluffton. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Louisville and has been a general dentistry provider for more than 30 years.

As a general dentist, he is a master of many skills, but particularly enjoys doing anterior cosmetic dentistry, veneers and dental makeovers.

Dr. Williams is married to Jeanie, his wife of 35 years, and they have two sons, Aaron and David.

Howard Family Dental Bluffton is located at 10 Pinckney Colony, Building 500, Suite 503. For more information, call 843-593-9380 or visit Howard FamilyDental.com.