February

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Cyberattack Update

February 23, 2026

TO:             UMMC Faculty, Staff and Students

FROM:       Dr. LouAnn Woodward
                   Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
                   Dean, School of Medicine

SUBJECT:  Cyberattack Update

Before I begin today’s update on the cyberattack, I’d like to first thank UMMC faculty, staff and students for adjusting to the changes that needed to be made for the health and safety of patients and continued educational responsibilities. This has not been easy for any of us, and I greatly appreciate your nimble response.  

Our DIS and Information Security teams, in collaboration with federal, state and national experts, have worked all weekend to investigate and continue to recover our systems that have been impacted by this cyberattack. Here are the important updates: 

  • You should have access to your email on devices not connected to the network, but please be wary of phishing attempts and any suspicious emails. Be extra cautious when considering clicking links in the body of emails, particularly those from non-UMMC sources. We must remain vigilant against any further infiltration of our network. If you suspect an email is a phishing scheme, report it by using the tools within Outlook or forwarding the email to abuse@umc.edu. 
  • Clinics will remain closed through Wednesday as we work diligently to ensure a safe network environment.  
  • Please ensure all computers – PCs and laptops – are plugged into the network and turned on. You won’t be able to log into the system, but having the computers on will help our IT teams analyze the system and push out needed security updates.  

Lastly, and importantly, I’m pleased to share that we have established an automated phone line to handle calls from patients. It should be noted that this phone line is intended for time-sensitive needs.  

Patients will be asked a series of questions through an automated phone tree, such as whom they are trying to reach and for what purpose. Messages will be routed to the appropriate person for a return phone call, in as timely a manner as possible. Requests for time-sensitive needs, such as medication refills or postoperative care visits, will be prioritized. 

The phone number for the UMMC Triage Line is 601-815-0000. As we expect a high volume of calls daily from across the state, we will triage the requests and respond as quickly as we can. 

We understand this solution for fielding patient inquiries is not ideal, but this is a step toward restoring normal communications with our patients. Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate this difficult time as best we can.