Angela Williams was perplexed as Santa Claus walked out of her daughter Brianna's room at Batson Children's Hospital. Looking back at a big, red bag stuffed to capacity with gifts, then at the door, she said, “Santa, wait, you're leaving your bag!” “That's for Brianna,” Santa said. “Oh, my gosh,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you all.” More tears came when Deborah Bryant, wife of Gov. Phil Bryant, came in with a Walmart gift card for $30. |
 | Batson Children's Hospital will be adding additional security measures in 2016 to increase safety and privacy for patients and their families. Entrance doors to children's floors two through seven will be locked. Badge readers will allow employees access those floors, and cameras will allow staff to see those seeking entry. Installation of the new equipment will begin in mid-January, said Guy Giesecke, CEO of Children's of Mississippi, the organization that oversees pediatric care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. |
A longtime physiology professor and a pharmacology graduate student receive an important nomination from the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities, while a Cancer Institute director and a UMMC administrator earn the right to be called leaders in Mississippi. |  |