The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, a national nonprofit leading the movement to bring compassion to every patient-caregiver interaction, has named Dr. Rick Boyte as the Schwartz Center National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year (NCCY) Award recipient.

Dr. Brent Smith could have taken his medical degree and set up his practice in a city big enough for a Target and a Cracker Barrel. Instead, he passed up more lucrative opportunities for a family medicine career in 14,000-population Cleveland, Miss

When the results of the landmark SPRINT study were released by the American Heart Association on November 9, it made national headlines. In the midst of the breaking story, leading the discussion, was the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Dr. Daniel Jones.

“This is likely the most important blood pressure study in the past 40 years,” Jones, professor of medicine and physiology and interim chair of the Department of Medicine, told the AHA Scientific Sessions meeting in Orlando, Florida.

“It was a real honor and privilege [to give the faculty presentation],” said Jones. He was not an investigator with the study, but he is a former president of the AHA and an expert on hypertension, placing him in prime position to discuss the results. 

“It's one that should and will change the practice of treating high blood pressure around the world,” Jones said. The AHA now recommends 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) as a treatment goal, based on greatly decreased risk for cardiovascular disease and death.

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) commenced in 2009 to determine appropriate blood pressure targets to reduce cardiovascular disease related to hypertension, defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90. Over 100 sites across the United States participated, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

“Help! We need some help over here!”

Four bodies lie on the concrete floor - all bleeding, two seemingly unconscious. Clusters of white-shirted 14 and 15-year-olds cautiously approach.  Across the room, nurses instinctively jerk to attention, primed to assist.

Luckily, this is just a demonstration.

Students from the Jackson Public Schools' Academies of Jackson at Murrah High School have just arrived at the downtown Jackson Convention Complex for the Alignment Jackson Career Exploration Day. With the accident reenactment, instructors from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing give the freshman students a glimpse at what a day as a nurse might be like - better than any pamphlet ever could.

A shortened holiday work week has limited the number of events on tap before Turkey Day.