For the University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2015 was a year of new leadership, new ideas, discoveries and triumphs. Health care, education and research have combined to move us forward in the pursuit of “A Healthier Mississippi.” With the help of our strong leadership and 10,000 dedicated employees, the year ahead will see us move even closer to the goal.

If the Jackson metro area experienced a mass shooting, would trauma surgeons and caregivers in the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Emergency Department be up to the task of treating wounds as devastating as you'd find on a battlefield?

Dr. Gary W. Reeves took one look at the 15 filing cabinets in the School of Dentistry dean's offices and knew something had to change.

To kick off a beautiful 2016, beautiful Ja-Nya Wesley came into the world at 12:59 a.m. today. The first New Year's baby at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Ja-Nya had plenty of revelers waiting on her in addition to mom La'Teshia Wesley of Jackson: dad Craig Wesley and siblings Ja-Naria, 9, and Ja-Rico, 6.

35 Years

Johnny Gilmore III, senior human resources service partner, Employee Relations

Stephane Kennedy, materials management supervisor, OR Materials Management

20 Years

Stacey Davis, nurse anesthetist, School of Medicine (Anesthesiology)

Dr. Laree Hiser, associate professor of nursing, School of Nursing

Angelia McGee, bookstore manager, Bookstore

Eureka Robinson, officer, Campus Police

15 Years

Catherine Bruce, nurse, Holmes County Hospital (Inpatient Nursing)

Lakesha Cooper, unit secretary, Batson Children's Hospital (Newborn ICU)

Dr. Jennifer C. Shores, associate professor of pediatric cardiology, School of Medicine

Leceia Williams, inpatient nurse, Obstetric Receiving

10 Years

Derick Greenfield, ambassador, Ambassadors

Debrah Rogers, IRB specialist, School of Medicine (Institutional Review Board)

5 Years

Dr. Avichal Aggarwal, assistant professor of pediatric cardiology, School of Medicine

Dr. Jian-Xiong Chen, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, School of Medicine

Wendy Crumbley, inpatient nurse, University Hospital (4 North)

Jesse Guy, sergeant, Campus Police

Theresa Hebler, education administrator, School of Medicine (Pathology)

Latasha Holmes, financial counselors supervisor, Internal Access

Mary Hood, ambulatory operations director, University Physicians

Kathy Hudson, billing specialist, Patient Financial Services

Kelvin Jackson, senior IT support analyst, Information Systems

Mario Judge, registered/certified CST, Sterile Processing

Donald Moore, flight paramedic, Helicopter Transport

Jennifer Muirhead, business operations supervisor, Jackson Medical Mall Administration

Leia Osinowo, certified medical assistant, Batson Specialty Clinic

Amanda Owen, medical office assistant, University Physicians (Grants Ferry Administration)

Cassandra Randle, inventory and supply technician, Materials Management

Kenya Robinson-Parker, health-care benefits coordinator, Internal Access-Financial Counseling

Gurmit Singh, senior web software developer, Information Systems

Debra Smith, patient financial services representative, Internal Access-Pre-arrival

Jennifer Spears, nurse anesthetist, School of Medicine (Anesthesiology)

Kelly Spell, intermediate Epic application coordinator/analyst, Information Systems

Kimberly Sterdivant, intermediate end user compliance specialist, Information Systems

A number of interesting events is scheduled for the upcoming week at the Medical Center.