The MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center announced today a cumulative $10 million gift from the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation to advance its Alzheimer's disease research and establish the Gertrude C. Ford MIND Research Center.

The gift could not come at a better time.

“Americans are living longer than ever and with the aging of the baby boomer generation, we are facing a silver tsunami,” said Dr. Tom Mosley, director of the Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, at the Nov. 7 ceremony on the UMMC campus.

The sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, more than 52,000 Mississippians have Alzheimer's or similar conditions.

“That number is expected to double by the year 2030 and triple by 2050 unless we find ways to slow, stop or ultimately prevent these devastating illnesses,” Mosley said. "There is a sense of urgency, and we are in a hurry."

When expensive supplies and equipment are overstocked or underutilized, when staffing levels don't match up to patient volume, and if the hospital isn't seen as a great place to work, it hurts the organization and drains revenues.

UMMC honored its 2016 Excellence in Research Awards recipients Nov. 9 in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.

The Medical Center is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty and leadership staff.

Dr. Brian Rutledge, chief of staff, is one of two candidates in PERS board runoff election, while national, local organizations recognize Medical Center faculty, staff, students and volunteers for outstanding performance.