Dr. Blair E. Batson was hailed for his medical leadership and his love for others during a memorial service last Friday at the student union. Named chair of pediatrics when UMMC opened in 1955, Batson was instrumental in opening the state’s first children’s hospital in 1968 and Batson Children’s Hospital in 1997 and in training thousands of physicians.

After a little elbow grease, paint and ingenuity, former Clarion-Ledger newspaper machines are now putting books into the hands of Children’s of Mississippi outpatients at Batson Children’s Hospital. Jackson Academy freshman John Moak Scarbrough and his father, John Scarbrough, Friends of Children’s Hospital treasurer, refurbished the vending machines as an Eagle Scout project aimed at helping patients and boosting literacy.

News reports of amazing medical breakthroughs are well-meaning, but often summarize the highlights, downplaying or omitting information that could bring high hopes back down to earth. How do you know what to believe or look out for when a research study’s rosy conclusions sound too good to be true? Two experts at the Medical Center show you the way.

Several interesting events are scheduled for the upcoming weeks at the Medical Center.

Medical Center leadership is proud to acknowledge those employees who will celebrate service anniversaries during the week of Jan. 14-20.