Smooth Operators claim checkered flag at 2018 Gurney Races
Published on Thursday, May 10, 2018
By: Alana Bowman
Competition was as heated as the asphalt on Peachtree Street Tuesday evening as teams from across the Medical Center faced off in the 2018 UMMC Gurney Races to decide who would claim the Golden Stethoscope.
Jointly sponsored by the Office of Nursing Quality, Development and Professional Practice and UMMC Human Resources, the races were just one of myriad entertaining activities planned for the celebration of National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week, May 6-12. On hand were food trucks and a DJ for food and entertainment. Driscoll Devaul, director of respiratory and pulmonary services at Batson Children’s Hospital emceed the event.
The Pill Pushers from Central Pharmacy, foreground from center left, Laura Hamwi, pharmacy resident; Jamesha Demerritt, team captain and pharmacy tech; Kacie Ratliff, pharmacist; and Khadijah McDaniel, pharmacy tech, have an early lead over the Managers of Mayhem, from the adult hospital.Kicking off the preliminary races were the Managers of Mayhem, nurse managers from the adult hospital led by team captain Briana Petty, nurse manager on 4 North, against the Pill Pushers from Central Pharmacy, led by team captain Jamesha Demerritt, pharmacy tech. The Pill Pushers had a win in their sights before the Managers came from behind for an epic win in the first round.
As the Spice Girls belted out “Wannabe” from the loudspeaker, what team Hello Kidney from University Transplant, led by team captain Kristen Turnbow, abdominal transplant coordinator, really, really wanted was a smashing win against the SON All-Stars, faculty members from the School of Nursing led by team captain Jill Clayton, assistant professor of nursing.
Team Hello Kidney from University Transplant presses on after losing team member Mollie King from a tragic spill. From the left are transplant coordinators Natalie Bradshaw, Kristen Turnbow, Kristie Foy and Jodie Kilby.Alas, a win was not in the future for the pink tutu’d racers of team Hello Kidney. Team member Mollie King, transplant coordinator, took a heart-breaking spill in the run-offs allowing the All-Stars to pull ahead.
Hello Kidney team captain reported that King twisted her ankle and had “significant road rash.” She received treatment in the mobile clinic onsite while team alternate Kristie Foy, transplant coordinator, stepped in to allow the team to finish the race.
“Mollie definitely took one for the team! She handled it like a champ,” Turnbow said. “Even though we didn’t win, we had a wonderful time.”
The Float Pool Firecrackers from the Nursing Resource Team on the left leave the starting line against the Cancer Killaz on the right. Firecrackers, pictured from the left, are Karmiria Castillo, Britt Taylor, Jessica Adams and Kaye Flanagin. Killaz, pictured from right, are Keyara Freeman, Amber Smith, Paige Mitchell and Summer Moorehead. Waiting in the wings on crutches are BreAnna Marshall, left, and Clarissa Edwards, right.Tension remained high as the Float Pool Firecrackers, led by team captain and registered nurse Britt Taylor, went head to head with the Cancer Killaz, led by team captain and registered nurse Keyara Freeman. They were in a dead heat, neck and neck until Cancer Killaz pulled ahead for a win.
The Kidney Stoners of 2 South, led by team captain and registered nurse Bill Brister, were a perfect match for the University Hospital Pulmonary Clinic, the Heavy Breathers, led by team captain and respiratory therapist Chris McCoy. There should have been a photo finish to determine who “crossed the line” first.
Team Preemie Power finishes strong in the semi-finals. Team members include captain Molly Crisler, Jordan Cockayne, Julie Richardson, Elliott Crawford and Brittany Boolos.After a little smack talk between captains Molly Crisler, registered nurse in the NICU, and Kyle Dickerson, surgery charge nurse in the Batson 7th floor surgical suite, the final race pitted the Preemie Powers against the Smooth Operators. Preemie Powers started off strong, but it was the Smooth Operators who pulled ahead after the turn and crossed the finish line to the sound of the cheering crowd and a little Queen.
“We talked about practicing, but we decided we’d wing it,” said Dickerson after accepting the Golden Stethoscope for his team. “We showed up and got it done.” That’s what they do every day for Mississippi kids at the state’s only children’s hospital.
Team Smooth Operators from the Batson OR include members Kyle Dickers, captain, Haley Welch, Jonathan Nichols, Chandry Brown and Barry Berch.
The teams:
BSC Flash, Batson Specialty Clinic; Chasing Zero, Chief Medical Officer’s office; 5 South Stampede, 5 South; Float Pool Firecrackers, nursing resource team; Frequent Flyers, Adult Emergency Department; Heavy Breathers, respiratory;
Hello Kidney, University Transplant; Heme Lightning, bone marrow transplant; Heroic Hearts, 5 Children’s; Kidney Stoners, 2 South; Legal Dealers, Pharmacy; Managers of Mayhem, adult managers; Pill Pushers, Pharmacy; Preemie Power, NICU; Rehab Rebels, rehabilitation services;
Rehab Rockets, rehabilitation services; Smooth Operators, Batson OR; SON All Stars, School of Nursing; Super Coders, UP charge review; Swole Patrol, MICU; Trach Masters, 4 North; and Wiser Warriors, 4 Wiser.
Kidney Stoner and registered nurse from 2 South, Lacey Walker, shows off her flower power before the races.
Team Preemie Powers, registered nurses from the NICU, pose for a pre-race team photo.
From Central Pharmacy, Pill Pushers Khadijah McDaniel, pushing, and Tamara Summers, riding, make a strong start in the preliminary races.
Float Pool Firecracker Kaye Flanagin, nurse manager in the Nursing Resource Team, gears up and focuses on a win.
Hello Kidney team member Natalie Bradshaw pushes Lynn Thurman, both transplant coordinators, in a preliminary race.
SON All-Stars and School of Nursing faculty members Dr. Josie Bidwell, sitting, and Candon Garbo, pushing.
Hello Kidney team members, from the left, Jodie Kilby, Mollie King and Kristen Turnbow cheer on their team mates.
Heme Lightning from Bone Marrow Transplant, strap in their patient, Sponge Bob Square Pants. From the left are Mary Kendall Gibson, Anna Scoggins, Dylan Higginbottom and Wendy Arinder, team captain.
Team Preemie Powers is off to a strong start against Heme Lightening.
Heme Lightning team members from the left are Mary Kendall Gibson, Anna Scoggins, Dylan Higginbottom and Shelby Herrington.
Team BSC Flash members from Batson Specialty Clinic include captain LaToya Washington, Brittany Carr, Mandy White, Nikki Lewis and Ryan Hallock.
BSC Flash team finishes strong on the crutches.
Legal Dealer team member is happy to see the finish line in sight.
Cancer Killaz team members from the left are Summer Moorehead, Paige Mitchell, Amber Smith and captain Keyara Freeman.
The Trach Masters from 4 North have a strong start over the Super Coders from UP Charge Review. In the back from the left are Super Coders Doris Stiff, Ashley Bullock, Mandi Ford and Tammy Puryear pushing the gurney and Lauren White on crutches. Trach Masters pictured from the left are registered nurses Darius Brown, Nathan Pickron and Matthew Hudson.
Trach Masters finish strong.
Rehab Rockets
Heavy Breathers from Respiratory in gray, left to right, Levie Beamon, Chris McCoy, Rebecca Cameron and Sherron Carter, racing Kidney Stoners from 2 South. Visible Kidney Stoners are, front to back, Katie Blackwell, Azure Hayes and Engaray Porter.
Pictured is Pill Pusher Tamara Summers.
From the left are Trach Masters Shauna Godfrey, Matthew Hudson, Essence Allen, Nathon Pickron, Darius Brown and Ardelia Heard.
Team Swole Patrol goes head to head with Smooth Operators in the semifinals. Swole Patrol team members include team captain Tony Sistrunk, Kevin Marchant, Blake Travis, Matthew Harris and JD Chisolm.