Collaborations, national recognitions highlight UMMC's 2019 events
Published on Monday, December 30, 2019
The University of Mississippi Medical Center entered into several notable collaborations in 2019, including affiliations with Hattiesburg Clinic, Anderson Regional Health System, Capital Ortho, Merit Health and more.
The collaborations resulted in an effort to rethink the use of electronic health records, a pediatric specialty clinic in Meridian, a new site for private practice resident training, and an expansion of UMMC’s adult hospital capacity and operating room availability. A new outpatient clinic in Grenada provides cancer care and infusion services for patients closer to home as a result of the work by UMMC Grenada and the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute.
Two programs were nationally recognized at UMMC during the year. The Adult Congenital Heart Association certified UMMC as an Adult Congenital Heart Disease Accredited Comprehensive Care Center, making it one of only 30 programs recognized nationally and the only program in Mississippi. In addition, U.S. News and World Report rated the Medical Center’s cancer programs as “High Performing in Adult cancer,” making it among the top 10 percent of cancer centers in the nation.
On campus, the School of Dentistry opened a state-of-the-art new clinic for students to train and the Medical Center dedicated its new Clinical Research and Trials Unit on the seventh floor of University Hospital in August.
The expansion of the Children’s Hospital is on track to open in the fall of 2020, and the building reached its full seven-story height in July.
January
Hattiesburg Clinic, UMMC announce collaboration to boost quality care
UMMC is partnering with Hattiesburg Clinic, Mississippi’s largest private multi-specialty group, to ensure patients are receiving the highest quality of care through innovative use of electronic health records.
Sanderson Farms Championship host sets record with $1.25M gift to Friends of Children’s Hospital
For the fifth year in a row, Century Club Charities has broken its own record with a $1.25 million donation to Friends of Children’s Hospital from the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship.
Celebrating a $1.25 million donation from Century Club Charities are, from left, Jordan Morgan, Children's of Mississippi patient, Steve Jent, Melanie Morgan, Guy Giesecke, Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Jeff Hubbard, Dr. Mary Taylor, Joe Sanderson Jr., and Felton Walker, Children's of Mississippi patient.Student-led food drive diverts surplus to soup kitchen
Medical student Mariam Ebeid organized the transfer of the University of Mississippi Medical Center cafeteria’s food surplus to Stewpot Community Kitchen in Jackson, which feeds somewhere around 150 to 200 people each day.
February:
SOD serves more than 1,300 during third Dental Mission Week
During the course of the third annual Dental Mission Week, dental and dental hygiene students provided free dental care to 1,444 underserved children, adults and veterans under the supervision of faculty.
UMMC-Anderson collaboration brings specialty peds care closer to Meridian-area patients
UMMC and Anderson Regional Health System partnered to bring Meridian a new pediatric specialty clinic, where Children’s of Mississippi pediatric specialists in orthopaedics, neurology and urology now care for patients in the Meridian area.
March:
New collaboration will give first responders technology tools to save lives
UMMC is working alongside the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, to improve emergency medical response and mobile broadband for rural first responders in Mississippi and around the nation.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs, shakes hands with Ed Parkinson, acting CEO of the FirstNet Authority, after each signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving emergency medical response communication and connectivity in Mississippi. Standing behind them are, from left, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Mississippi Center of Emergency Services Medical Director Dr. Damon Darsey.April:
Adult congenital heart program receives coveted national accolade
The Adult Congenital Heart Association certified UMMC as an Adult Congenital Heart Disease Accredited Comprehensive Care Center, making it one of only 30 programs recognized nationally and the only program in Mississippi.
May:
Physiologist claims UMMC’s top educator honor
Dr. Michael Ryan was named the 2019 recipient of the Regions TEACH Prize, an honor bestowed upon the Medical Center’s most outstanding educator. Ryan, a professor of physiology and biophysics, has spent the last 15 years training the next generation of biomedical scientists and health professionals.
UMMC confers 853 degrees in health science professions
Graduates of the schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, Nursing, Health Related Professions and Population Health were recognized at UMMC’s 63rd Commencement at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson in May.
Aurlivia Deshay Bibbs, right, Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences graduate, receives the Virginia Stansel Tolbert Award from Dr. Jessica Bailey, School of Health Related Professions dean.June:
Capital Ortho to serve as UMMC resident training facility
Thanks to a new relationship, Capital Ortho is now serving as a new site to expand and enhance private practice-based resident training. UMMC will place residents at Capital Ortho in Flowood to train in surgery and clinical operations.
School of Dentistry opens state-of-the-art technology center for students
The University of Mississippi School of Dentistry became one of only four schools in the nation with a technology center featuring the latest and best dental equipment for student training funded by the Center for Research & Education in Technology, Inc. The high-tech clinic was made possible with donations of equipment by more than 26 different dental manufacturers.
July
In unique collaboration, UMMC physicians to offer services at Merit Health Madison facility
Physicians from the Medical Center are performing surgeries and providing inpatient post-operative care at Merit Health’s hospital in Canton, expanding UMMC’s adult hospital capacity and operating room availability, thanks to the Healthier Mississippi Collaborative.
UMMC pediatric expansion grows to full seven-story height
The pediatric expansion at the University of Mississippi Medical Center reached its full seven-story height in June and is well on its way to an expected fall 2020 opening.
The Children's of Mississippi expansion's ceremonial construction beam, decked with streamers, rises toward the top of the seven-story structure.August:
U.S. News lists UMMC’s cancer program among tops in nation
U.S. News and World Report rated the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s cancer programs as “High Performing in Adult cancer,” making it among the top 10 percent of cancer centers in the nation.
Leaders cut ribbon on Center for Advancement of Youth’s new home
The Center for Advancement of Youth celebrated its new, 20,000-square foot location in Jackson’s Highland Bluff building. CAY offers comprehensive, coordinated care across disciplines for children with behavioral or developmental issues from across the state.
Doctors perform medical ‘first’ during facial tumor surgery
In a first, doctors used a cadaveric nerve, or a nerve transplanted from a donor, to connect the V2 nerve in patient Violet Thompson’s face during a 19-and-a-half hour surgery to remove a benign, but disfiguring tumor.
Dr. Ignacio Velasco Martinez, left, talks with his patient, Violet Thompson, while Dr. James Jackson observes.September:
National telehealth accreditation affirms quality of UMMC’s patient care
The Center for Telehealth at the University of Mississippi Medical Center was accredited by the URAC, a nonprofit organization and independent leader in promoting health care quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation.
New CRTU ushers in unprecedented clinical research for Mississippi
UMMC dedicated its new Clinical Research and Trials Unit on the seventh floor of University Hospital in August. The CRTU is a state-of-the-art facility that expands and supports the Medical Center’s research mission.
October:
New SON dean’s goal: Prepare school for huge shift in nursing education
Dr. Julie Sanford took the reins as the new leader of the School of Nursing, bringing experience from her former role as director of James Madison University’s School of Nursing and her current role as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
UMMC opens primary care clinic for LGBTQ patients
UMMC’s new Team Clinic at the Jackson Medical Mall aims to provide every Mississippian access to accepting, high-quality and holistic primary health care, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
School of Nursing in Oxford celebrates new home, expanded class size
The School of Nursing in Oxford made a big move from Kinard Hall on the Ole Miss campus to its new, 17,000-square-foot space at the South Oxford Center, or the former Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Helping to celebrate the opening of the School of Nursing Oxford's location are, from left, Dr. Julie Sanford, SON dean; Dr. Eva Tatum, SON Oxford nursing director; Hajja Bah and Chandler Craig, SON students; Larry Sparks, University of Mississippi interim chancellor; and Dr. Ralph Didlake, UMMC associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.Southwest Health System, UMMC announce health care affiliation
The University of Mississippi Medical Center and Southwest Health System in McComb entered into a new affiliation that will strengthen and expand health care services in McComb and southwest Mississippi.
November:
UMMC Grenada opens outpatient cancer care clinic, infusion services
UMMC Grenada and the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute opened an outpatient cancer care clinic and infusion services in order to bring cancer care closer to home for patients.
SOPH moves into new home, affirms commitment to healthier state
The School of Population Health, the first new academic unit at UMMC in 15 years, is now housed in a new location: the second and fifth floors of the Translational Research Center.
December:
Half match, whole hope: state’s first pediatric haploidentical transplant patient free from sickle cell
Kali Mitchell became the first pediatric patient to receive a haploidentical bone marrow transplant in Mississippi. The transplant was performed by Children’s of Mississippi hematologist/oncologist Dr. Dereck Davis, and Mitchell is now free from sickle cell disease.
Sarah Elizabeth Elkin, nurse practitioner, checks Kali Mitchell's heartbeat while Mitchell's mother, Joneaset Mitchell, observes.UMMC breaks ground on state’s first children’s skilled nursing facility
UMMC broke ground on a first-of-its-kind facility designed for pediatric patients who need skilled, sometimes around-the-clock nursing care due to the complexity of their medical conditions. Families will also be able to get the training needed to provide care at home for their loved ones.