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UP's Merit Health Madison presence real 'win-win' for patients

Published on Monday, February 15, 2021

By: Ruth Cummins

Convenient access to care in multiple specialties is available for residents of Madison County and surrounding areas in clinics staffed by University of Mississippi Medical Center surgeons and specialists.

University Physicians has moved its clinic operations next to Merit Health Madison into Suite 204 of Merit’s medical office building at 163 River Oaks Drive in Canton. The hospital is a short drive off the Nissan Parkway from Interstate 55.

Taking part in the ribbon-cutting for University Physicians' new clinic space at Merit Health Madison were, from left, medical office assistant Karla Dukes; Dr. Martin Tucker, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Margaret Head, chief ambulatory officer for UMMC adult hospitals; Dr. Jared Davis, assistant professor of plastic surgery; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; Paul Bird, director of surgical ambulatory operations; Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs; Dr. Christopher Anderson, James D. Hardy professor and chair of the Department of Surgery; and Dr. Channing Twyner, assistant professor of anesthesiology.
Taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for University Physicians' new clinic space at Merit Health Madison are, from left, Karla Dukes, medical office assistant; Dr. Martin Tucker, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Margaret Head, chief ambulatory officer for UMMC's adult hospitals; Dr. Jared Davis, assistant professor of plastic surgery; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs; Paul Bird, director of surgical ambulatory operations; Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs; Dr. Christopher Anderson, James D. Hardy Professor and Chair of Surgery; and Dr. Channing Twyner, assistant professor of anesthesiology.

Providers offering clinic appointments there at this time include Dr. Scott Berry, breast surgery; Dr. Jonathan Carroll, Dr. Thomas Helling and Dr. Jenetta Thompson, general surgery; Dr. Barbara Craft and Dr. Grace Shumaker, breast oncology; Dr. Jim Hurt and Dr. George Russell, adult orthopaedics; Dr. Patrick Wright, pediatric orthopaedics; Dr. Channing Twyner, pain management; Dr. Marc Walker and Dr. Jared Davis, plastic surgery; Dr. Charles Pound and nurse practitioner Nichole Owens, urology; and Dr. James Wynn and Dr. Praise Matemavi, dialysis and vascular access.

Additional specialties and providers may be added at a later date.

Portrait of Dr. Christopher Anderson
Anderson

“Our Merit Health Madison vision in the Department of Surgery has been years in the making,” said Dr. Christopher Anderson, James D. Hardy Professor and chair of the department. “We’re excited to open this new clinic to help support our UMMC surgical services in that hospital.”

University Physicians offers general surgery services at Merit Health Madison in addition to surgery specialties that include adult and pediatric ophthalmology, breast and breast oncology, dental, oculoplastics, oral and maxillofacial, adult and pediatric orthopaedics, pain management, pediatric ENT, plastic surgery, oncology, urogynecology, urology, and dialysis and vascular access. Amanda Laura serves as University Physicians’ surgery nurse manager at Merit Health Madison.

Portrait of Margaret Head
Head

“Our clinic at Merit (Health) Madison gives our patients access to University Physicians in a location that is easily accessible and closer to home,” said Margaret Head, UMMC chief ambulatory officer for adult services.  

Merit Health’s location just north of Jackson “puts many of our surgeons in a more convenient location for our patients in the north metro area, in addition to those traveling from the northern area of the state,” said Anderson, who also serves as chief perioperative physician. “We are committed to continue growing the specialties we offer at this location.”

Portrait of Dr. George Russell
Russell

“We are excited to provide orthopaedic care for our patients at Merit (Health) Madison,” said Russell, James L. Hughes Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery. “The new medical office facilities, combined with the hospital facilities, will allow us to expand our services.”

UMMC general surgeon Dr. Thomas Helling discusses a procedure with patient Morise Moore Hines of Madison.
Dr. Thomas Helling, UMMC general surgeon, discusses a procedure with Morise Moore Hines of Madison.

Madison retiree Morise Moore Hines, one of Helling’s patients, said she’s glad for the opportunity to receive her care from him at Merit Health Madison. She saw Helling Feb. 11 in anticipation of scheduling a surgery.

“It’s so convenient,” Hines said. “It takes me about 15 minutes, if that. It’s a straight shot on the interstate.

“To just park in front of the building and get out and walk in the door … that’s like putting down the red carpet,” Hines said.

For appointments with University Physicians at Merit Health Madison Suite 204, call (601) 815-9006 for orthopaedics and (601) 496-6376 for all other specialties.