Cancer Center, nursing student leaders, operational excellence spotlighted

Published on Monday, November 11, 2024

By: Gary Pettus, gpettus@umc.edu

Medical Center faculty and staff often are recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for their academic or medical achievements. These accolades place UMMC among health science centers worldwide.

UMMC CCRI leads consortium to tackle cancer research, care

In a region facing significant cancer disparities, several academic medical centers have united to form the Deep South Consortium in Oncology, with the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Center and Research Institute serving as the lead site.

The consortium will promote collaboration among institutions throughout the southern region, aiming to enhance cancer research and improve patient care.

This initiative addresses the significant challenges cancer poses for patients in the region, with a focus on reducing health disparities and improving overall care quality.

“We created this DSCO to be a multi-layered research organization focused on the needs of our populations across each state,” said Dr. Rodney Rocconi, director of the CCRI and Ergon Chair of Cancer Research. “Our goal is to bring clinical trials to patients in the South who need them and to facilitate better discoveries for improved patient treatment.”

DSCO will act as a leading research platform dedicated to advancing cancer treatment in the Deep South. Through cooperative efforts in basic, translational, population health and clinical research, the consortium seeks to lessen the burden of cancer and increase the availability of cures for the most at-risk patient groups.

The member institutions of the DSCO are strategically located in an area known for having some of the highest rates of cancer health inequities in the United States. Participating members besides the University of Mississippi Medical Center are Augusta University (Medical College of Georgia), Emory University, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Ochsner Health System, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of South Alabama.

The consortium will confront a complex array of disparities, including high minority populations, rural access issues, significant comorbidities and poverty, which create substantial challenges to delivering quality cancer care – challenges that also present opportunities to drive change and enhance health equity.

DSCO will focus on several key research areas. First, it will engage in population health research by assessing social determinants of health across the DSCO states to identify programs that can positively influence patients’ lives.

The consortium will also foster partnerships to explore the molecular and genetic factors that impact cancer outcomes using shared research insights and expertise for the benefit of patients.

Finally, DSCO will highlight the importance of increasing minority representation in cancer clinical trials and suggest a coordinated strategy to streamline the initiation and enrollment of trials at member institutions, particularly given the high prevalence of Black patients in the DSCO states.

"It’s (DSCO) about bringing minds together,” Rocconi said. “We have a wealth of talented investigators in the South who all recognize the opportunity to improve patient care.

“As part of our charge as a consortium, we are committed to being the change for the better. We are driven to develop new treatment approaches that provide patients with better responses, potential cures and longer, healthier lives."

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Nicholas Bobo follows Richard Wright as MASN president

Richard Wright, a recent University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing graduate, is completing his term as president of the Mississippi Association of Student Nurses, and will be succeeded by Nicholas Bobo, a student at the UMMC School of Nursing’s accelerated nursing program in Oxford.

Wright, an Oxford accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate, said his goal as MASN president was to connect nursing students across the state.

“Nursing school can be very isolating, so I wanted our convention to serve as a networking outlet as well as an opportunity to learn more about the field of nursing so our students could meet others like them and make lifelong connections. It’s always good to have a friend you can talk to when times get hard during school.”

During Wright’s term, MASN saw a 20% increase in membership.

Wright, a Marks native who graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2023 with a degree in allied health studies and a minor in psychology, is now a registered nurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, caring for patients in the post-operative area. His goal is to earn his Doctor of Nursing Practice through UMMC’s BSN-to-DNP program.

Bobo, of Senatobia, plans to graduate from UMMC with his BSN in August and also hopes to earn a doctorate.

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Excellence Showcase celebrates innovation, collaboration

The Office of Operational Excellence celebrated a milestone on Nov. 1 with its inaugural Excellence Showcase at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Highlighting innovation and collaboration, the showcase featured 14 posters, each representing diverse initiatives that are advancing the Medical Center’s mission of high-reliability and continuous improvement.  

With over 100 participants from various departments, the event offered a unique platform for attendees to network, exchange ideas and explore improvement initiatives. The energy and insights that panelists and presenters provided is meant to spark inspiration for UMMC’s journey toward high reliability in both clinical and operational practices.  

“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the event’s success,” said Varang Parikh, director of the OOE.

“The panelists and presenters engaged and inspired us to continue UMMC’s high-reliability journey. Let’s build on this momentum and strive to make the next showcase even bigger and better.”