UMMC opens dedicated burn unit to expand statewide care
Published on Monday, May 5, 2025
By: Rachel Vanderford, rvanderford@umc.edu
Photos By: Joe Ellis/ UMMC Communications
The University of Mississippi Medical Center has officially opened a dedicated burn unit inside Batson Tower, creating a specialized environment designed to meet the complex needs of adult and pediatric burn patients.
This marks a major expansion of the Mississippi Burn Center at UMMC, which was designated as a state burn center by the Mississippi State Department of Health in 2023. The designation reflects UMMC’s role as the state’s leader in burn care and its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with serious burn injuries.
The new unit strengthens UMMC's capabilities by consolidating acute treatment and rehabilitation services into a single, specialized space. Spanning 9,000 square feet, the area includes eight patient rooms, a hydrotherapy room for wound debridement and a rehabilitation gym to support physical and occupational therapy.
Staffed by an interdisciplinary team of experts in emergency medicine, trauma surgery, plastic surgery, critical care, laboratory medicine, mental health, occupational therapy and physical therapy, the unit supports a full spectrum of specialized care. This collaborative approach ensures that burn patients benefit from both immediate critical care and long-term rehabilitation services essential for recovery.
The unit includes a specialized hydrotherapy room for wound debridement to support healing, minimizing the need for trips to the operating room. Equipped with a shower table, adjustable temperature controls and a television for entertainment, the space keeps patients at ease during procedures that are necessary for preventing infection. When surgery is needed, patients can access OR suites in the same tower, minimizing transport time and improving continuity of care.
“The rooms are larger, which gives us the space we need for dressing changes and other procedures right in the patient’s room,” said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs. “Cohorting burn patients is the standard we prefer because they are prone to specific types of infections. When they’re comingling with other patients, they’re more vulnerable. So, it allows us to keep them more isolated and protected.”
Plans are also underway to launch tele-burn consultations, offering additional support to hospitals and emergency providers statewide. The goal is to improve coordination and ensure timely treatment, particularly in rural areas.
“This will mean that our rural hospital partners can request a consultation, I’m able to see the patient, and look at the wound in real time with the provider,” said Dr. Juvonda Hodge, who joined UMMC in 2024 as the Center’s director. “It gets their care started a lot quicker and that helps prevent complications down the road.”
With more than 17 years of experience in pediatric and adult burn care, Hodge is leading efforts to enhance education, outreach and clinical care. Since arriving, she has implemented hands-on training, in-service sessions, and other learning opportunities for our faculty, students, residents, fellows and first responders.
“Being an academic medical center, we not only impact the patients that we take care of, but also future doctors and providers,” said Hodge. “We have pharmacy students, nursing students, medical students, surgical residents, emergency medicine residents, anesthesia residents... We also co-manage with pediatric residents.
“When they leave here, they’ll know how to recognize and respond to burn injuries. That level of preparedness makes a real difference, especially in communities where burn specialists may not be readily available.”
In 2024, the Mississippi Burn Center admitted more than 350 patients. With the new unit now operational, the Medical Center is better equipped to meet the growing need for high-quality burn care across the state.
As Mississippi’s only Level I trauma center, UMMC is uniquely positioned to deliver coordinated, high-level care for patients with complex and life-threatening injuries. The opening of this unit is also a rare achievement. UMMC is just the third academic medical center in the country to establish a new burn unit in the last 20 years.
“This is a very big deal, and we are so proud that everything has finally come together,” said Hodge. “The biggest reason for that is the collaboration and commitment of our teams at UMMC and strong support from our state leadership. Burn care is incredibly complex. It requires not only specialized training, but also the right environment, equipment and coordination. That’s what we’ve built here.”
“Our new unit combines advanced resources with a comprehensive, patient-centered approach,” said Jones. “It’s not about treating burns. It’s about delivering the best care and support for recovery at every stage of the patient journey.”