2016: Population Health, newest Medical Center school, celebrated

During its 70-year history, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has made contributions to the state, and the world, in medicine, science and education. Each month, we’ll recognize at least one of these major accomplishments.

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At a ceremony on Sept. 19, 2016, university and health-care leaders welcomed the newest health science school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center: the John D. Bower School of Population Health.

Approved by the state Institutions of Higher Learning in April 2016, the school, located in UMMC’s Translational Research Center, was only the third of its kind in the U.S. Classes began in 2017. Instituted within the school was the Department of Population Health Science, with degree programs designed to train scientists to focus on factors that affect health and disease, and to afford clinicians and healthcare administrators the expertise to provide population-oriented care. Two other departments also operate within the school: data science and preventive medicine.

The school’s namesake, the late Dr. John Bower, was a UMMC professor emeritus of medicine and renowned patient care advocate who established Mississippi’s first kidney dialysis unit at the Medical Center. His U.S. Congressional testimony in 1972 helped sway the decision to extend Medicare coverage to end-stage renal disease patients. His non-profit corporation, Kidney Care Inc., opened dialysis clinics in 22 Mississippi cities.