New Trustees
Good morning.
Next week is Employee Appreciation Week, and Human Resources has put together a fun schedule of activities that you can find on the intranet here. And they have a plan for how to recognize faculty and staff at units off the main campus, too. As a precursor to next week, let me be the first to say “thank you” for everything you do every day in support of each of our three mission areas and the many audiences and communities we serve. We are meaningful to Mississippi, and that is possible because of you and your commitment.
Now, to today’s topic.
Today is the end of a “board week,” which is what we like to call the week each month when the Mississippi Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning convenes. This group, long referred to as the College Board, consists of 12 individuals appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Mississippi Legislature who are responsible for policy, financial and administrative oversight of the eight public state universities.
While UMMC is a part of the University of Mississippi, we have an enhanced relationship with the Board and IHL Commissioner Dr. Al Rankins because of our uniqueness compared to the other, more traditional institutions of higher learning. In essence, all Medical Center operations, not just those on the academic side, are under the purview of the IHL Board. Each Wednesday afternoon, the day before the full Board meeting, we meet with Board members in a Health Affairs Committee to inform and get feedback on the status of Medical Center business, including financial reports and actions and patient quality metrics and measures. They are invested and interested in the health and success of the state’s only academic medical center, and we appreciate their guidance and support.
Trustees serve nine-year terms, and this month, four new board members are beginning their service. Because of how important this body of leaders is to the Medical Center, I wanted to briefly introduce you to the new members.
First, though, I want to express my appreciation to the four members who completed their terms this month.
- Dr. Al McNair, outgoing president
- Tom Duff
- Chip Morgan
- Dr. Walt Starr (a UMMC School of Dentistry graduate)
They have been some of our biggest champions, and I’ve enjoyed working with them. They will be missed, but the positive impact they’ve had on UMMC will be felt for decades.
The eight board members who carry over and when they will complete their terms are:
- Bruce Martin, president - 2027
- Jeanne Carter Luckey, vice president - 2027
- Dr. Ormella Cummings - 2030
- Dr. Steven Cunningham - 2027
- Teresa Hubbard - 2030
- Gee Ogletree - 2027
- Hal Parker - 2030
- Gregg Rader - 2030
Here are brief bios of the four new members of the IHL Board of Trustees:
- Donald Clark Jr., served as chair of Butler Snow law firm for 14 years at a time of its significant growth. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and received his law degree from the University of Mississippi.
- Jerry Griffith spent more than 40 years in government accounting and management roles, including most recently with the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Griffith served in the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam War veteran. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Delta State University.
- James “Jimmy” Heidelberg, who has practiced law since 1978, is a founding partner of the Heidelberg, Steinberger, Burrow & Armer, P.A. law firm on the IHL Board. In 2013, he was selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in medical malpractice. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and a law degree from the University of Mississippi.
- Charles “Charlie” Stephenson. He is the CEO of Heartland Natural Resources and manager of the Stephenson Family Foundation. He previously served as CEO or COO for multiple other natural resource companies. He is a member of several boards for Mississippi State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science.
I look forward to working with these new trustees and doing all I can to get all of them up to speed on the complicated, ever-changing and exciting operations of the Medical Center. We have a lot going on – which is certainly not unusual – and we appreciate the Board working with us on strategy and follow-through. A strong, trusting relationship between us and the IHL Board of Trustees is important and vital to a healthy UMMC. This group of 12 men and women are traveling right along beside us on the path toward A Healthier Mississippi.