Multi-topic

Good morning.

For today’s VC Notes, I will share a variety of timely updates.

The month of June is the end of the fiscal and academic year, so many programs and units are busy wrapping up this year and preparing to start a new academic and fiscal year July 1.

Recently at commencement, we celebrated 992 graduates who will enter a new career or the next phase of their training. This fall, we kick off a new Master of Public Health, designed for physicians, in the John D. Bower School of Population Health and a new Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists program in the School of Nursing. The construction on the new nursing education building will be completed this fall, which will provide modern and expanded space for our nursing school and its many programs. The School of Nursing is our largest school and is undergoing significant growth as we strive to meet the workforce needs of our state. One of our strategic goals led by Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, is taking a deep look at the workforce needs of the state and the growth potential of our academic programs. This project is resulting in both current and future exciting initiatives.

In July, we will welcome over 200 interns, residents and fellows. This includes twelve dental residents. And while more than a third of the incoming residents are graduates of our medical school, there are 25 additional states represented. It is wonderful to retain our students to enter our residency training programs, and it is also very good to have the opportunity to welcome new talent into our state (and maybe retain some of those as well). 

During the course of this year, we have opened an adolescent acute psychiatric unit, the Alyce G. Clark Center for Medically Fragile Children, Colony Park North and a psychiatric emergency services unit. There is a high demand for our clinical services, and we are constantly striving to find ways to meet that demand in the way of additional inpatient beds, expanded access through our clinics, increased use of telehealth or partnerships with other systems. Kudos to Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs, and our clinical leadership team, including department chairs, who have not taken their foot off the accelerator as we work to grow our local offerings and our statewide reach. And most importantly to note, this clinical growth is happening with the continued emphasis and expectation that we deliver the highest quality clinical care and the best patient (and family) experience. This kind of success is intentional and doesn’t happen by accident.

This fall, we will celebrate the groundbreaking for the new home for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute. Also, later this calendar year we look forward to the opening of the new Fred R. Adams MIND Center and Geriatric Clinic located in the UMMC Belhaven building on State Street. In addition to vitally important research, both of these will provide critically needed and very specialized care for Mississippians.

This month, Dr. Lee Bidwell, associate vice chancellor for research, reports a record number of research grant applications were submitted for external funding. Despite the volatility and challenges with federal funding for research, we are encouraged with recent significant successes. Under his leadership, we have experienced numerous advancements in the organizational research infrastructure (with more to come) which positions us well for continued growth. 

Working toward NCI (National Cancer Institute) designation is a top institutional priority and will continue to be for many years. I am so pleased with the progress being made in the recruitment of researchers and development of programs, in the philanthropic campaign underway to support building the new CCRI facility, in the recruitment of clinical faculty and the confidence demonstrated by our state elected officials through the $100M state appropriation directed to the building fund. Our federal congressional delegation has been enthusiastic in their support and has successfully secured funding for specific components of our cancer efforts. And, last but surely not least, University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce has been the strongest and most vocal supporter. Publicly, he has stated many times that this project is, in fact, the top priority for the University. That level of advocacy from our Chancellor has been instrumental in much of the funding success and momentum we are experiencing.

This is just a brief touch on a few of our initiatives underway. While what I have touched on is broad and varied in nature, everything I have described is work that contributes to the vision of A Healthier Mississippi. We have a long way to go, but we are getting closer every day.