Changing Expectations

In the last few months, I have had several moments when a thought crossed my mind – “Boy, expectations have changed.”  

This thought hit me in a big way on Jan. 8 when Ole Miss fans everywhere were SO heartbroken that the football team didn’t advance to the national football championship. We just knew the team could win it all. In the end, Ole Miss football ranked #3 in the nation. What an amazing season and a new high bar to reach or exceed. Expectations have changed! 

2026 is a big year for me. This summer, I will have been a student, employee or faculty member at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 40 years. Over that time, expectations here at UMMC have drastically changed. Since 1986, many new buildings have opened on campus: Wiser, Batson, Sanderson, Conerly Critical Care, and the two adult towers, the Nelson Student Union, the Medical Pavilion, University Heart, the Classroom Wing, the School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine buildings, all four parking garages, the Translational Research Center, the first and second Guyton research buildings and the Mississippi Center for Emergency Services. 

Not to reminiscence too much (perhaps this is fodder for future columns) but, really, what was here when I first set foot on this campus seems very small compared to how big we are now. The thought about where we are now versus then has flitted through my mind in conversations with patients or their family members as they share their stories and brag on the excellent care they received through the UMMC Health System. I am always thankful when people share those stories, but the truth is, we fully expect all our patients to have that kind of experience and receive that level of care. We have focused relentlessly on our quality measures and our commitment to providing excellent patient care. (Quality continues to be our top priority.) These things matter. I have said time and time again – if we provide the highest quality patient care and a positive patient experience – all the good things will follow. Expectations have changed. 

One recently announced demonstration of this excellence was the news that our neuroscience ICU was awarded a Beacon of Excellence Award through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This unit is now one of only two critical care units in Mississippi to have achieved this award, with the other unit being our Children’s PICU. Expectations have changed. Accountability has risen. We have proven we can achieve remarkable recognitions of quality, even in a health system that cares for the sickest patients in our state – and often, in the country.   

We have learned that we can aim high; we can tackle big goals; we can achieve outstanding results.  

Last week, Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs; Kristy Simms, executive director of external affairs; and I spent several days at the state Capitol. At the UMMC budget hearings for the Senate and House appropriations committees, I presented our 2026-27 request. We also attended the budget hearing in both chambers for the Institutions of Higher Learning. The main takeaway for committee members from UMMC was an ask for their support of our plan to achieve National Cancer Institute designation. Specifically, we requested that they continue to fund the annual appropriation line item for cancer education and research BUT that they also support our plans to build a world-class facility for cancer programs to be under one roof through a $100 million appropriation. That’s a big ask and high expectations of our friends in the Mississippi Legislature. But our efforts toward NCI designation require big goals, big asks, big thinking and high expectations. As I have said, expectations have changed. 

At the end of the Senate hearing, appropriations committee chair Sen. Briggs Hopson asked, “Can you attain NCI designation?” I was eager to reply, “Yes! I am confident we can and we will.” 

Expectations have changed! 

Whether it's outcomes for liver transplant patients, quality of care provided in our ICUs, performance of our academic programs, or even college football – we are at the top of our game in the Southeast and in the country. Expectations have changed. And this mindset is what will keep us moving and achieving along the journey to A Healthier Mississippi.