The Difference We Can Make

"Building a Healthier Mississippi" is at the heart of our work at UMMC, but some days we all need reminders that we are making strides on that journey. This week, one of those reminders came in the form of a message shared with our Grateful Patient Program. I'd like to share portions of it with you here:

My mom has been seen by Dr. Mildred Ridgway and nurse practitioner Bethany Sabins in gynecologic oncology, and we want to thank them for the wonderful treatment, both physically with the cancer treatments and emotionally with their show of care and concern for her and her well-being.

The message goes on to say that our care team treated her with dignity and respect.

I really appreciate that from the bottom of my heart, and I want to make sure I let you all know how much their kindness has helped us in my mom's journey. She is always happy to see Dr. Ridgway and NP Sabins, and she is less afraid because she knows they care about her and her treatment.

That is the kind of care we'd want for our own family members and is central to the values of UMMC. My thanks go to these dedicated health care professionals and the entire Cancer Center and Research Institute team.

Another reminder of the progress we're making is the groundbreaking ceremony for a new center for cancer care and research set for 10 a.m. Oct. 22 at the green space beside the American Cancer Society Gertrude C. Ford Hope Lodge. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the UMMC Facebook page.

You can learn more about our state's cancer burden and what we're doing about it in "Rewriting Mississippi's Cancer Story," a four-week series of Medical Center Matters stories, photos and videos that started this week.

We have more work ahead, but reminders like these show the difference our people make every day and the momentum building across our institution. From the compassion shown in a clinic room to the promise of a new cancer center, each step moves us closer to A Healthier Mississippi.