From the Chair

It has been said that the only guarantee in this world is that there will always be change. COVID-19 certainly impacted the world in totally unexpected ways. As we approach 2022, my predictions are:

• COVID-19 will be an endemic disease, not something we can put in the rear-view mirror. This is going to require continuing vigilance in the Department of Dermatology as we work very hard to protect the health of patients and staff while maintaining maximum efforts to insure access to care for the citizens of Mississippi.
• Our efforts to attract under-represented minority medical students from Mississippi and from historically black university medical schools to perform dermatology clerkships at UMMC will lead to a marked increase in high quality applicants who have learned that Mississippi is a warm and welcoming place to train. This will eventuate in the benefits of an increasingly diverse department.
• The “can do” attitudes of Josh Clark, Associate Departmental Business Administrator, and Haidee Montgomery, Education Administrator (see Welcome New Faculty and Staff), will strengthen our administrative team.
• An ever-increasing percentage of Mississippi dermatologists will have connections to our department. Our graduates are practicing on our faculty and across Mississippi even in rural areas that have NEVER had a dermatologist. Private dermatologists are contributing to the education of medical students and residents as mentors, co-authors of publications, and through participation in Grand Rounds. As always, we accept the most difficult patients who can benefit from subspecialty care while seeing complex patients provides unsurpassed learning opportunities. Finally, some dermatologists may consider investing themselves in academics later in their careers. Dr. Steve Helms and I certainly have enriched our lives through this involvement. In addition, Dr. C. Ralph Daniel will be joining our faculty and performing a nail clinic once per month starting in January. A mixture of seasoned practitioners and youthful junior faculty with creative ideas and energy make our department a special place.

If you wish to contribute to the positive changes embraced by the UMMC Department of Dermatology do not hesitate to call Josh Clark (601-946-2967) or me (330-883-5302). We look forward to hearing from you!

Bob Brodell, MD

Professor and Chair
UMMC Department of Dermatology
Cell: 330-883-5302