Pediatric Update Newsletter - Fall 2023 - University of Mississippi Medical Center

A Message from the Chair

In the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, we’re always working to improve the quality of children’s health care. That journey is one that never ends, but we can always stop along the way to mark milestone achievements.

Among the PICU team members at Children's of Mississippi are, from left, registered nurse Lauren Gordon; Wesley Smith, director of nursing children’s hospital services in the PICU and the Pediatric Emergency Department; nurse educator Colbie Baird; and nurse manager Gordon Gartrell.

PICU wins Beacon Award for Excellence from American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Monday, October 16, 2023

Children’s of Mississippi’s pediatric intensive care unit is the only one in the state – and one of 33 across the country – with the AACN’s Beacon Award status. The honor recognizes excellence in patient care as well as work environment and the nursing workforce.

The Department of Pediatrics welcomes new faculty

The Department of Pediatrics welcomes new faculty members to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Dr. Banks Carlisle, a UMMC pediatrics resident, reads to patient Bryson Nicholas of Jackson at the Batson Kids Clinic.

Partnership boosts early childhood development with books

More pediatricians will have the opportunity to reach for an essential part of a well-child checkup: a book.

Dr. Scott Benton, director of the Division of Forensic Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and medical director of the Children’s Safe Center, holds the Award for Outstanding Service to Maltreated Children from the AAP Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.

AAP honors Benton for outstanding service to maltreated children

This national award Is presented annually to recognize a pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist who has demonstrated outstanding clinical care and service to abused and neglected children and their families.

Nephrologist Dr. Sabahat Afshan talks with kidney transplant patient Dakota White during a follow up visit. White has been waiting for a transplant since 2022.

Unprecedented UMMC Kidney Swap: A Lifesaving Exchange of Donors Gives Two Patients a Second Chance at Life

Jeff Hughes of Hattiesburg and Dakota White of Mize, both in need of life-saving kidney transplants, faced a challenge when initially identified donors were found to be incompatible. Fortunately, a unique solution emerged: the family members who initially volunteered to donate, though incompatible with their intended recipients, turned out to be perfect matches for the opposite patients.

Ray Receives ACR Masters Designation

Linda Ray, MD, FACR, MACR, associate professor of pediatric rheumatology, was recognized as a Master of the American College of Rheumatology.

Majure earns Research Excellence Award

Marc Majure, MD, professor and division chief of pulmonology and sleep medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, earned the silver research excellence award.

Department of Pediatrics represented at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

Children’s of Mississippi specialists were in the spotlight at the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Washington, D.C., as authors of presentations on several topics.

UMMC wins the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2023 Outstanding Care Center Partnership Award

UMMC was selected for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2023 Outstanding Care Center Partnership Award.

SPS conference attendees smile for a photo during the conference.

Children’s of Mississippi hosts Solutions for Patient Safety conference

Since 2016, Children’s of Mississippi has improved care through Solutions for Patient Safety. On October 26 - 27, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s pediatric organization hosted a regional conference for SPS, a network of more than 140 children’s hospitals.

Kiara Barnes of Hattiesburg reads to her son Rahiem during his stay at Children's of Mississippi.

Read-a-thon looks to boost development of babies in neonatal intensive care

Monday, September 11, 2023

The NICU units at the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi and Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants are competing against other neonatal intensive care units across the country in a Babies with Books Read-a-thon through Sept. 21. Supporters can help the cause by choosing books from the NICU’s Amazon wish list.

Children's of Mississippi leaders gathered with barbecue team members and Hogs for the Cause organizers to celebrate the New Orleans-based barbecue and music festival's $1.5 million gift to the state's only children's hospital.

Hogs for the Cause announces $1.5M gift for new oncology space at Children’s of Mississippi

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Hogs for the Cause, which hosts a two-day barbecue and music festival in the Crescent City each spring, announced the gift at the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower Wednesday. The renovations will include a pediatric bone marrow transplant unit on the fifth floor of Children’s of Mississippi’s Batson Tower.

Competitors in the first Run the Rainbow for Children's run through downtown. The 2024 event will include a marathon route.

2024 Run the Rainbow for Children’s adds marathon

Monday, November 20, 2023

The second Run the Rainbow, set for March 16, will take runners through downtown Jackson, Belhaven, Fondren and the Medical Center campus in a USA Track and Field-sanctioned marathon. Shorter routes including a half marathon, 10K and 5K are available, plus there’s also the choice of looking like a runner by buying a T-shirt.

Fall 2023