A Message from the Chair

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center always has a full calendar, and the past several months have been no exception. Throughout our department, medical education, research and care fill the days of our faculty members as we work to improve the quality of pediatric care for Mississippi’s children.

In December, Century Club Charities, the host organization of the Sanderson Farms Championship, presented a $1 million donation to benefit the state’s only children’s hospital. Since 2013, the year that Sanderson Farms, now Wayne-Sanderson Farms, became the tournament’s title sponsor, more than $12.5 million has been raised to support Children’s of Mississippi. We are thankful for their continued support of pediatrics at UMMC.

In research, we’re celebrating the good health of two of our patients who participated in gene therapy trials for the treatment of sickle cell disease in other states and are looking forward to becoming a clinical trial site later this year. The Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology includes one of the nation’s largest sickle cell programs for children.

In February, Ava Clarke Edney, a 15-year-old Northwest Rankin sophomore, was named Mississippi’s 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion. Born with albinism and legally blind, Ava Clarke hasn’t let that stop her from being an actress, model and outstanding student with dreams of an Ivy League education and an exciting career. We think she’ll be a wonderful representative for our children’s hospital patients and their families.

We’re proud of the accomplishments of our faculty members and are sharing a few of their recent accolades in this quarter’s issue. Their hard work in education, research and clinical care demonstrates the values of the Department of Pediatrics.

As always, we appreciate each of you as an ally in pediatric health care and thank you for your dedication to children’s health.

Sincerely,

Mary B. Taylor, M.D., M.S.C.I.

Professor of Pediatrics

Suzan B. Thames Chair, Department of Pediatrics