The E. D. Dispatch

Message from the Chair

In this issue of The E.D. Dispatch, we celebrate 40 years of our Emergency Medicine Department's residency training at UMMC and welcome a new class of physicians beginning their careers with us. From faculty leadership and new emergency care resources to AirCare expansion, medical cannabis education and the continued growth of our department, this issue reflects the range of work happening across Emergency Medicine.

Meet the Class of 2029

This summer, we welcomed 16 talented interns to the Emergency Medicine Department team. Meet the class of 2029!

Emergency Medicine Residency Program celebrates 40 years

Forty years ago, the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at UMMC was a small residency fighting for a place within academic medicine. Today, its graduates, faculty, and programs reach far beyond the emergency department, carrying forward a legacy built on persistence, innovation, and service to Mississippi.

Dr. Risa Moriarity named new chief faculty affairs officer

Dr. Risa Moriarity has been named UMMC’s new chief faculty affairs officer. A longtime emergency medicine faculty member and leader in faculty development, Moriarity will guide institution-wide efforts to support faculty recruitment, growth, advancement and success across all six schools.

AirCare 5 adds fixed-wing capability to UMMC’s AirCare fleet, providing another transport option for patients traveling greater distances or when helicopter transport is less practical.

UMMC AirCare launches fixed-wing aircraft to expand access to specialized care across Mississippi

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s AirCare has officially launched its new fixed-wing service, with AirCare 5 now operational and available to transport patients who need specialized care over longer distances across Mississippi and the surrounding region.

The psychiatric emergency services unit is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and the Department of Emergency Medicine. Pictured above are members of the care team, from left; Michael Eldridge, RN; Ashley Lawrence, Adult ER Nurse Manager; Sherry Riser, director of nursing; Dr. Mark Ladner, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior; Dr. Ruby Hall, psychiatry resident; Courtney Moody, ER technician and Johnathan Bell, RN.

New dedicated adult psychiatric emergency services unit improves care at UMMC

Through a collaborative effort between the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has opened a dedicated unit within its adult Emergency Department to better serve psychiatric patients.

Cannabis Hotline graphic depicting a prescription bottle and stethoscope with text reading

Mississippi Poison Control Center launches medical cannabis hotline

The Mississippi Poison Control Center has launched a new free, confidential hotline to provide expert guidance on safe use, side effects, dosing concerns and potential drug interactions for patients using medical cannabis.

Follow us on social media!

Let's keep in touch. If you haven’t checked out our UMMC EM Residency Instagram and Facebook pages, you are missing out! Please send your stories and updates to us. You can reach us via social media or at UMMC-EmergencyMedicine@umc.edu

Summer 2026