CMS taps Brunson, installs two UMMC faculty

The Central Medical Society (CMS) named Dr. Claude D. Brunson, professor of anesthesiology and senior advisor to the vice chancellor, its 2012 Exemplary Physician of the Year during the society’s quarterly meeting Dec. 4.

At the meeting, the society also selected two UMMC faculty for leadership positions in CMS. Dr. Mahesh Mehta, professor of anesthesiology, was instated as president, while Dr. Michelle Owens, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, was installed as secretary/treasurer of CMS, one of 16 component societies of the Mississippi State Medical Association (MSMA).

"For us at UMMC to get a couple of our folks in leadership positions at CMS is certainly remarkable,” Brunson said. “Dr. Owens is now in line to become president in two years.

"It’s good for the university to have people who are part of organized medicine across the area. It strengthens us as a faculty practice to be tied in this way."

Dr. Helen R. Turner, retired associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, is the outgoing president for CMS, whose members are from Hinds, Leake, Madison, Rankin, Scott and Simpson counties. Each of the societies represents a region of the state; with approximately 1,400 members, CMS is the largest.