Scientists from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and colleagues found that very small brain lesions noted on brain imaging that would typically be disregarded by clinicians are associated with a heightened risk of stroke and death. The findings are in the July 7, 2015 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

The discovery about these tiny lesions — areas of the brain where tissue has been damaged by injury or disease —may help physicians identify people at risk of stroke and death as early as middle age, even when they are displaying no symptoms of cardiovascular disease. 

Primary care physician Dr. John Cross is in the 43-member charter club. So are nurse manager Phaedra Hailey and registered CT technologist Chris Blair. They're among current employees who, five years ago, opened the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Grants Ferry multispecialty clinic off Lakeland Drive in Flowood.

The School of Health Related Professions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is leading the way in demonstrating that, when it comes to online education, quality does matter.

The school has become the first institution of higher learning in the state to have its distance learning implementation plan accepted by Quality Matters, a nationally recognized, faculty-centered peer-review body that certifies the quality of online courses. Quality Matters uses a rigorous assessment of course learning objectives, assessments, instructional materials, learner activities, student support and accessibility.

UMMC leadership extends its sympathy to the family of former internal medicine chair Dr. William Little in appreciation for his contributions to the academic health sciences center.

More than 50 current Medical Center faculty will begin the 2015-16 academic year with a promotion in rank, newly granted tenure, or both. Faculty are listed alphabetically, by school, in rank order of professor with tenure, professor, associate professor with tenure and associate professor.

"The Medical Center could not meet its mission were it not for the time and effort of our dedicated faculty," said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs

The American  Heart Association bestows a significant achievement award on UMMC's physiology chair, while a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry garners national recognition for a research project.  

The Medical Center is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty and leadership staff:

A number of interesting events is scheduled for the upcoming week at the Medical Center.