A nurse practitioner, an occupational therapist, a psychologist and a social worker walk into an exam room, and it's no joke. It is the future of better health care. Interprofessional collaboration has been shown to improve the quality of patient care and improve outcomes.

With the help of a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is designing an Integrated Behavioral Health Program with the goal of improving both the diversity of the state's health professions workforce and the health outcomes for Mississippi's vulnerable populations in rural and urban areas.

Over the next three years, the School of Nursing will receive $2.1 million from HRSA's Advanced Nursing Education grant program. Dr. Janet Harris, professor and associate dean for practice and community engagement and director of the doctor of nursing practice program, is the project director.

"This program is going to help us bring a pipeline of qualified individuals forward to help deal, in an interprofessional way, with patients who have chronic medical conditions."

Harris said that addressing psychological needs is critical to treating patients with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. "We have identified a huge gap in the state of Mississippi in meeting the needs of our patients in the community who have psychological problems," she said.

The program will start at UNACARE Health Clinic, the School of Nursing's community clinic in midtown Jackson, and rotate through other community clinics, including two of the program's school-based clinics in Jackson and the Delta.

When she agreed to take the reins of the University of Mississippi Medical Center's busy Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Kimberly Crowder said she didn't have a lot of immediate questions - but her patients did.

Suzan B. Thames, whose name is synonymous with raising funds and nurturing Mississippi's children, was celebrated Wednesday at the Medical Center in a clandestine operation.

The homage was kept secret from Thames until she walked into the annual meeting of the Friends of Children's Hospital and some 60 voices yelled, "Surprise!"

Thames, the original president and chair of Friends, which promotes and raises funds for Batson Children's Hospital, proceeded to collect accolades and a memento as the namesake of the endowed chair now held by Dr. Rick Barr.

She received a shadow box-framed medal bearing the inscription, "The Suzan Brown Thames Chair of Pediatrics," which was fully endowed in 2010; the medal is a replica of the one awarded to Barr when he was named chair in 2011.

"When you see this I want you to remember how much we appreciate you," said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, as she presented the medal to Thames.

"I want you to think about the friends you have raised and the millions of dollars you have raised. But most importantly, think of all the children and the children's families who are better off because of what you have done.

"You are one of our heroes."

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

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