For Dr. Jennifer Bain, assistant professor and interim department chair of periodontics and preventive sciences in the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, teaching is about maximizing her ability to reach people and touch lives.

When 46-year-old David Lindsey's heart stopped beating in the bed of a truck behind a strip of shops and restaurants in Ridgeland, the first medical professionals to reach his side were an unlikely bunch.

“How many glasses of wine do I drink?” asked J. Doe number one.

“It says three to four,” said J. Doe number two.

“That seems like a lot. Is that per day or per week?” asked number one.

“Per day,” replied J. Doe number three.

“Are we going to be gowned for this?” asked J. Doe number four.

“Yes, you will wear gowns,” answered Paula Rutledge, program administrator at the Judith Gore Gearhart Clinical Skills Assessment Center located at the Jackson Medical Mall. “Today's exercise will include occupational therapy students. They will be wearing scrubs. When you get to the evaluation, know that scrubs are okay and should not count against them for appearance.”

The eight J. Does have gathered in a conference room to discuss the game plan for the morning's exercise. They are standardized patients, specialized actors trained to portray clinical cases and provide learner feedback. (The case name has been changed so as not to reveal the identity to future health-care providers, because it is one of about 50 scripts recycled each semester at the center.)

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

The Medical Center garnered $5,868,144 from 54 grants and awards - 23 new, 29 continuing and two revised - in January through March 2016. The following faculty obtained the largest new awards during the period (note: award amounts are calculated as annual figures).