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. 

“Any given year, I teach about 150 students,” said Bain. “If 30 of those go into private practice, I can reach more people. It's rewarding. I'm a passionate person, and I really enjoy seeing someone else develop a love for something I love.”

With this approach, it's no wonder Bain has been the recipient of so many awards in her comparatively short teaching career. Bain was appointed to the position in the School of Dentistry in 2014, was awarded an American Academy of Periodontology Foundation teaching fellowship, took home the Hembree Honor Society D3 full-time clinical faculty all-star award and the D4 full-time clinical professor of the year in 2015, and earned the society's D2 clinical science professor of the year in 2016.

On Monday the 2009 dental school graduate was chosen to receive the 2016 Regions Bank TEACH (Toward Educational Advancement in Care and Health) Prize.

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.

They were summoned by Logan Russell, one of Lindsey's friends who'd just completed a group bike ride with him. Russell ran to the Sombra Mexican Kitchen in the Township at Colony Park in search of a doctor. There, he found the University of Mississippi Medical Center pediatric emergency team celebrating the retirement of Dr. Magolia Castilla, their former director.

One of the physicians was Dr. Michael Holder, who had just finished an overnight shift in the pediatric Emergency Department followed by a full day of teaching. “I got there, sat down and ordered a drink - and this gentleman bursts in,” said Holder, associate professor of emergency medicine. “At first, we thought it was a retirement prank for Dr. Castilla, but the gentleman was really quite frightened. When he pointed out an area in the parking lot, he was screaming.”

Holder and Dr. Emily Weber, professor of emergency medicine, were among those who first sprang from their seats. “We all took off in a dead sprint,” Holder said.

He jumped in the bed of the truck and began CPR on Lindsey, relieving bicyclists Rik Tice and Randy Tackett, former EMTs who'd been doing chest compressions from the time Lindsey passed out after finishing the ride at about 7 p.m. April 21.

Like he's done many times, Lindsey had ridden with a Jackson Metro Cyclists group on their regular Thursday evening route, a 20-mile loop around Lake Cavalier in Madison County that ended in the parking area behind Soulshine Pizza. 

“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).