Cheers, confetti and a plan for the next era of children's health in Mississippi filled Friday morning at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new pediatrics tower. Construction will start soon on the seven-story, 340,000-square-foot facility, which will include new space for neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, more operating suites, a pediatric imaging center and a new lobby with additional elevators. A pediatric outpatient specialty clinic is also part of the project.

As UMMC takes the next step toward transforming pediatric care in Mississippi by beginning construction of a new seven-story children’s tower this month, our pediatrics professionals and those that work alongside them tell what the project will mean for the advancement of medicine and the treatment of the state’s children.

Love for children and concern for their health and future brought philanthropists, state leaders and medical professionals together Friday to break ground on a new expansion of space dedicated to UMMC's care of Mississippi's children. “We’re just very thankful to this place,” said Megan Bell of Pearl, mother of 8-year-old patient Avery Bell. “Sometimes people ask what Batson means to me. It means life to me. I know that if it weren’t for this place … I wouldn’t have her.”

What a wonderful world, indeed. Leukemia survivor and Batson Children's Hospital patient Mary Ellis Cravey singing the Louis Armstrong standard, shoveling a rainbow of sand, confetti sent skyward and fresh hope for the future of pediatrics in Mississippi - it was all part of groundbreaking celebration.

Having the flu is bad enough, but when front-line caregivers bring it to work, they can spread the virus to coworkers and to patients. Infection prevention specialists at UMMC are urging employees with flu-like symptoms to stay home. They’re also asking friends and family members who are sick to refrain from visiting their hospitalized loved ones.

Medical Center leadership is proud to acknowledge those employees who will celebrate service anniversaries during the week of Dec. 4-10.

Several interesting events are scheduled for the upcoming week at the Medical Center.