Gastroenterology services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are moving to more spacious and tech-savvy quarters after growing out of the clinic and procedure areas on the main Jackson campus.

Patients will be seen as University Physicians-Belhaven, which includes leased clinic space on the second floor of the Watkins Building at 1421 N. State St., and an adjacent building for outpatient procedures that has been purchased by UMMC. It's in keeping with the Medical Center's quest to meet the state's tertiary care needs for specialty services and to enhance the education of its residents and fellows, said Dr. Jim Sones, professor and chief of the Division of Digestive Diseases and its clinical services, University Gastro.

The move also frees up much-needed space at the Medical Center for other patient needs.

“We've been bursting at the seams,” Sones said. “This furthers our mission as a tertiary referral center to help patients that were being sent out of state for special procedures to stay here. We get many referrals from gastroenterologists out in the state. We work hand in hand with them.”

The deep red beanie, seamlessly crocheted by hand, was slipped over little Alicia De La Cruz's curls.

It was one of dozens and dozens of little red caps donated to the youngest patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center as part of the American Heart Association's Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign.

Around the country, knitters and crocheters are turning out red caps for babies born in February. The crimson caps are a reminder for families to live heart-healthy lives, said Christy Bridges, Go Red for Women director at the Metro Jackson American Heart Association.  

“Little Hats, Big Hearts is something we did locally a couple of years ago, and we wanted to bring it back,” she said.

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award going to Eli Manning Saturday has special meaning for Mississippi.

The New York Giants quarterback, who with wife Abby is honorary chair of The Campaign for Children's of Mississippi and donated $1 million toward expansion and updates to pediatric facilities at UMMC, was a finalist for the award the past three years, as well as in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012. This year, Manning was named a co-winner of the award with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

The University of Mississippi All-American won an honor named for another player who has cheered up patients at UMMC. Walter Payton, the Jackson State University icon who grew up in Columbia and played college football across the street from UMMC at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, cheered up patients and families at UMMC in the early 1990s, not long after his retirement from the Chicago Bears.

The Medical Center is proud to acknowledge those employees who will celebrate service anniversaries this week.

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