Transplant surgery staff at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are helping two Kosciusko High School students inform the world about the importance of organ donation.

A health career display on transplant surgery presented at the Health Occupations Students of America state competition as part of a health sciences class project earned a first place award for Kosciusko residents Anna Claire Blaylock and Natalie Howell, who each just finished 10^th grade. The pair will compete in HOSA's international competition June 19-25 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

To enhance the students' presentation for the international competition, Dr. Christopher D. Anderson, professor and chief of transplant surgery at UMMC, invited the students and their health sciences instructor, Amy Price, to “shadow” UMMC surgeons during a procedure, tour the department's clinical facilities and interview members of the transplant team.

The Junior League of Jackson's good stewardship and community philanthropy practices have added up to a $400,000 donation to The Campaign for Children's of Mississippi.

Presented Tuesday, the donation represents gifts from a League endowment fund held at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson dedicated to services encompassed by Children's of Mississippi as well as money from the fundraising efforts of the Junior League of Jackson, said Melanie Hataway, 2016-2017 JLJ president.

“We've been very frugal this past League year,” she said, “and we wanted to give those funds to support Children's of Mississippi in this expansion, which will benefit children and families throughout the state.”

The Campaign for Children's of Mississippi is a $100 million fund drive to expand and update its space dedicated for pediatric care including an enlarged and renovated neonatal intensive care unit, more rooms for the pediatric intensive care unit, more operating rooms and the creation of an imaging clinic especially for pediatric patients. A new pediatric clinic will make care for outpatients more convenient and comfortable for families. Expansion of the Children's Heart Center is also on the drawing board.

With this donation, the campaign has passed the halfway point in just under a year. Children's of Mississippi is an umbrella organization that includes Batson Children's Hospital as well as all UMMC pediatric care.

The Junior League of Jackson is a longtime supporter of pediatric care at UMMC, raising the funds used to construct the Children's Cancer Center, which opened 1992, and sending hundreds of volunteers to Batson Children's Hospital over the years for programs ranging from the Rockin' Mamas in the neonatal intensive care unit to car seat safety and parties for patients.

As they approach the mid-career landmark - and even before that - women faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center need mentors to guide them one-on-one as they develop into leaders.