UMMC leaders expressed their appreciation for the 10,000-person workforce last Friday with a pep rally in front of University Hospital and a parade down North State Street. Health care heroes received a big salute as the went back and forth to campus, and metro-area emergency response vehicles, police motorcycle units, city leaders and Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Hyer drove by as well. What a way to kick off Employee Appreciation Week!

Dr. J. Martin Tucker, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a UMMC alum, has been selected to lead the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an organization representing 60,000 ob-gyns. Vaccinations for women and equitable reimbursement for women’s health care services are among his goals as ACOG’s 72nd president.

After a long and sometimes harrowing stay in an intensive care unit, patients often are left with brain fog and are unable to walk, perform simple tasks like tying their shoes or hold an enjoyable conversation. The Medical Center’s new ICU Recovery Clinic gives such patients extra help to regain their strength and independence while making sure their physical and emotional needs are addressed.

C.J. Lowe, a member of the School of Pharmacy Class of 2021, will become a fellow with AstraZeneca after graduation, researching treatments for asthma and COPD. A member of the Ole Miss track team in his undergraduate days, Lowe’s own experiences with asthma and its treatment inspired his studies.

John Sinclair, a School of Dentistry May graduate, takes with him lessons on compassionate health care and the need to talk to his patients - not just focus on the dental work at hand. Oh, and he also will take his wife, fellow graduate Katelyn Allen, who he met during their four years of dental training.

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

Medical Center leadership is proud to acknowledge those employees who will celebrate service anniversaries during the week of May 10-16.