Medical student from Pontotoc receives award for merit, character

Pontotoc native Casey Taylor, a second-year medical student at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, was announced Friday as one of five recipients of a $600 Douglas Willis Memorial Scholarship.

Taylor was selected for his good character, merit and the promise he holds for the field of medicine.

Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice dean of the School of Medicine and associate vice chancellor for Health Affairs at UMMC, congratulated Taylor and the other recipients during the School of Medicine Honors Day, a ceremony held Friday at the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.

Taylor's wife, Laura, his grandmother Faye Robbins of Pontotoc, and parents, Danny and Debbie Taylor also of Pontotoc, attended the Honors Day ceremony and following reception.

Taylor, who attended Itawamba Community College, graduated from University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in biology.

"I came to decide on medicine for certain when I was younger and I was in the hospital visiting a relative who was ill. I remember feeling helpless in the hospital with my family, and this drove me to want to help other people in times of sickness and similar helplessness. I had always previously thought about entering medicine, but this event helped solidify my decision," Taylor said.

"Receiving this award was a huge honor for me, and I was very excited."

The Douglas Willis Memorial Scholarship was established in 1969 and is given annually to promising second-year medical students. Also receiving the scholarship this year were Austin Faulkner of Jackson, William Hay of Brookhaven, Matthew Prater of Collinsville and Michael Weiland of Vicksburg.