Medical Center celebrates distinguished alum, Hall of Famers

Dr. Claude Brunson, senior advisor for external affairs to the vice chancellor for health affairs, was saluted Saturday as the sixth recipient of the Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award.

With about 100 people in attendance, the Medical Alumni & Friends awards dinner in Jackson also paid tribute to five other eminent alumni - the latest inductees into the Medical Hall of Fame.

Brunson, who completed his residency in anesthesiology and earned a master's degree in clinical health sciences at UMMC, said that without his training at the institution, "I would not be the physician I am today.

"The world is a better place, I believe, because of the University of Mississippi Medical Center."

Medical Alumni & Friends Awards Dinner honorees or their family members are, from left: Dr. James Hughes; Dr. Barbara Goodman, who accepted the honor on behalf of Dr. Charles Castle; Jan Evers, who acknowledged the honor on behalf of her late husband, Dr. Carl Evers; Dr. Claude Brunson, recipient of the Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award; awards presenter Dr. Erik Richardson, president of the Medical Alumni Chapter; Dr. John Jackson; and Kathryn Boronow, who received the award on behalf of her late husband, Dr. Richard Boronow.

Sponsored by the University of Mississippi Medical Alumni Chapter and the Office of Alumni Affairs, the 2015 Hall of Fame Awards honored these initiates:

• The late Dr. Richard Carlton Boronow, an internationally recognized expert in obstetrics and gynecology
• Dr. Charles Hilmon Castle, a highly regarded cardiologist devoted to improving access to high quality medical care
• The late Dr. Carl G. Evers, an exceptional educator and former associate dean for academic affairs
• Dr. James L. Hughes, an internationally known orthopedic surgeon and first chair of the UMMC Department of Orthopedic Surgery
• Dr. John F. Jackson, a prominent figure in the field of medical genetics and former chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine. 

Dr. Erik Richardson, outgoing president of the Medical Alumni Chapter, made the presentations, held in conjunction with the 147^th session of the Mississippi State Medical Association. 

The Medical Hall of Fame welcomed its first group of five in 2012. One Distinguished Medical Alumnus has been recognized each year since 2010.

As the latest honoree, Brunson immediately follows the friend who became his boss, Dr. James E. Keeton, former vice chancellor and now distinguished professor of surgery/pediatrics and advisor to the vice chancellor. He also succeeds "Bev" Evans, Dr. Luke Lampton, Dr. Dan Jones and Dr. Edward Hill. 

A graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Brunson is the first African-American to be named a Distinguished Alumnus.

He is also the first African-American to serve as president of the Mississippi State Medical Association.