Bringing greater research awards, record-setting fundraising, scientific discoveries and further growth in academic endeavors to the state of Mississippi, 2016 turned out to be a remarkable year for the Medical Center.

Take a moment to once again read the top stories of your successes. Without our strong leaders and dedicated employees, we would be unable to accomplish our goal of "A Healthier Mississippi." You are what made 2016 a year of achievement.

The Division of Public Affairs is privileged to tell the stories of your accomplishments. We look forward to a year of even greater advances in 2017.

January

Sanderson Farms Championship raises record amount for Children's, again

Showing its strength as a philanthropic powerhouse, Century Club Charities gave a record-setting donation of $1.109 million to Friends of Children's Hospital from funds raised during the Sanderson Farms Championship. The host organization to Mississippi's only PGA TOUR event announced it had topped its 2015 donation of $1.102 million during a presentation at the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.
 

Dr. Jay Shake (left), associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery, and Dr. Sloan Youngblood, assistant professor of anesthesiology, review a patient’s electronic medical record.

March

VC named head of medical school-accrediting body

On July 1, 2017, Dr. LouAnn Woodward will be on her way to directing the organization responsible for endorsing the quality of education at 134 U.S., four Puerto Rican and 17 Canadian medical schools when the UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs assumes the title of chair-elect of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

Electronic health records exchange win-win for UMMC, Medicaid patients

Often, UMMC providers have only scant details about Medicaid patients' health histories. But a new partnership between Medicaid, UMMC, Epic and MedeAnalystics now allows Medicaid to exchange health data from patient claims with the Medical Center, giving caregivers the information they need for better treatment decisions.
 

Woodward cheers at the announcement of a $10 million gift to Children's of Mississippi by Joe and Kathy Sanderson, looking on.

April

School of Dentistry's future decisively positive with Felton at helm

Since taking office as dean of the School of Dentistry on Jan. 19, 2016, Dr. David Felton has earned the respect of dentistry students and faculty alike with his ability to gather facts, examine options and make decisive moves to bring positive change.

One patent, many applications

The barriers that protect the brain from disease and injury also can prevent treatments from reaching their targets. UMMC biochemists have patented a method to deliver drugs safely and efficiently to the brain. The patent's broad scope means it can be used to treat conditions ranging from ataxia to Alzheimer's.

$100M Children's of Mississippi campaign starts with $10M Sanderson gift

A renovated and expanded NICU, more critical care beds and operating rooms, imaging space dedicated to pediatric care and a new outpatient ambulatory clinic are all part of the future for Children's of Mississippi. Joe and Kathy Sanderson, longtime philanthropic supporters, provided a $10 million pledge that will help fund these efforts during the next five years.
 

AirCare 3 sits on the helipad atop UMMC's Conerly Critical Care Hospital as AirCare 2 departs.

May

AirCare 3 increases critical care access for north Mississippi

AirCare transports patients to the care they need, including Mississippi's only Level 1 trauma center at UMMC. The helicopter transport team also brings critical care to the scene, where seconds can sometimes make the difference between life and death. The unveiling of AirCare 3 was an important step forward for emergency response in Mississippi, bringing unique capabilities to the Golden Triangle.

UMMC confers record number of degrees four years running

The graduates of the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, Nursing and Health Related Professions began their careers with the aim of improving health and quality of life for people across Mississippi and the nation. The graduates were recognized during UMMC's 60th Commencement May 27, 2016 at the Mississippi Coliseum.

June

FIXing genes: a first at UMMC

Ryan Hallock last infused factor IX to manage his hemophilia several months ago. Dr. Spencer Sullivan, assistant professor of pediatrics who treated Hallock as part of a gene therapy clinical trial for the bleeding disorder, said the early results are the closest gene therapy has come to a functional cure for this disease.
 

The Translational Research Center, scheduled for completion in 2017, is just one new resource that will serve UMMC scientists across disciplines.

August

Friends of Children's Hospital pledges $20 million to capital campaign

Friends of Children's Hospital, a nonprofit group dedicated to raising funds for Batson Children's Hospital, committed to raise $20 million during the next 10 years to go toward the capital campaign, which will help the Medical Center expand and update its space dedicated to pediatric care. The campaign, chaired by Joe and Kathy Sanderson, started in April with a personal $10 million pledge from the Sanderson Farms chairman and CEO and his wife.

Big problem, bigger award: NIH funds UMMC obesity research

UMMC received a big boost in the battle against obesity. Focused on developing young scientists, the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research will invest in the scientists' talents and discoveries. By finding methods to treat and prevent obesity and related diseases, the CCTR will help advance the Medical Center's mission to create a healthier Mississippi.

UMMC's newest school, the School of Population Health will be named after longtime faculty member Dr. John D. Bower.

September

Eli, Abby Manning pledge $1M to Children's of Mississippi's 'Growing' capital campaign

Scoring a win for children's health in Mississippi, the New York Giants quarterback and his wife are doing more than giving seven figures to the $100 million Children's of Mississippi capital campaign: The couple are serving as honorary chairs of the effort that will expand and update pediatric care on the UMMC campus. They are also lending their names and faces to promote the fund drive, dubbed “Growing. So they can grow.”

Newest school on UMMC campus named for longtime supporter

The latest chapter in Mississippi's health story has a name - The John D. Bower School of Population Health. At a fall ceremony, university and health-care leaders celebrated the newest health science school at the Medical Center.

$1.9M NIH grant to fund research in children's health at UMMC

The Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, a large, multi-center project recently funded by the NIH, will bolster the pediatric clinical trials network at UMMC to study how the health of children is affected by environmental factors.
 

Jamie Hargett Howard, center, was in the first round of students to take part in the CODE program. She was hosted in the Raleigh clinic of Dr. Stephanie Tullos, left, who is being assisted by Amanda Sullivan, right.

October

UMMC telehealth enters next chapter of remote patient monitoring

Early data from the Center for Telehealth's Diabetes Telehealth Network confirms the program's success: 96 percent of Delta patients enrolled took their meds as directed, and each learned, then embraced, the video technology that makes remote patient monitoring possible. Lessons learned from that yearlong pilot are being used to upgrade UMMC's telehealth program and ramp up its patient-friendly technology.

Trauma first target for Neuroscience Institute

The Neuroscience Institute has created an electric buzz at UMMC. One of its first goals is to build a comprehensive neurotrauma program in partnership with Methodist Rehabilitation Center. As part of the institute's mission, new faculty member Dr. Keith Tansey will take steps - literally - and use them to understand spinal cord injury and recovery.

New program places dental students in rural communities

The new CODE program in the School of Dentistry gives fourth-year students the opportunity to experience "real-time" dentistry in dental clinics across the state. The program is proving to be a win for both the students and rural Mississippians: Students get more experience performing basic procedures, while rural Mississippians see greater access to affordable care.
 

The MIND Center announced a $10 million gift from the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation to support research on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. At the announcement ceremony were from left: MIND Center director Dr. Tom Mosley, MIND Center advisory board co-chair Suzan Thames, MIND Center advisory board chair emeritus Ambassador John Palmer, Ford Foundation trustee Cheryl Sims, vice chancellor for health affairs Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Ford trustees Tom Papa and John Lewis, and Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Vitter.

November

UMMC, MIND Center announce $10 million Ford Foundation gift

Alzheimer's disease is among the most costly and devastating illnesses affecting Mississippians. The Gertrude C. Ford Foundation announced a generous commitment to The MIND Center: a $10 million cumulative gift that will fund research programs to slow, stop or prevent Alzheimer's and dementia.
 

Dr. Rob Rockhold, left, and Tim Medley developed the original plan for Base Pair 25 years ago.

December

Down to a science: Base Pair turns 25

The Base Pair program started at UMMC on the suggestion of Tim Medley, then a Jackson Public School parent and school board member. Since its inception, hundreds of Mississippi students have benefited from stronger science education, with many going on to receive medical and health-science-related degrees.

Gift of life: Transplants in 2016 at record high

Once again, the Medical Center's organ transplant programs are setting milestones. This year, a record 16 hearts have been transplanted, and abdominal transplants also are at peak performance. Physicians attribute this success in part to a much-needed increase in organ donors, which allows more patients to be placed on waitlists and to ultimately receive organs.