Employee Appreciation Week offers daily goodies

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

By: Danny Barrett Jr., dlbarrett@umc.edu

It’ll resemble a trip to the fair each day this week as UMMC locations in metro Jackson and beyond observe Employee Appreciation Week.

Employees across all UMMC locations can enjoy tasty desserts, savory popcorn and, on Friday, food trucks as recognition is shared for a job well done.

“Our employees are the heart of everything we do at UMMC,” said Frank Lenior, chief human resources officer. “Your commitment to our patients, students and visitors continues to drive our mission forward, and we are deeply grateful for the dedication and excellence you bring every day. During Employee Appreciation Week, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your outstanding dedication, hard work and unwavering commitment to our shared mission.”

Events and activities began today with breakfast treats at the main entrance to the Adult Hospital, Wiser and Children’s, as well as Pavilion, the School of Medicine and School of Health Related Professions. Later today, chair massages will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of the School of Medicine. From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., popcorn is available downstairs in the main lobby as mobile party carts will be moving throughout the main hospital. Chair massages will set up in the adult hospital from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The chair sessions involve licensed massage therapists giving 5-minute massage sessions.

Random drawings will take place daily throughout the week.

The rest of the week’s schedule of activities at the main campus are:

• Tuesday, 10 a.m., popcorn in the main hospital entrance and at Children’s in the Sanderson Community Event Room; 10 a.m., chair massages in the Adult Hospital; 2 p.m., party carts moving through Children’s and Wiser, ice cream sandwiches at SHRP; 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., ice cream sandwiches in the main cafeteria
• Wednesday, 10 a.m., photo booth at SHRP and the School of Dentistry, chair massages in the Pavilion; 2 p.m., party cart in the Translational Research Building and SHRP, ice cream sandwiches at the Medical Tower, photobooth in the SOM lobby; 7:30 p.m., popcorn in the main cafeteria; 8:30 p.m., party carts in the Adult Hospital
• Thursday, 11:30 a.m., ice cream in the SOM lobby; 2 p.m., party carts in SOM, SOD and School of Nursing, popcorn at Batson/Wiser Walkway, party carts at Medical Tower and Batson Specialty Clinic, chair massages in the cafeteria overflow, photo booth in Wiser lobby area; 8:30 p.m., party carts at Children’s and Wiser
• Friday, 10 a.m., popcorn in the Batson/Wiser Walkway, chair massages in SOD, SHRP and Medical Tower; 11 a.m., food trucks at Student Union and Guyton Breezeway on the East Campus and the lot between the Adult and Critical Care Hospitals on the West Campus; 1 p.m., popcorn in the SOM lobby
• Saturday, 11:30 a.m., ice cream sandwiches in main cafeteria; 2 p.m., popcorn in the Adult Hospital-Cafeteria Overflow; 3:30 p.m., party carts in Children’s, Adult Hospital and Wiser.

Employees at UMMC Grenada and UMMC Holmes were treated to a pancake breakfast this morning to kick off the week. Each location will have themed events this week including picnic lunches, ice cream, sno-cones and food trucks on Friday.

Medical Center employees at UMMC clinics and offices in metro Jackson will receive a UMMC-branded umbrella as part of the weeklong celebration.