New lectureship honors Dr. Michael Jabaley’s legacy in hand surgery

A gift honoring the legacy of a pioneering Mississippi hand surgeon is creating new opportunities for education and collaboration at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 

Mary Jabaley has made a generous gift to establish the Dr. Michael E. Jabaley Distinguished Hand Surgery Visiting Professor Lecture Series, named in memory of her late husband, the world-renowned hand surgeon, Dr. Michael E. Jabaley. The endowed lectureship will bring leading experts in hand and reconstructive surgery from around the world to UMMC to share their knowledge with faculty, trainees, staff and community providers. 

Best known for his work in Dupuytren’s contracture and carpal tunnel surgery, Jabaley earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed a residency in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and then a residency in plastic surgery at Johns Hopkins, where he later served as an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and plastic surgery.  

In 1972, Jabaley was recruited by Dr. James Hardy, the first professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, to serve as chief of plastic surgery at UMMC. Together, he, Dr. Alan Freeland, former professor of hand surgery; Dr. James Hughes, the first chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; and Dr. Somprasong Songcharoen, long-time affiliate plastic and hand surgeon, led the early effort in hand surgery in Mississippi. Throughout his career, Jabaley produced almost 100 scientific papers. He also held visiting professorships at Harvard University, Stanford University, Ochsner Medical Center, Columbia University, Duke University and Vanderbilt University. 

The inaugural lecture, held on Feb. 27, welcomed internationally recognized hand surgeon, Dr. James Chang, the Johnson & Johnson Distinguished Professor and chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University.  

Chang presented “Ten Recurring Lessons in Reconstruction of the Hand” to an auditorium filled with plastic surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and hand therapists – a testament to the multidisciplinary nature of hand and upper extremity surgery. This was followed by a series of clinical case presentations from plastic and orthopaedic surgery residents and hand surgery fellows. The day’s events concluded with a dinner program, where Chang delivered a lecture demonstrating how closely art mimics life entitled, “Inside Rodin’s Hands: Teaching Surgery Through Art and Anatomy.” 

Jabaley’s wife, Mary, attended the event along with all five of their children, their two daughters-in-law, three grandsons, and Jabaley’s sister, Theresa Jabaley. Another guest was Jabaley’s longtime friend Dr. Ed Almquist, who had a distinguished career in hand surgery in Seattle. Their presence was a meaningful tribute to a father, grandfather, brother and physician whose vision continues to shape the field. 

“I know how much this event would have meant to Mike; he was so excited about the work he did in developing new methods of dealing with hand injuries and deformities. And he was as deeply committed to teaching as he was to moving the field of hand surgery forward. He loved the opportunity to lecture at other hand surgery programs,” said Mary Jabaley.  “Spending time with Dr. Chang and the residents and fellows has been a very meaningful experience for our family and friends. I know Mike would be happy that this annual lecture will inspire his same passion in others and will continue to elevate care in Mississippi for generations to come.” 

“No name is more fitting than Dr. Jabaley’s to establish the annual Distinguished Visiting Professor Lectureship in Hand Surgery with Dr. Chang as the inaugural visiting professor — two giants in the field of hand surgery and each a former president of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand,” said Dr. Marc E. Walker, founding director of the Jabaley-Songcharoen Hand Center and Songcharoen Endowed Chair of Plastic and Reconstructive Hand Surgery. 

“We are thankful to Mary Jabaley and her family, whose goal of furthering hand surgery education in memory of Dr. Jabaley has forged an incredible path that will continue to influence patients and trainees for years and years to come,” he said. 

The lecture series builds on the work of the Jabaley-Songcharoen Center for Hand, Upper Extremity and Nerve Surgery, a multidisciplinary collaborative program that brings together plastic surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and rehabilitation specialists to treat everything from routine conditions to the most complex injuries and birth differences. 

“Very few hand surgery programs in the world have the opportunity and the support to host an annual education event of this caliber and scale. The series allows UMMC to continue to brighten as a beacon for hand surgery care and education,” Walker said. 

"Dr. Michael Jabaley and Dr. Somprasong Songcharoen shared a vision of what the highest caliber hand and upper extremity surgery care could be for Mississippi and for the Southeast. This vision became a reality with the founding of the Hand Center," Walker concluded. 

The Center serves as a hub for advanced clinical care, research and surgical training. It has been recognized as the first in the world to earn a Center of Excellence designation in hand surgery from the nonprofit Surgical Review Corporation. 

To support hand surgery, plastic surgery and orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, contact Suzanne Crell, senior director of principal gifts, at screll@umc.edu or 601-815-8778.