Front and Center: Ebony Gaston
Watching a commercial for the University of Mississippi Medical Center was all it took for Ebony Gaston to know she wanted to work at UMMC. Now a nurse manager for the ambulatory radiation oncology clinic, Gaston recently reached her 25th anniversary at the Medical Center.
“Growing up, I saw a commercial for UMMC on TV that showed a helicopter landing and a care team in action, rushing someone inside the hospital,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘I want to work there.’”
Her dedication to nursing began long before she was in nursing school at Holmes Community College.
“My dad said I’ve always had a big heart and wear it on my sleeve,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to care for people.”
Early in the Ohio native’s nursing career, caring for a trauma patient confirmed her calling.
“I was caring for a patient after a car accident and realized that this patient was walking through a nurse’s hands and eating because of a nurse’s hands,” she said. “As a nurse, your hands are healing hands.”
After becoming a registered nurse, Gaston started her career at UMMC, working in a variety of areas including renal, critical care, transitional/step-down, medical intensive care, medical-surgical, 4 North (a progressive care unit) and as a nurse educator.
For the past six years, she has been the nurse manager of the radiation oncology clinic, supporting the team of about 30 health care professionals and making sure patients of the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute receive compassionate care.
“We all come in with our own problems, but imagine adding cancer on top of that,” she said. “In your life, you are the author of your own story. When you have cancer, you’re not. You’re dealing with chemotherapy, diagnostic tests, radiation, blood work and more. That’s why it’s important for us to leave our own problems at the door and focus on the patient and how the patient is feeling.”
The radiation oncology team provides patient-centered care, she said.
“They’re a good group who show up every day ready to support our patients. As a team, we make sure no one walks through this journey alone.”
William “Trey” Woods, business and operations administrator for the Department of Radiation Oncology, said Gaston lives out those values.
“Ebony is a kind, compassionate nurse manager who consistently puts patients first,” he said. “She is a strong problem solver, a dedicated patient advocate and a valued team member who genuinely cares about the well-being of her patients, staff and coworkers.”
Dr. Rojymon Jacob, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, said Gaston’s leadership sets the tone for the clinic.
“Ebony leads with compassion,” he said. “She brings out the best in her team and ensures every patient feels supported. Her commitment to care makes her an invaluable part of our department.”
Gaston said she’s enjoyed the past 25 years at UMMC.
"The Medical Center is a great place to work,” she said. “Managers listen to you, support you and pour into you to help you grow in your career. If I could go back in time, I would do this all over again.”