UMMC ranks No. 2 on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals
The University of Mississippi Medical Center has earned the No. 2 ranking on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals, placing Mississippi’s only academic medical center among the nation’s most highly regarded health care workplaces.
UMMC finished second only to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and ahead of hundreds of health care organizations considered for the annual ranking.
For Medical Center leaders, the recognition reflects something that can be difficult to capture in numbers because the workforce is united by a sense of purpose in a state where the need for skilled health professionals is particularly great.
“We often say that our most valuable resource is our dedicated workforce, and that is proven daily,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs. “We routinely receive feedback from patients and families who report having a positive UMMC experience that paired compassionate care with a successful outcome. That’s the winning combination and is only possible if we are thoughtful about recruiting and retaining high-quality physicians and care teams.”
That connection between employees and mission carries particular significance in Mississippi, which continues to face substantial challenges in health outcomes and access to care.
As the state’s only academic medical center, UMMC occupies a unique place in addressing those challenges. Its three-part mission combines patient care, health professions education and research, while its specialized services include Mississippi’s only Level I trauma center, Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and organ transplant programs.
Leaders say the recognition also highlights the importance of creating an environment in which health professionals are supported as they care for others.
UMMC employees have access to a range of benefits and professional opportunities, including health benefits, a state-sponsored retirement program, scholarships and leadership development.
Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs, said investing in the people who deliver care ultimately strengthens UMMC’s ability to fulfill its mission.
“A quality and engaged workforce that is willing to do whatever it takes to care for their patients is paramount to reach our goal to improve the health and well-being of all Mississippians,” Jones said. “As the only academic medical center and safety net hospital in Mississippi, which is known for its many challenges, we have a hard and critically important job ahead of us. A quality and engaged workforce that is willing to do whatever it takes to care for their patients is paramount to reach our goal to improve the health and well-being of all Mississippians.”
The Forbes recognition is especially noteworthy because employee opinions played a central role in determining the rankings.
Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 30,000 employees of U.S. health care and social services organizations with at least 1,000 workers.
Participants were asked whether they would recommend their employer and evaluated their workplaces on factors including wages, working conditions and schedules, career advancement opportunities and safety. Respondents also assessed former employers and other health care organizations they knew through professional or personal experience.
The results were combined with employer-survey data from the previous three years, weighted less heavily, to determine the 250 organizations included on the final list.
The Top 5 rankings:
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis
- UMMC
- St. Luke's University Health Network in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Houston Methodist in Houston
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
“We’re a patient-first organization and all the leaders speak the same language and align very closely with the teams that roll up to them,” said Dr. Lisa Didion, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs. “Leaders here are visible and present and engaged with the frontline regularly.”
That means the work performed by employees throughout the Medical Center – from physicians, nurses and other health professionals to researchers, educators and support staff – can have an impact far beyond the walls of a hospital or clinic.
Didion said employee engagement surveys have shown a workforce that understands that connection.
UMMC is home to an “activated group” of employees who find their work meaningful, she said.
“That runs deep here,” Didion said. “It makes a big difference.”
UMMC is one of Mississippi’s largest employers and encompasses six health science schools, hospitals and clinics in the Jackson metropolitan area and community hospitals in Greenwood, Grenada, Lexington and Madison. Its statewide reach also includes specialty and outreach services.
For Didion, UMMC’s commitment begins with a straightforward principle: No matter an employee’s role or level of seniority, everyone has a stake in taking care of patients.