At our large public institution, an important role of the leadership team is to develop and foster strong relationships with elected officials and their staffs. We often need their assistance with legislation that can help us fulfill and further our role as the state’s only academic medical center.
In many instances, we also need their assistance to fund ongoing programs or growth initiatives – a little more than 9% of our total operating budget is appropriated to us by state government for our education mission. And, these government leaders, at times, come to us for help with something they are working on or want to develop or move forward that’s intended to help the community they serve. Healthy relationships with the men and women doing business in the state Capitol building is essential for a smooth-running and growing Medical Center.
Of all the relationships we have right now, one of our most dynamic and engaging is with current Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, who previously served as Mississippi’s Secretary of State for many years. Since his life in public service began in 2008 (I still remember the cute “Gilbert” commercial his campaign ran when he was running for Secretary of State in 2007), Lt. Gov. Hosemann has been an active friend and proponent of the Medical Center. He is a die-hard Mississippian and an advocate of anything that can improve the lives of its residents, including in the areas of health care.
For today’s VC Notes, I’m sharing a recent video Coffee Talk conversation I had with the Lieutenant Governor. We discussed several topics that I think will interest you and got a chance to learn more about him, his Mississippi roots, and his strong affinity to the Medical Center – made stronger when his son became a graduate of our School of Medicine.
We are grateful to Lt. Gov. Hosemann for all that he does on behalf of UMMC and the health of Mississippians. We are all lucky to have him in Jackson.
(Click the thumbnail below to watch the interview on YouTube.)
