The Engine Keeps Running

Good morning!

The summer solstice occurs next week, which means we’re at the point in the calendar year when the days are longest. More daylight for outdoor, summer-related fun! (Well, what’s possible while navigating the oppressive heat, anyway. Sometimes, enjoying a book in air conditioning is most prudent.) I hope each of you has had or will have an opportunity to get away from work, decompress and enjoy a little summer respite. You’ve earned it, and a vacation can go a long way toward fostering healthier physical, emotional and mental well-being.

However, as we are a 24/7/365 operation, even during the summer months, there is rarely a perceptible slowdown within our three mission areas. While we are an institution for higher education, unlike other institutions that downshift for these three months, an academic medical center like ours keeps up the pace year-round.

July is the month we see the highest employee turnover and new faces entering Medical Center service. This is why you’ll notice the weekly list of service anniversaries in eCV is longest in July.

Already planned for next month is for at least 117 new employees to receive a UMMC ID badge, and that number doesn’t include the 191 new residents and fellows who will begin on or around July 1. So, be ready to help someone with a not-yet-faded badge looking for the cafeteria or some other location or who needs help with shuttle routes. We’ve all been there.

We are experiencing growth in nearly all of our health system areas and patient flow is consistent or increasing, so summer months are like any other – busy. For instance, the summer months are when we usually see the highest number of visits to our ambulatory clinics.

Our academic programs operate a little differently June through August than most higher education institutions. Immediately following each year’s commencement ceremony, new first-year classes start orientation. This May, more than 300 students in three schools took their first steps toward a health science career.

Research projects, active ones and those in the proposal stage, also don’t slow down according to the calendar. On the contrary, the summer months tend to be the busiest of the year. July, August and September see more grant submissions than the other months. In 2022, we saw 107 submissions in those three months. Our discovery enterprise is certainly a year-round endeavor.

While I want to make sure it’s clearly stated how important it is that you experience a break from your work routine in some way, even if it’s a staycation, and put some of that energy back into yourself and your well-being, it’s also essential that the Medical Center keeps running. People rely on us all day, every day of the year. Even during the summer, we are working toward A Healthier Mississippi.