News Around the State

Medical school dean recalls historic transplant during Hardy forum

On the 45th anniversary of the world’s first lung transplant into man that brought the University of Mississippi Medical Center into the nation’s consciousness, a key participant in the groundbreaking procedure was back at the Medical Center.

Dr. Martin L. Dalton, Jr., dean of the School of Medicine at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., recalled the events surrounding that historic four-hour operation to a capacity crowd of Medical Center faculty and residents during the annual James D. Hardy Lectureship in Surgery, “James D. Hardy and the First Lung Transplant,” June 11.

“He (Hardy) was truly a great man, a great surgeon, a great medical educator, a great friend, and a profound influence in my life,” said Dalton, who completed his general and thoracic surgery residencies at the Medical Center under Hardy’s tutelage. “I admired and respected him more than anyone whom I worked with and he is deserving of praise.”

Dalton’s lecture culminated the daylong James D. Hardy Surgical Forum, which included presentations of original scientific investigations by chief residents in the Department of Surgery: Dr. John D. Adams, Dr. Daniel E. Careaga, Dr. Michael S. Dolan, Dr. Joel R. Epperson, Dr. Paul Jason Shannon, and Dr. George Varkarakis.

“This day is really the highlight of our academic year,” said Dr. Marc Mitchell, James D. Hardy Professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery. “Dr. Hardy was a force in this medical school for 35-40 years. I’m sure that if Dr. Hardy were to have looked at his accomplishments, his greatest would be the people he had trained and the lives he had influenced.

“There are many people who are either cardiovascular or thoracic surgeons because of the influence Dr. Hardy had on them during their residency training.”

Chair of surgery from 1955-87, Hardy died on Feb. 19, 2003.

Dalton said Hardy trained more than 100 young men and women to be surgeons, but taught far more than how to operate – he instilled integrity and compassion into his residents and interns. As an example, Dalton recalled the first time he visited the Medical Center while seeking an internship.

“My visit was on a Saturday, and I went to the surgery department,” Dalton said. “Dr. Hardy was the only faculty member who was here. He showed me around, and I was enamored by Dr. Hardy for giving a tour to a visitor seeking an internship.” Dalton arrived on campus in June 1958.

The Hardy family history Dalton provided painted a vivid picture of the world-famous surgeon. Hardy’s father ran a lime plant from an office that featured one solitary sign that read “Do It Now;” his mother was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Alabama who taught Latin.

Dalton described Hardy as an “all-around individual,” who played on an eight-man football team at Montevallo, Ala., and, along with two siblings, performed with the Bama Skippers, a local high school band. Although he was an accomplished clarinetist, when Hardy discovered the band needed a trombonist, Dalton said he bought a trombone from a “hock shop” in Birmingham and learned to play on his own. Dalton said Hardy also taught himself to play the piano a few years later.

It was while he was serving in the U.S. Army’s 81st Field Hospital that Hardy decided to become a surgeon, Dalton said. “He felt the rewards, duties and responsibilities were preferable to him.”

Hardy came to the School of Medicine when it transferred to Jackson in 1955. “Dr. Hardy was a wonderful chairman,” Dalton said. “He took over immediately. Things were well under control and humming. He assembled a wonderful faculty.

“Dr. Hardy loved contact with students. He loved to spend time imparting knowledge, gaining knowledge, working with active learners.”

Although Dalton said he is unsure why Hardy decided to concentrate on lung transplantation, an announcement he remembered his mentor make in 1962 turned prophetic within a year.

“He said . . . ‘cautious attempts to achieve permanent survival of homologous lung transplants is morally justified at the present time.’” Dalton said. “Dr. Hardy thought it could be done and should be done, and he made a moral case for it.”

Among the criteria Hardy set for the first human lung transplant were that the recipient have a likely fatal disease, that there be a reasonable possibility of patient benefit and that removal of the donor lung not result in loss of lung function. Dalton said in the absence of brain death laws in 1963, the only way the surgeons could obtain a donor lung would be from a recently expired patient.

Dalton recalled the first potential candidate for the lung transplant, an inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, was “very agreeable to what we were going to do. He was an ideal candidate for this particular operation.”

At 7:30 p.m. on June 11, 1962, Dalton called Hardy at his home. “I said we have a donor, and Dr. Hardy promptly appeared.”

Dalton played a three-minute video of the operation. “I brought the lung in from the donor,” he said while the video played. “I can almost hear Dr. Hardy saying, ‘Can you see this?’ to the photographer as he was filming.”

Following the operation, the patient was “alert and active,” according to Dalton. However, the patient developed azotemia, renal failure and malnutrition, and died 18 days after the operation. “This patient, we believe, would have lived considerably longer . . . if not for malnutrition and his renal condition,” Dalton said. Nevertheless, Hardy’s presentation at an American Medical Association conference in Atlantic City, N.J., in June 1963 “created a lot of interest.”

“At autopsy, there was no infection, the transplanted lung was grossly normal and we could find absolutely no evidence of rejection whatsoever,” Dalton said. “A biopsy of the lung taken when it was implanted June 11 and another (biopsy) 18 days later at autopsy were normal.”

Dalton said the operation proved that lung transplants were technically feasible, the transplanted lung functioned well and that donor preservation measures were successful.

“This experience opened the way for further human lung transplants,” Dalton said. “It attracted the curiosity of thoracic surgeons and future transplant surgeons that this was something that could be done and should be done.”

Over the next 20 years, however, only 40 lung transplants were reported. In 1982, cyclosporine, a potent immunosuppressive medication Dalton called a “miracle drug,” became widely available, and the following year, the first long-term survivor of a human lung transplant lived for more than two years. Successful lung transplants began to become much more common.

Hardy went on to perform the world’s first successful heart transplant into man in 1964. Thirty years later, the James D. Hardy Clinical Sciences Building was dedicated on campus, and the James D. Hardy Society was formed. The Department of Surgery dedicated the James D. Hardy Library in 2001.

Dalton said Hardy and his wife, Louise “Weezie” Scott, had four daughters, each of whom earned doctorate degrees. He recalled visiting Hardy when his daughters were young and how one of the girls demonstrated her father’s tremendous literary prowess.

“She excitedly took me to a room and said, ‘This is a special room because this is where my daddy makes books,” Dalton said. Hardy authored 23 books and more than 500 journal articles.

Dalton closed his presentation by drawing attention to a painting of Hardy that hangs outside the Hardy Library.

“It shows Dr. Hardy standing resolutely in a leadership position with an aura of confidence,” Dalton said. “We always think of him standing tall, ready to lead, ready to move forward.”

Fisher named controller at St. Dominic's

Matt Fisher has joined St. Dominic Hospital as Controller. He most recently served as Assistant Chief Financial Officer at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, AL.

“We are pleased to have Matt join the St. Dominic’s team. We look forward to incorporating his experience in healthcare financial management into our practices,” said Jennifer Sinclair, Vice President of Fiscal Services.

Fisher, a certified public accountant, said he anticipates providing input based on his years of hospital experience to further the success St. Dominic’s has enjoyed for many years. “St. Dominic’s has an outstanding reputation within the community and I look forward to working for an organization that has a rich history and an exciting future,” Fisher said.

A Louisiana native, Fisher received masters’ degrees in both Health Administration and Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and earned a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.

He and his wife, Mandy, have two children, Caroline and Will, and reside in Madison County.

Baptist's New Adolescent Chemical Dependency Program Offers Free Initial Assessment

Last month, a private school in the metro Jackson area made news by requiring all students and their dates to pass a breathalyzer test before they could enter the school’s prom.

Given the well-documented use and abuse of drugs and alcohol among teenagers, the school’s strategy is not surprising. But without a breathalyzer, how can parents know if their kids have a drug or alcohol problem?

According to Mark Rester, MD, medical director of the Adolescent Chemical Dependency program at Baptist Health Systems, the clues of substance abuse generally are:

• Academic decline. Your teen’s grades suddenly start to fall. They show no interest in school or learning. They have frequent absences, truancy, and discipline problems.
• Changes in social behavior. They have new friends who are less interested in standard home and school activities. Their choice of clothing might change, showing a new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use.
• Changes in behavior at home. They start arguments, break rules, or withdraw from the family. They show sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression, and a general lack of interest.

“Keep in mind that some of this is typical of teenage behavior,” said Dr. Rester. So how does a parent distinguish between normal teenage rebellion and chemical abuse?

“If your teenager shows unusually secretive behavior, or if there is an unexplained disappearance of money, that could be a sign of trouble,” says Dr. Rester. “An unexplained acquisition of items of high monetary value might be a clue that a teenager is selling drugs,” he added. “And if they are ‘running around with a bad crowd,’ that may be another indication that they are in trouble.”

Monitoring the Future, a project of the University of Michigan funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, reports that 47% of kids have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school. The same report found that more than half of the 12th graders and nearly a fifth of the 8th graders included in the 2007 report stated they had been drunk at least once in their life.

“Teens from all walks of life are subject to substance abuse; it’s not just kids from lower socio-economic backgrounds,” says Dr. Rester. “Kids from affluent backgrounds are just as likely—if not more likely—to become chemically dependent. Their parents tend to have more outside interests and may provide less attention to their kids. These kids also may feel more pressures to succeed and seek relief from those anxieties.”

Baptist Behavioral Health Services now offers a chemical dependency program for adolescents and young adults ages 13 to 21. It will offer treatment for patients who have psychiatric disorders in addition to chemical addictions. The 12-week program offers cognitive, behavioral and 12-step therapies in a group therapy setting. It offers a free initial assessment. For more information call Baptist Behavioral Health at 601-968-1102.

According to The AntiDrug, a project of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, if a parent suspects drug or alcohol abuse it’s important to take action right away.

There are numerous resources available on the Internet to guide parents who think their teens have a drug or alcohol problem. Another resource is the toll free line of the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, a service of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Parents can call that number--1-800-729-6686--24 hours a day to talk with trained specialists.

Dr. Rester cautions against the routine use of home drug testing kits. “The American Academy of Pediatricians doesn’t recommend doing this because it can undermine the teen’s trust in the parents,” he explained. “A good outcome must involve everybody—the parent, teen, and any healthcare providers who may be included.”

“Even if your teen is driving you crazy, you’ve got to get yourself under control and be constructive,” he said. “Try getting your teen to talk about the problems you are seeing—the social changes, academic decline—in a non-confrontational, caring fashion. You’ve got to communicate, “We want you to succeed.’”

Online Resources: www.theantidrug.com (for parents) and www.freevibe.com (for teens). Both are projects of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign launched by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy www.ncadi.samhsa.gov: The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information.

Watson Named G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center Director

Linda F. Watson was recently appointed as director of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson.

Linda F. Watson, director of the Office of Operational Quality for Clinical and Business Processes for the VA Heart of Texas Healthcare Network, has been appointed as director of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson.

In her position in Texas, Watson helped transition the network into an integrated health care system. Her leadership was instrumental in the network’s recognition as the 2007 Secretary’s Certificate of Commitment to Excellence Carey Award recipient.

Watson has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award for exceptional long-term accomplishments. In 2003, she received the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ Award for the Advancement of Nursing Programs. She is also a three-time recipient of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ Commendation and a three-time recipient of Medical Center Director Commendations.

Watson attended the University of Alabama in Birmingham where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration and Clinical Specialty. She also earned a certificate in Advanced Management Studies from Yale University School of Organization and Management, a certificate in Health Care Executive Development from Cornell University, and a certificate in Advanced Healthcare Administration from the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives.

St. Dominic Community Health Services Helps Museum Goers Bone Up on Health

Care-A-Van Director Sonya Walker, RN, (right) checks the bone density of Rhonda Lee (left) during the health event at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Lee took advantage of the free screenings offered on May 6 by St. Dominic Community Health Services.

St. Dominic Community Health Services participated in a health event hosted by the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson on May 6. The free health screenings and information were provided in conjunction with the museum’s “Bone Up on Bones” Exhibit which runs through May 11. St. Dominic’s also served as a major sponsor of the exhibit.

Appropriately, the St. Dominic Care-A-Van staff provided free bone density screenings for those who attended. Representatives from New Directions for Over 55, St. Dominic’s senior adult wellness program, and a registered dietitian were also on hand to distribute information on healthy lifestyles.

St. Dominic Community Health Services is a subsidiary of St. Dominic Health Services and incorporates mainly the outreach ministries which serve the health and wellness needs of members of the community. Those ministries include HealthLine Wellness Center, the Care-A-Van mobile screening program, New Directions for Over 55, and the Community Health Clinic which serves the homeless and working poor of Jackson’s inner city.

James Jeter to Head St. Dominic Health Services’ Charitable Foundation

St. Dominic Health Services has hired Texas native James M. Jeter, a proven leader in the areas of development and fundraising, as the Executive Director of its 501 c(3) charitable foundation. Jeter brings to his new position over 35 years experience within higher education and the private sector.

With both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Texas A&M University, Jeter served his alma mater for more than 20 years directing giving programs and alumni relations. During that time, he spearheaded a number of successful fundraising campaigns including the university’s first capital campaign which raised over $600 million.

Jeter’s career also encompasses work in the wireless communications and Internet provider industries as well as time served as the director of development for Texas Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. Most recently, he was associated with Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX, where he served as Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs and CEO of the Alumni Foundation.

Jeter has been heavily involved in his community, serving within his church, on the local school board, a medical center advisory board and within his Chamber of Commerce. He volunteers his time with Big Brothers, Boys & Girls Clubs, youth sports associations and national conservation efforts.

At St. Dominic’s, Jeter will be responsible for developing and leading fundraising campaigns to support the organizations mission-driven outreach ministries which include the Care-A-Van mobile screening program, St. Dominic’s Community Health Clinic for the homeless and working poor, New Directions for Over 55 senior adult program and our neighborhood revitalization projects.

“Jim has the right experience and proven commitment needed to help St. Dominic’s further the community ministries that are so deeply woven into our mission,” said Deidra Bell, CFO for St. Dominic Health Services. “He will surely be an asset to our organization but I’m confident that he will also have a positive impact on the community as a whole. We are pleased to have him lead the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation team.”

Central Mississippi Medical Center Names Employees of the Quarter

At a recent Service Awards Ceremony, Central Mississippi Medical Center named its Employees of the Quarter for the Second Quarter 2008. Bobbye Mims, Clerk II, Materials Management, was named the Employee of the Quarter. Paul Bird, MS, Director, Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab, Comprehensive Weight Management Center, Diabetes Management, Hyperbaric Oxygen, and Wound Management Center was named the Department Manager of the Quarter. Ruth Cash, LPN, 4N, received the Nursing Excellence of the Quarter Award.

After 32 years at CMMC, Bobbye Mims-Kimble has earned an excellent reputation for providing people with the supplies they need to do their jobs. Even though Mims-Kimble did not start out with the intention of working in the field of health care – as is evident by her degree in Early Child Care from Utica Junior College, she found it to be a perfect fit. Mimms-Kimble was first offered a job in Housekeeping after her former husband was a patient at CMMC (then Hinds General) in 1976 and stayed in the ICU long enough for the staff to really get to know her family. Two years later, she transferred to Central Service and twelve years later, she moved into Purchasing where she has been for the past 18 years.

As if her longevity at CMMC were not enough, her dedication to her career is evident in her customer service philosophy:  “It is my opportunity to ensure that our physicians and my co-workers have the supplies to provide first rate care to our customers,” said Mims-Kimble.

Her passion for helping others spills over into her community. At Greater White Oak M.B. Church of Utica, MS, she is the director of Vacation Bible School, vice president of Ushers Ministry and co-coordinator for the Southern Region Ushers Association Outreach Ministries.

Mims-Kimble feels that it is important to be a leader in giving back to the community in order to encourage future generations to give back. She plans to leave a legacy of giving.

In January, 2007, she remarried after being a widow for 23 years. She and her husband, Lucious Kimble, Jr., have four children and five grandchildren. They reside in Utica, MS.

Paul Bird has taken some serious leaps of faith in his career. It all started when he was a U.S. Army Paratrooper 27 years ago. All the leaping he did in the service came in handy when he was asked to serve as director of the Diabetes and Wound Management Center, CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation as well as the Comprehensive Weight Management Center at CMMC.

Whether a patient is being treated for diabetes, wound care or having bariatric surgery, Bird's vision is to see someone with a poor life expectancy be given the chance for many extra years. He believes that his most important accomplishment to date is his staff whom he describes as, "compassionate enough to really care for their patients, smart enough to envision new concepts/programs, tenacious enough to weather the development process that comes with building new programs, courageous enough to tell me when they think I'm wrong and loyal enough to do what I asked anyway..."

As a Lt. Colonel in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Bird manages his programs with the courtesy, efficiency and can-do attitude he acquired from his years of military service. His many positions in the National Guard include, platoon leader, executive officer, company commander, Director of Training, Director of Leadership, Administrative Officer and Operations Officer. He is a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard Officer's Association.

Bird retains a strong sense of civic duty in his community. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Brandon where he serves as a Sunday School teacher and teaches a karate class aimed at children in single parent homes. He designed the karate class so that the children would pay no dues but perform community service each month to remain in class.

As a volunteer for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, Bird volunteers for the Diabetes Foundation Walk and the semi-annual Diabetes Kid's Camp - Kamp Kandu.

Bird has claimed Albert Einstein's quote, "The highest destiny of the individual is to serve, rather than to rule," as his own philosophy. This quote is especially relevant to Bird's life since he was recently called into active duty.

The staff at CMMC wishes Bird well and will await his return to Health Management Associates, Inc., in two years.

He and his wife, Martie reside in Brandon. They have three daughters.

“Seven” is the lucky number for Ruth Cash, CNIII. It is the number of years she has spent at CMMC before receiving the Nursing Excellence of the Quarter Award. Because of the support she found when she worked at CMMC as a student nurse tech, Cash decided to start her career here, which has been beneficial to all concerned parties.

Kathy Holbrook, RN, Nurse Manager of 4N, cannot say enough good things about Cash. “She is the most kind, truly compassionate nurse that I know.

She is a calm and quiet leader who is respected by her co-workers and physicians. I think that one of her patients said it the best when she said, ‘When Ruth walked into my room, she presented herself in such a way that I knew without a doubt, that I was going to be just fine. Ruth just wasn't going to settle for any less.’ We are so fortunate to have this type of nurse working in our hospital!”

Cash strongly believes in the “Golden Rule” and that she should provide the quality of care she would want to receive if she was the patient.

“When I walk into a patient’s room, I try to remember that this patient could be me or someone I love. I believe that every person is important and should be treated with dignity and respect.” Cash attributes her award to a great nursing team “which makes a terrific difference on any nursing unit. Everyone benefits from great team work.”

Her giving spirit is even more evident in the work that she does for Riverside Independent Methodist Church in Flowood, MS. There, she serves as a church organist. Cash is excited about taking part in a medical mission in the Philippines in August. She is currently researching ways to get supplies donated for the mission.

Cash and her family reside in Pearl, MS. They hope to relocate to a house in the “country” soon.

Broadcasters, entertainers honor pediatric oncologist for leadership in fight against childhood cancer

Dr. Jeanette Pullen, former chief of the division of pediatric hematology-oncology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, was honored for her instrumental role in the fight against pediatric cancer at a Children's Miracle Network meeting in Orlando.

Hundreds of on-air personalities from TV and radio stations in the US, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined with celebrities from stage, screen and gridiron at Walt Disney World Resort to honor Pullen and three others with the Children's Miracle Achievement Award.

The award is given annually to four caregivers from CMN hospitals throughout North America for their lifetime of service to children.

Dr. Owen B. Evans, chairman of pediatrics at UMC, and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young presented the award to Pullen as hospital representatives, journalists and entertainers looked on.

"It is a wonderful honor for an extraordinary physician who has been instrumental in coordinating pediatric cancer research efforts throughout the nation," said Evans. "Jeanette has made it her life's mission to rewrite the story of childhood cancer. Her work ethic, clinical skills, and dedication to her patients represent the best of our profession."

Before Pullen began her work as a pediatric oncologist in 1969, the overwhelming majority of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) did not survive. Today, thanks in part to her leadership, this disease—once a near-certain cause of death—is now treatable.

Over the years Pullen helped coordinate the efforts of children's cancer centers across the US in the research and development of treatment for ALL—the most common childhood cancer. As a member of the national Pediatric Oncology Group and Children's Oncology Group, she has led research studies that have yielded lifesaving knowledge and more effective treatments for children with leukemia. As a result of this cooperative research, death rates of children with ALL have plummeted as the cure rate has climbed to more than 80 percent.

As Pullen's list of honors grows, her humility remains constant. "It's a team effort," she was quick to point out as she accepted the award. She heaped praise on her colleagues at the Mississippi Children's Cancer Clinic at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children at UMC who help children battle cancer through a caring team-based approach and on the broadcasters and companies that support them.

"There are teams like ours at children's hospitals all over the country and none of us could do our work without your support," said Pullen to a crowd of thousands that included corporate sponsors and radio and television partners from all over North America. "You devote extensive time and creative effort to raise money for our hospitals—money that is used to provide patients with life-saving care, education, research, and equipment. Thanks to all of you for what you do for the Batson Hospital and other children's hospitals in North America and now in Europe."

"Dr. Pullen knows that hospitals need help and ongoing support to provide all the care necessary to treat sick children," said Tena McKenzie, interim director of the division of public affairs at UMC. "By working with organizations like CMN and the Junior League of Jackson, she was the driving force that built the Mississippi Children's Cancer Clinic. And she understood that community involvement and support were crucial to its success."

McKenzie, who nominated Pullen for the award, was joined in Orlando by several of the TV and radio personalities in Mississippi who raise money for the Batson Hospital each year during the CMN Celebration broadcast on WJTV News Channel 12 and the Mississippi Miracles Radiothon that airs on eight Radio People-owned stations in Jackson, Meridian and Vicksburg. Natchez radio station WQNZ 95 Country—broadcaster of the Miss-Lou Miracles Radiothon—was also represented.

"In my profession we look for compelling stories that make an impact on people's lives," said WJTV anchor Linda Allen who also attended the awards ceremony. "And Dr. Pullen is a clear example of one of those stories. Her dedication and commitment to the children of Mississippi is reason enough for WJTV to support the Batson Hospital through our annual broadcast of the CMN telethon and in other ways throughout the year."

Other award recipients included physician-in-chief Dr. Ralph D. Feigin at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, lead neonatologist Dr. Gregor Alexander at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando and clinical nurse specialist Rosella Jefferson at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Children's Miracle Achievement Awards were sponsored by Delta Air Lines. Children's Miracle Network co-founders Marie Osmond and John Schneider headed up a list of celebrities that participated in the CMN meeting or performed in honor of Pullen and the other award recipients. They included: singer Taylor Hicks, Miss America Kirsten Haglund, Olympian Mary Lou Retton, Donny Osmond and The Osmonds, singer John Rich of the country duo Big and Rich, Scrubs actor Neil Flynn, radio and TV host Glenn Beck, acrobatic performing group Cirque Dreams and PGA Golfer Nick Faldo. The entire Osmond family also performed as part of their celebration of 50 years in entertainment.

Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventive education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. Since 1986, CMN has helped raise more than $13 million for the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children at UMC.

More information about the Mississippi Children's Cancer Clinic and the Batson Hospital is available online at www.umc.edu.

St. Dominic’s New Directions for Over 55 Celebrates 20 Years of Service to Mature Adults

New Directions for Over 55 member Nell Mobley shows off her work during a popular watercolor art class offered through the program. The watercolor enrichment class is one of a myriad of classes and social opportunities for adults age 55 and older.

An idea that came about 20 years ago at St. Dominic’s as a way to create more activities for adults over the age of 55 has grown into a phenomenal program that shows no signs of aging.

St. Dominic’s New Directions for Over 55 is celebrating its 20th anniversary, marking success that has grown from the grass-roots efforts of Sister Josephine Therese, then president of St. Dominic’s Community Health Services, to a current membership of over 5,000 individuals. New Directions now offers more than 100 programs and services annually to adults age 55+, making it one of St. Dominic’s most visible and successful community efforts.

“New Directions is a state if mind for many of its members,” said Sister Mary Dorothea, president of St. Dominic Health Services. “It’s a way for them to stay active and informed about their health issues.” She continued, “The success and growth that New Directions has experienced over the years tells us that mature adults need and want to stay active. They are interested in living healthier and longer and we are glad they choose to let St. Dominic’s help with that journey.”

From exercise and ballroom dance classes to art workshops, educational classes, trips and health and medical seminars and screenings, New Directions provides a wide variety of activities to suit many interests. All of the programs contribute to the overall belief of wellness, defined as having five dimensions that include emotional, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual aspects.

“New Directions continues to improve the quality of life for many seniors, providing a unique place for them to connect through social, intellectual and physical activities,” said Jean Clark, who has served as director of New Directions for the past 14 years.

One of the most popular aspects of the program is the myriad of social activities offered each month to members. Trips ranging from seven-day Alaskan Cruises to day excursions for spa treatments at Greenwood’s plush Alluvian Hotel are planned year-round. New Directions staff members accompany the groups, some of which include members that are in their 80’s and 90’s. The participation of members of all ages speaks to the positive benefits provided by the program.

While members have visited some exciting locations, none was more memorable than the trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Members visited a nursing home to help make repairs to the damaged facility. One of New Directions’ members in his 90’s spearheaded the grounds renovation and participated in the landscaping project himself. This visit, one of several the group has made to the Coast nursing home, is a great illustration of the benefits of staying active by serving others.

As part of St. Dominic’s Community Health Services, New Directions is committed to providing the same quality of service and care offered at St. Dominic Hospital. The New Directions staff organizes the annual Senior Fest, a health and wellness fair that provides screenings and a wealth of valuable information to members from St. Dominic’s medical professionals and other resources within the community. The staff also offers free health screenings at local churches and schools and is actively involved with Mississippi’s Senior Olympics.

Members of New Directions receive discounts on services offered throughout the hospital, including at the wellness center, dining facilities, pharmacy, gift shop and The Spa at St. Dominic’s. Area businesses, including restaurants, optical, floral, jewelry and medical equipment stores also provide discounts to members.

St. Dominic’s Names Level One Heart Attack Program Coordinator

St. Dominic Hospital has named Delon Thornhill, RN, to the position of coordinator of the hospital’s Level One Heart Attack Program effective March 2008.

Thornhill’s duties will include leadership of the Level One Heart Attack program, a network of coordinated emergency medical personnel and hospitals to rapidly diagnose, treat and transport heart attack patients to St. Dominic’s for treatment in the Catheterization Labs.

Thornhill, a native of Lawrence County, has 12 years of nursing experience at St. Dominic’s and at other area healthcare facilities. Recently, he worked as a marketing/clinical liaison for a long-term acute care facility in Jackson.

“With his outreach and clinical background, Delon will be a true asset to our hospital in this important role,” said Trace Swartzfager, Vice President of Professional Services at St. Dominic Hospital. “We look forward to incorporating his experience and ideas as we continue to expand our Level One Heart Attack program.”

Clay Hays Jr., M.D., Medical Director, St. Dominic’s Cardiac Catheterization Labs, added his enthusiasm about Thornhill’s appointment. “We are very excited to have Delon lead our Level One Heart Attack Program. His zest, experience and commitment will only serve to heighten the strength of our program,” stated Hays.

Thornhill added, “I am excited about the opportunity to serve St. Dominic’s in this role that affects the state’s leading heart program. Our heart attack door-to-balloon times are exceptional. Our goal is to give patients the advantage of time by connecting them with our Level One Heart Attack program. When a person experiences a heart attack, rapid treatment is critical to prevent heart muscle damage. I look forward to the opportunities that come with maintaining our high level of service and stellar cath lab intervention times.”

Delon and his wife, Carla, reside in Northeast Jackson.