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First resident physicians launch careers at Baptist North Mississippi

After years of planning, the first resident physicians are now officially practicing in Oxford, MS. Following an eight-day orientation, each trainee began their first rotations on July 1 - ranging from inpatient Internal Medicine to Critical Care to Cardiology and beyond.

During the introductory period that kicked off on June 21, program and hospital leadership laid the foundation for a successful learning experience with sessions that introduced the group to ACGME standards and milestones, the CLER initiative, procedures and protocols of critical hospital departments, to name a few. They also reviewed topics related to the daily didactic curriculum, including Journal Club and Morbidity and Mortality. To top off the orientation experience, lectures and discussions centered around physician leadership offered wisdom and guidance as the clinicians enter practice and take their place as health care leaders.

Several events also offered the class a chance to unwind and get to know one another, their faculty members and hospital leaders. Bill Henning, CEO and Administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital - North Mississippi, and his wife Jan Henning, hosted the resident physicians, faculty physicians, and their loved ones at their home for a special welcome dinner. The resident and core faculty physicians gathered for an intimate dinner at Southern Craft Stove + Tap and discussed wellness and mentorship, as well as shared personal stories about their lives, families, and motivations. Several lunches also offered an opportunity for medical staff physicians and hospital administrators to learn more about each resident physician. During lunch on the last day of orientation, core faculty member Dr. David Duddleston interviewed each intern in front of the crowd, asking questions about their first impressions of Oxford, thoughts about their first rotations beginning the next day, hobbies and other details that further allowed their personalities to shine through.

Along with the welcoming nature of the Baptist and Oxford communities, this intricately planned and intentional introduction to each other, hospital colleagues, the hospital itself, and the world of graduate medical education eased the transition as each member of this historic group progressed through their first days of training in this brand new program.