Articles

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.

Baptist leader shares story of ‘Endurance’

A special lunch and lecture marked the unveiling of the Graduate Medical Education department at Baptist Memorial Hospital - North Mississippi on Thursday, June 24. Dr. Paul DePriest, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation,
delivered an address that reviewed attributes of outstanding leaders. The presentation centered around the story of a trans-Antarctic expedition led by explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, during which he and his 28-person crew were left stranded when their ship, Endurance, became trapped and eventually crushed by ice. Against impossible odds, all the men survived the ordeal that lasted nearly two years.

Key principles Dr. DePriest drew from Shackleton’s ability to successfully lead the group in the face of certain death included:

• Communicate Clearly, and Frequently the Mission,
  Vision, and Goals of Our Work
• Our Emotions and State-of-Mind are Infectious!
  
• When Things Seem Impossible Great Leaders Calmly Persevere
• Leading by Example and Treating All Equally, Sustains and Encourages Teamwork
• Create a Plan, an Alternative Plan, and an Alternative-to-the-Alternative Plan
• Lead with a Mission-Minded Humility and Compassion
• Be Prepared to Make the Tough Decisions
• Know Your People
  
  This inspiring message resonated with the gathering of physicians, hospital administrators, and other personnel and related to challenges faced in modern health care. Many of these lessons can be carried forward as these professionals embark on the new venture of a medical residency program at BMH-NM.

The Oxford Eagle: Baptist hospital implements new residency program

By Maya Martin
The Oxford Eagle
Saturday, July 24, 2021

Oxford’s first medical residency program began this month with 12 doctors.

Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi introduced the new three-year internal medicine residency program earlier this month.

“Oxford certainly has the resources to provide this type of training here, so this has been part of the strategic initiative for five years or more, and it just came to fruition,” said Program Director Seger Morris, D.O. “We’re very excited about the program.”

Baptist has hosted Graduate Medical Education Programs in Memphis for more than 30 years and first expanded to include community-based residency programs with the launch of the Internal Medicine Residency at BMH-Golden Triangle in 2017. 

Around that same time, the vision for an Internal Medicine Residency in Oxford was formed.

In May 2020, Baptist submitted an application to establish the program to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the ACGME awarded Baptist the initial accreditation in January 2021.

“Achieving ACGME accreditation is a huge accomplishment, and this is a testament to the vision, expertise and diligence of the Baptist organization,” Morris said. “Our faculty has designed an innovative learning environment, Baptist has allocated substantial resources to ensure proper implementation of our plans, and students from around the world have already expressed interest in training here. 

“I know our entire team will be proud to watch our first class of 12 resident physicians make their mark as the pioneers of this substantial boost to health care in North Mississippi and beyond.”

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Mississippi ranked last with the fewest active physicians at 191.3 per 100,000 population. In addition, Mississippi had 65.9 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population, which is below the United States’ state median of 90.8.

The goal of the residency program is to increase the number of physicians in the state and Mid-South region and boost healthcare.

Internal medicine physician and resident Johnny Green, D.O., M.B.S, met Morris during a Zoom presentation at his medical school in 2020 and was drawn to his passion and the future he painted for Baptist in North Mississippi. Green said is excited to be a part of the future of healthcare in Mississippi and optimistic about the experiences he will gain from the program.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to be a member of the first class of the internal medicine residency program at Baptist North Mississippi,” said Green. “We have the privilege of learning directly from our attending physicians and  gaining exposure to their years of experience and knowledge. Furthermore, we have the unique opportunity to pave the way for future residents.”

The program has already approved 12 positions and 12 more positions will be added each year, culminating in 36 positions overall. Residents will divide their time between general internal medicine and subspecialties such as the ICU, ER and outpatient clinics. 

Three sections of the program will require residents to transfer to Baptist Memorial Hospital – Memphis for one month at a time.

The hospital’s goal is to provide incoming residents with a first-class education and help them prepare for practicing medicine by covering the required curricula, disciplines and technologies.

“I think now more than ever, technology has proven to be an important lifeline between provider and patient,” said Green. “I think that technology will continue to move us forward and make healthcare  more accessible to more patients within the community.”

Residents will have the opportunity to train alongside a diverse faculty who are Board certified in their fields and who all bring their unique experiences and expertise to the table. 

“From clinic research publications, national leadership positions, expertise in healthcare quality and patient safety, to bedside clinical excellence, our faculty offer an innovative training environment for the next generation of physicians,” Morris said.

Residents will also earn their Institute for Healthcare Improvement Basic Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety upon completion of the program.

“Continuous improvement is critical for innovation in healthcare, and the next generation of physicians must have the tools to lead care teams and drive innovation from the bedside to the boardroom and beyond,” Morris said.

https://oxfordeagle.com/2021/07/23/baptist-hospital-implements-new-residency-program/

Seeking the next resident physicians in Oxford, MS

Another recruitment season quickly approaches, and excitement is building around the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi to find the next group of resident physicians to join the inaugural class in Oxford, MS.

Unlike this year’s pioneers, the 2022 PGY1s stand to benefit immensely from upper-level trainees. There will certainly be much for them to pass down from their experiences as the first and only medical residents in the facility. With that in mind, candidates do have big shoes to fill. The first recruitment season resulted in a stellar class. Each of them brings a unique background, set of medical skills and knowledge, and outlook on life that makes them a diverse, yet cohesive, strong, and caring team.

Once again, the program will seek to fill 12 PGY1 positions in the National Residency Matching Program’s (NRMP) Main Residency Match. Applications are being taken exclusively via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

• Program Name: Baptist Memorial Medical Education (Oxford) Program
• State: MS - Mississippi
• City: Oxford
• Specialty: Internal Medicine
• Accreditation ID: 1404200003

Town Hall events will be offered throughout the fall to provide insight into curriculum, didactic offerings, life in Oxford, MS, as well as introductions to leadership, faculty members, and resident physicians. Limited in-person and virtual attendance opportunities are available, and details will be posted on the program’s website once dates are set and invitations are extended.

Upon ERAS’ opening to programs on September 29, faculty members will review applications and extend interview invitations throughout the fall. They will focus on the whole candidate, with the most important criteria being “mission fit,” some examples including:

• Being a native of Mississippi or the Mid-South
• Education in Mississippi or the Mid-South (undergraduate, post-graduate, medical school)
• Having a strong connection to loved ones in Mississippi or the Mid-South
• A desire to live in and serve Mississippi and the Mid-South region after training

With the above in mind, no strict cut-off criteria are defined (examples: year of graduation, exam scores or attempts). International medical graduate candidates and applicants who require J-1 visa sponsorship through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Gradautes (ECFMG) will be considered.

Apply in ERAS today!

Associate Program Director Recognized as Outstanding Medical Leader