First, tell us about you.
I am originally from Tylertown, MS and did undergraduate training at Mississippi College. I started medical school at UMMC in 2005 and stayed for Internal Medicine residency in 2009 and Rheumatology fellowship in 2012. I married my wife, Lauren, at the end of medical school and we have three children: Jack (6), Grey (4), and Sophie Love (1).
Where are you now and what are you doing?
I am a rheumatologist with St. Dominic’s in Madison, MS.
What do you miss most about UMMC?
I’m sure this is a common answer, but I miss the people/camaraderie. There really is something special about the bonds formed during medical training, and I think training in the Hospitality State makes those bonds even stronger. In terms of something more tangible, I miss a custom-made breakfast sandwich from the cafeteria which took me three years to perfect. I started with a simple sausage and biscuit which was really good at the end of a night shift, but I realized it needed more so I added cheese which really enhanced things. To make it a more well-rounded breakfast, I added a fried egg, and it was nearly perfect. Ultimately I started adding bacon and realized that I had truly made something special. Realistically, I was on a crash course to be a 29 year old with 3 stents so it’s probably a good thing that I graduated shortly after perfecting it.
What advice do you have for someone just beginning their residency/fellowship?
Most importantly, I think that being a physician is still a great career. The landscape is certainly different than it was years ago, and there are constant new hurdles, but the opportunity to be a leader in patient care is still incredibly rewarding. Regardless of the difficulties, I can honestly say there is nothing I would rather be doing. I would also recommend making an effort to learn about the business side of medicine; pay attention to any lectures given about contracts, RVU’s, etc. I remember tuning those lectures out as it did not seem to apply at the time, but I wish I had taken notes in hindsight.
Share a memory of your time here at UMMC.
After 10 years at UMMC, there are a ton of memories that come to mind. I think this would be a good time to highlight that I won the Best Costume Award two years in a row at the annual bowling tournament. It was a group effort both years, but I won’t list the other group members as I am unsure about the DoM’s faculty professionalism policies. (Author’s note: we were able to secure photographic proof of Best Costume in 2011 and 2012, see below).
Progress Notes 