May 9, 2014
A PUBLICATION FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES
CHECKUP
Volume 22
Number 10
Boerner Be Wild
Nursing
Excellence................3
Tornado Relief ..........4
Service Awards ........5
F&N Update ..............6
Clinic EOM ................7
NMMC EOM ..............7
Pontotoc EOQ ..........8
everal NMMC employees
competed in the Boerner
Be Wild Fitness Challenge
sponsored by the Healthy Tupelo
Task Force on April 19 at the Wellness
Center.
The fitness challenge consisted of 17
obstacles, and each competitor was
timed. The challenge was held in
memory of Hank Boerner, former
director of the NMMC Wellness Center
and founding member of the Healthy
Tupelo Task Force, who died in
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December 2012. The fitness challenge
was deemed a major success, with 69
entrants and scores of volunteers.
North East Orthopaedics and Sports
Medicine donated cash prizes for first,
second and third place male and
female finishers. Other sponsors were
Renasant Bank, Tupelo Sports Council
and Stewart Environmental
Construction. The event raised $2,043
to be awarded as grants to educate
youth on the importance of physical
activity.
Administrative
Professionals ............8
Helen Boerner of
HealthWorks! and
Pontotoc Wellness
Center encourages
Grayson Robbins of
the Print Shop along
the course.
inside
QRCR Award ............9
Seatbelt Check ........9
Duncan Retires ......10
Review Board ........11
Clinical pharmacist
Lori Eschete of Surgery
competes in the
plyo tire jump.
(More photos on next page)
Boerner
(continued)____________________________________________________________________________
Volunteer Anita Monroe, an MIS analyst, tries out the
water slide at the end of the course.
Brook Hughes and Crystal Biffle, both of Surgery,
enjoy watching others compete after completing the
course.
Certified athletic trainer Jeff Dews of the Sports
Medicine Program does sit-ups while Josh Dufford of
the Wellness Center keeps count.
Roger Harrison of Ambulance Services flips a tractor
tire.
Lori Bevering, RN, jumps rope at
the first station of the course.
Bevering finished with a time of
21:40 for second place in the
female division.
May 9, 2014
Rick Blansett of the Print Shop
participates in the squat press.
Volunteers Jai Eschete of
Outpatient Rehabilitation and
Antonio Martin of Surgical
Services try out the monkey bars.
Page 2
Excellence In Nursing Winners Announced
orth Mississippi Medical Center honored the
2014 Excellence in Nursing Award nominees
and recipients April 27.
Amy Beachum, Advanced
Practice Excellence. Beachum
earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing
from William Carey University and a
master’s degree in nursing from
Mississippi University for Women. A
Fulton resident, she joined the NMMC
staff 12 years ago and is a nurse practitioner with the
Orthopedic Trauma Program. “She has been with the
Ortho Trauma program since the very first day and
has guided every process in the development,” her
nomination states. “There is rarely a day that goes by
that Amy doesn’t spend between 10-12 hours at the
hospital and clinic. Amy has had a great impact on the
outcomes of our patients.”
Samantha Bell, RN
Excellence. She holds an associate’s degree in nursing and joined the
NMMC staff 12 years ago. A Shannon
resident, she serves as charge nurse on
5 West. “We are blessed to have
Samantha remaining at the bedside
providing superb care to oncology patients and their
family members, while passing on her tremendous
skills to future generations,” her nomination states.
“Her patients are never able to detect that she is having
a busy day, because she treats each one like they are the
only one that she has to care for.”
Sharon Cox, Rookie
Excellence. An Amory resident,
Cox earned her associate’s degree in
nursing from MUW. She joined the
NMMC staff nine months ago and is a
nurse for 6 South. “Sharon demonstrates
the highest level of professionalism and
provides exceptional care to her patients,” her nomination states. “She is well on her way to becoming one of
the best staff nurses at NMMC.”
Shana Cummings,
Excellence in Education. A
resident of Baldwyn, Cummings
earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing
from the University of North Alabama
and her master’s degree in nursing
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Page 3
education from the University of Mississippi Medical
Center. She joined the NMMC staff 13 years ago and is
a clinical nurse educator for 3 North, 5 South and
Dialysis. “Shana’s true calling was realized when she
accepted the position of nurse educator,” her nomination states. “She has a passion for knowledge and a
knack for ensuring that this is shared with staff. Shana
never misses an opportunity to teach!”
Lawanda Gaston, Nursing
Assistant Excellence. A Tupelo
resident, Gaston joined the NMMC
staff 17 years ago in Food and
Nutrition Services and currently serves
as a certified nursing assistant. “She
inspires others to work as a team
because she truly feels like this helps the patient to
receive the best outcome,” her nomination states. “Her
attitude is always positive and she can always be seen
with a smile on her face.”
Katie Goff, Nurse Manager
Excellence. A Mantachie resident,
Goff became a licensed practical nurse
through ICC and earned an associate’s
degree in nursing from Northeast
Mississippi Community College. She
joined the NMMC staff 32 years ago
and is a nurse manager for 6 South. “Through sheer
determination and hard work, Katie has overcome
obstacles to become one of the most dedicated,
caring and hardworking employees at NMMC,” her
nomination states. “Katie is an invaluable team leader
who has not forgotten the difficult role of bedside
nursing.”
Lisa Hester, Clinical
Practice Excellence. A
Nettleton resident, Hester earned her
associate’s degree from ICC and a
bachelor’s degree in nursing from
MUW. She is currently pursuing
a master’s degree in health care
administration from UMMC. She joined the NMMC
staff six years ago and serves as charge nurse for 4
South. “She possesses many qualities of a great nurse,
but the one that stands out is her dedication to sound
clinical practice and providing exceptional patient
care,” her nomination states.
Continued on next page
May 9, 2014
Excellence (continued)_____________________________________________________________________
Joyce Johnson,
Excellence in Mentorship.
Johnson holds bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in nursing. A resident of
Prairie, she joined the NMMC staff
seven years ago and worked as an
LPN/CLPN before assuming her
current role as a registered nurse on 4 West. “From
the time that she came to the unit as a licensed
practical nurse, until the time she began to work as
a registered nurse, Joyce has mentored and led others
to be successful in their role,” her nomination states.
“Joyce enjoyed mentoring and educating others so
much, she went back to further her education to
obtain her master’s degree in order to teach nursing
at the university level.”
Kristen Long, Excellence
in Non-Traditional Nursing. A
resident of Red Bay, Ala., she earned
her associate’s degree in nursing from
ICC, her bachelor’s degree in nursing
from the University of North Alabama
and is currently pursuing a master’s
degree in nursing from UMMC. She joined the NMMC
staff eight years ago and works in Surgical Services
administration as the Orthopedic Trauma Program
Clinical Coordinator. “Kristen is an excellent resource
for the ortho trauma physicians because of the amount
of experience she has had while working at NMMC,”
her nomination states. “No matter what roles and
responsibilities she takes on, she works hard to ensure
she excels at her role.”
Carla Spears, Unit
Coordinator Excellence. A
resident of Guntown, Spears attended
Itawamba Community College. She
joined the NMMC staff 34 years ago
and serves as unit coordinator for 4
West. “Carla has seen the unit through
thick and thin, and has obtained a wealth of
knowledge during her time here,” her nomination
states. “Whether it be policy changes, computer
system changes or unit location changes, Carla has
been there to see the unit, physicians and staff
through it.”
Tressa Walker, Nursing
Technician Excellence. A
resident of Tupelo, Walker attended
ICC. She joined the NMMC staff 14
years ago and serves as a secretary/
restorative technician for the Bariatric
Center. “She is very committed to
being successful in her position on the bariatric unit,”
her nomination states. “Having been a past patient on
the unit, she understands the fears, pain and urgency
felt by the patients to obtain a healthier lifestyle.”
Tornado
Relief
Tawana Dearing (second from left),
NMMC Food and Nutrition Services
operations and performance
improvement manager; Yvette
Crump, patient service manager;
Ralph Britt, Morrison Healthcare
executive chef, and other
volunteers helped feed around
200 individuals in the Park Hill
Community of Tupelo who had no
electricity following the April 28
tornado. NMMC Food and Nutrition
Services also assisted the Red
Cross and Salvation Army with
food donations.
May 9, 2014
Page 4
__________Service Awards__________
he following named employees recently
received service pins in recognition of service
milestones.
Five Years
Clinics
Jennifer Carruth, Tonya Dunlap, Shannon Long,
Haley Peel, Lakesha Washington
NMMC-Hamilton
Kimberly Green, James Johnson,
Cynthia McCraw, Tracy Tilberg
NMMC-Iuka
Rebecca Cummings, Coby Feazell, Matthew Stanford
NMHS
Jaren Wilburn
NMMC-Pontotoc
Carrie Lawrence
NMMC-Tupelo
Allison Black, Lori Blansett, Cyndi Davidson,
Melissa Elgin, Lisa Felkins, Ashley Frazier,
Sarah Guest, Krystalyn Jenkins, Ashley Messer,
Janna Mink, Cheryl Nichols, Jennifer Pannell,
Hannah Patterson, Cheryl Roberson, Regina Stroupe
NMMC-West Point
Rosa Gonzalez
Ten Years
Clinics
Barbara Doss, Jessica Lewis, Carey McCarter,
Debra Murray, Jacqueline Randle, Michelle Smith,
Janet Street, Melissa Weeks, Tracey White
NMMC-Iuka
Myra Bennett, John Broadway
NMMC-Eupora
Sarah Crow, David Dabbs
NMMC-Pontotoc
Norma Finley
NMHS
Shellie Burks
Tupelo Service Finance
Donna Chapman
T
NMMC-Tupelo
Justin Alred, Teresa Bolden, Mitch Brasfield,
Stephen Burt, Shanna Buse, Eunice Carouthers,
Matthew Carpenter, Bridgette Clock, Reshauna Evans,
Sonia Fuller, Jennie Garmon, Alice Gates,
Michaelyn Hutchens, Jessica Johnson,
William Kirkwood, Monica Lagrone, Lysonya McCoy,
Ronald Moss, Cathy Nunley, Brenda Rhynes,
Randy Roberts, Keith Seaton, Susan Shaw,
Melissa Smith, Lacandice Sykes, Tyson Taylor,
Sam Turner, Melody West, Larry White,
Emily Wilson, Kathy Woodruff
NMMC-West Point
Petrino Eddie, Cindy White, Judy Wolanek
Fifteen Years
Clinics
Sharon Heard, Charles Miles,
Tonya Moore, Crystal Smith
NMMC-Eupora
Lesley Gore
NMMC-Hamilton
Betty Miles
NMMC-Iuka
Kari Bridges, David Whitfield
NMMC-Tupelo
David Brooks, Stacy Cobb, Layla Darden,
Angela Davidson, Laurie Fowler, Lawanda Gaston,
Nick Graham, Alice Harrelson, Dennis Heavener,
Rick Honan, Susan Lomenick, Shale Rulewicz,
Philip Shaw, Sherry Smith, Stephanie Stegall,
Carol Whitt
NMMC-Eupora
Diane Daniels
NMMC-West Point
Deborah Hargrove, Eva Surunis
NMHS
Lisa Rushing
Twenty Years
Clinics
Leslie Nash, Ronald Powell, Stacy Riley,
Andrzej Wartak
NMHS
Kristy Duke, Roy Mann, Jane Pickett
NMMC-Tupelo
Heather Davis, Jan Dillard, Greg Downs,
Martha Gardner, Marsha Gates, Sue Hawkins,
Melissa Johnson, Cassandra Jones, Tricia Murphy,
Kimberly Pegues, James Richardson, Stevie Shaw,
Tammie Thomas, Brad Woodcock
NMMC-West Point
Susan Triplett
Listing continued on next page
Page 5
May 9, 2014
__________Service Awards (continued)__________
Twenty-Five Years
NMMC-Pontotoc
Miriam Staten
NMHS
Linda Butler, Renea Magana, Glenda Riley
NMMC-Tupelo
Jacqueline Berry, Sherri Dulaney, Cynthia Grissom,
Anita Hunter, Debra Little, Brenda Mullins,
Sherry Norman, Daniel Romig, Faye Rowsey-Rogers,
Dorothy Vaughn, Linda Watson, Teresa Wilbanks
Thirty Years
NMMC-Iuka
Frances Green
NMMC-Tupelo
Carrie Caradine, Carol Sanders, Janet Wesson
NMHS
Susan Harlow, Barbara Homan, Judy Spencer
Thirty-Five Years
NMHS
Cheryl Stephens
NMMC-Tupelo
Jerry Blalock, Shirlene Cayson,
Judith Ramey, Annie Wise
Forty Years
NMMC-Tupelo
Carl Bogan
Food & Nutrition Services Update
orrison Healthcare is committed to excellence
and continuous improvement in our café as
your food and nutrition services provider. You
have provided us with valuable feedback, which we
have been using to better serve NMMC’s patients,
caregivers and guests in Tupelo.
We are enhancing the café experience through our
comprehensive Mindful Choicessm wellness platform,
which features healthy food marketing, wellness meal
offerings, nutrition labeling, food preparation, healthy
beverages, and fruit and vegetable offerings. We are
also doing a station by station refresh to rethink menu
selections and presentations, with the aim of improving
both quality and speed of service.
As part of this commitment, we are working closely
with the NMMC Live Well Health Care Committee to
increase the percentage of “healthier for you” choices.
Some examples include:
M
Salad Bar
• Increased percentage of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Added darker lettuces, spinach and whole grain
salad as daily options
• Increased salad toppers to include dried fruits and
nuts
Grill
• Offer turkey burgers, vegetable burgers, baked
potato and grilled vegetables daily
• Eliminated use of trans fat oil
• Use wheat buns as first choice for all sandwiches
unless white specified
May 9, 2014
Hot Line
• Increased use of fresh, seasonal vegetables
• Increased use of super foods incorporated into
recipes
• Moved most sauces/gravies to the side as an option
Action Station
• Incorporated use of Fit Menu items and increased
variety of offerings
• Increased use of fresh, sustainable seafood when
available
Other
• Offer whole grain and wheat breads daily
• Expanded fresh fruit and lowfat yogurt breakfast bar
through lunch because of popularity
• Expanded fruit and yogurt parfaits prepared on-site
• Added nutrition labels
Starbucks Kiosk
• Expanded food selection and hours of operation to
7:30 p.m.
• Working on increasing breakfast food and dessert
options
Chick-fil-A and Starbucks
• Extended hours of operation to include night shift
We are striving to ensure that our offerings, as
well as the quality and service levels, exceed your
expectations. Thank you for your partnership and
continued support!
– The Morrison Healthcare Team
Page 6
Hammock Selected As Clinic EOM
orth Mississippi Medical Clinics recently named
Sarah Hammock as the March Employee of the
Month.
Hammock works in the Best Practices and
Innovations Department, where she has served since
2012. She joined the health system in 2004 in North
Mississippi Medical Center Home Health, where she
worked until she transferred to the clinic.
She is a graduate of Belmont High School. She
received her associate’s degree in nursing from
Northeast Mississippi Community College in
Booneville, and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from
Mississippi University for Women in Columbus.
“Sarah’s love and compassion for her patients is
evident from the moment you meet her,” said a
coworker who nominated Hammock. “She embodies
the principles of servant leadership, and her gentle
demeanor and smile quickly help establish rapport
with patients and fellow coworkers.”
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Hammock says her
favorite part of her job
is being able to have a
relationship with the
patients.
She and her husband,
Kelvin, have two children –
16-year-old Haley and
8-year-old Brady. She and
her family attend Forest
Grove Baptist Church in
Tishomingo, where she
plays the piano and is a
youth leader.
The Employee of the Month honor recognizes
employees with exemplary job performance and
customer service skills, as well as community
involvement.
Betts Named NMMC’s Employee of the Month
amantha Betts, phlebotomist in the Pathology
Department, was named Employee of the
Month for March at North Mississippi Medical
Center.
Betts joined NMMC in 2008. She is a graduate
of Houston High School. She earned an associate’s
degree from Itawamba Community College in
Tupelo.
Coworkers complimented Betts’s manner and
demeanor with patients and coworkers alike.
“Samantha is such a joy to work with,” wrote a
coworker of Betts. “She doesn’t let the fast-paced
workload and juggling of all her duties stress her out,
and that carries over to her coworkers, making the
whole lab more positive. I’ve also witnessed her
around patients, and she is so compassionate and
patient toward them.”
“Sam is a very dedicated employee,” another
co-worker wrote. “She is a hard worker and doesn’t
complain about doing her job. She is always willing
to help out if we’re shorthanded and she’s not one
to say ‘that’s not my job.’ She does what needs to be
done.”
Betts praised her coworkers when listing the things
she enjoys best about her job.
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Page 7
NMHS Vice President of Human Resources Rodger
Brown presents Samantha Betts with the Employee of
the Month honor.
“What I love most about my job are my coworkers,”
Betts said. “After reading all the comments and
praises they bestowed upon me, I realized that
without them I wouldn’t perform at the level at
which I perform.”
Betts, her husband, Fred, and their children,
Cristin, Aubrey and Gracie, live in Tupelo. They
attend Word of Life Church in Tupelo.
May 9, 2014
Pennington Selected NMMC-Pontotoc EOQ
enny Pennington, landscape technician with
Facility Operations, was named Employee of
the Quarter for North Mississippi Medical
Center-Pontotoc.
Pennington joined
NMMC-Pontotoc in 2011.
He is a graduate of North
Pontotoc High School and
continued his education at
Itawamba Community
College and Mississippi State
University, earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with
concentration in history,
geography and special
education.
K
When asked what he enjoyed most about his job,
Pennington said “getting to do different things and
the people I work with.”
“Kenny seems to have a genuine concern for
other people,” a coworker wrote in his nomination.
“He is always looking out for his team members
and is willing to help with any task.”
“When there is a situation that needs attention,
Kenny is always willing to help,” another coworker
wrote. “His goal is always to fix things right the first
time.”
Pennington is the son of Bob and Wennie
Pennington. He married his wife Holly on April 26.
They live in Thaxton,where Kenny is a member of
the Thaxton Volunteer Fire Department. In his
spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping
and paintball.
Administrative Professionals Honored
Administrative professionals and clerical employees were honored April 22 at NMMC-Tupelo with a come-and-go
brunch. Honorees included (top photo, from left) Linda Kimble, Biomedical Communications; Beverly Baughman,
Biomedical Services; Yana Elzie, 1 West; Katina Brown, 1 West; Sharon Johnson, 6 South; Stacey Payne, 6 South;
(bottom photo, from left) Shelia Willis, Education; Regenia Pounds, Security; April Griffin, Security; hostess Debbie
Fitts; Reskea Foster, Nursing Administration; Renea Magana, Education; and Patsy Gray, Marketing.
May 9, 2014
Page 8
NMMC Earns QRCR Recognition
orth Mississippi Medical Center has earned
Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR)
under a national program aimed at helping
patients and families make informed decisions about
the quality of the respiratory care services available in
hospitals.
About 700 hospitals or approximately 15 percent of
hospitals in the United States have applied for and
received this award.
This is the fifth consecutive year NMMC has earned
this recognition. The QRCR program was started by the
American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in
2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using
qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory
care.
“I am very proud of our Respiratory Care department
for their continued focus on delivery of high quality
respiratory care in an efficient and safe manner,” said
James Rish, M.D., pulmonologist and medical director
of NMMC’s Respiratory Care. “They are very deserving
of this prestigious recognition. As a physician in a busy
pulmonary and critical care practice, the respiratory
therapists are a critical link in the care we deliver, and
make our jobs a lot easier.”
Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure
patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.
To qualify for the recognition, programs must meet
the following conditions:
• All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital
to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either
legally recognized by the state as competent to
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provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT
or RRT credential.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours.
• Other personnel qualified to perform specific
respiratory procedures and the amount of
supervision required for personnel to carry out
specific procedures must be designated in
writing.
• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated
as medical director of respiratory care services.
• Hospital policy prohibits the routine delivery of
medicated aerosol treatments utilizing small volume
nebulizers, metered dose inhalers or intermittent
positive pressure treatments to multiple patients
simultaneously. Circumstances under which this
practice is permitted is defined by policy.
• Use a process that periodically compares performance
of the respiratory therapy department on efficiency
and quality metrics with similar departments for the
purpose of identifying and achieving best practice.
The AARC’s QRCR program grew out of growing
concerns among health care leaders and the general
public regarding the safety and quality of health
services provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the
QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care
consistent with national standards and guidelines, and
are committed to their quality care. A list of QRCR
hospitals is maintained at the association’s website for
consumers, www.YourLungHealth.org.
The AARC is a membership organization representing
more than 50,000 health professionals involved in
respiratory care nationwide.
Tammy McMullan, a registered nurse
with North Mississippi Medical Center’s
Emergency Services Department,
rewards Brandon Woods and Tracey
White of Tupelo with Lifesavers candy
for wearing their seatbelts. The staff
set up seatbelt checkpoints April 21 at
NMMC to check for and encourage
seatbelt use. Of the 174 employees
checked, 72 percent were wearing a
seatbelt. Of the 200 visitors checked,
74 percent were wearing a seatbelt.
Those who weren’t wearing seatbelts
received “Dum Dum” lollipops.
Page 9
May 9, 2014
Duncan Retires From NMMC To Write New Chapter
udy Duncan recently retired from
a career she loved at North
Mississippi Medical Center, one
that spanned almost four decades and
encompassed almost every nursing role
imaginable.
Duncan graduated from Tupelo High
School in 1974 and started
at NMMC that same year, working parttime as a nursing assistant while she
earned her nursing degree at Mississippi
University for Women in Columbus.
She left NMMC in 1978 to
travel with her husband, “Rent,”
an electrician who had contract jobs in
New Orleans and Vicksburg. During
that time, she worked at Lakeside
Longtime coworkers honor Judy Duncan (third from right) with a retireHospital for Women in New Orleans
ment reception April 16 celebrating her long and varied career at
and at Vicksburg Medical Center.
North Mississippi Medical Center.
In 1980, Duncan returned to NMMC
component. Without it, our reimbursement wouldn’t
as one of the first nurses on the new oncology unit
be what it is.”
at Belle Vista. NMMC’s first oncologist, Dr. Chaz
Her role grew to include responsibilities for
Montgomery, personally taught the staff what they
discharge planning, and her title changed to care
needed to know to care for cancer patients. “Dr.
manager. Then care managers became case managers
Montgomery came to the hospital at 6 every morning
and were assigned to disease-specific areas of the
and had class with us,” Duncan said. “He taught us all
hospital. She primarily worked with cardiovascular
about the disease processes and how to calculate white
surgery, cardiology and neurology.
blood count for chemotherapy administration. If a
Over the years Duncan has always volunteered for
patient’s count was too low, we couldn’t give chemohealth screenings and education in the community,
therapy. I learned a lot from him.”
and she has a special interest in helping young girls
After several years, Duncan became a dialysis nurse,
transition to puberty. In the 1990s, she helped start
working with outpatients first then transferring to the
a church health ministry, which now falls under
inpatient unit on 5 East. She left dialysis to become
NMMC’s Community Health Department. They
NMMC’s only nursing orientation instructor for a
promoted “Search Your Heart for Life,” to identify
while.
individuals at risk for stroke through blood pressure
Then in 1987, Duncan was recruited back to her
and stroke screenings in area African-American
first love – oncology – as a research nurse with the
churches.
Community Clinical Oncology Program, which was
For a brief time, Duncan tried on the hat of Charge
funded through a federal grant and affiliated NMMC
Master coordinator, responsible for pricing and descripwith leading cancer centers nationwide. When the
tion of every product and procedure used throughout
grant expired in 1990, she returned for several months
NMMC. “It was a great opportunity for me to have a
to the oncology unit, which had relocated to 3 South.
closer look at how pricing and reimbursement really
Later that year, she became a utilization review nurse
impact the hospital.”
in the Clinical Quality Department. “This job gave me
After 17 years in case management, Duncan
lots of opportunity to learn about the financial side
requested reassignment. “In 2008, I became the
of health care – reimbursement, Medicare rules and
primary caregiver for my mother-in-law,” she said.
regulations,” Duncan said. “That’s a side of nursing
Continued on next page
that no one ever sees, but it is a very important
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May 9, 2014
Page 10
Duncan (continued)_________________________________________________________________________________
“I asked to return to the night shift, which I hadn’t
done in 20 years or so, in order to be there for her
all day.” Once again she joined the oncology unit.
A short time later, Duncan became the nurse
educator for medicine services, an opportunity to
explore yet another side of nursing. “In that role you
understand all that’s necessary for staff development,”
she said. “I helped develop processes and labs for
skilled, educated nurses.”
In February 2011, Duncan was named nurse
manager for 3 North, her biggest challenge to date
and one she has grown to cherish. “The hospital has
been a great tenure for me,” Duncan said. “I have
met a lot of wonderful people along the way and
made a lot of friends. I have been given a lot of
opportunity to experience a lot of different avenues.”
Duncan mentioned several role models: Mildred
Beatty, who was head nurse on the dialysis unit when
she worked there; Jack Goff in Clinical Quality; Shanna
Cummings, who trained her as a nurse educator and
now serves as the nurse educator for Duncan’s unit;
and Karen George and Donna Lewis Pritchard, who
have worked alongside Duncan in virtually every role.
Over the course of almost 40 years, Duncan has
made “sweet memories” with these and others. She
remembers many friends letting her cry on their
shoulders when her twin brother, George Elzie, passed
away. “When you meet people like that, it’s well worth
the journey,” she said.
Duncan’s husband is retiring this spring after 29
years with Central Service Association. While he plans
to “fully retire,” his wife isn’t quite ready to call it
quits. She will soon start a new job as a telephonic
case manager for United Healthcare.
They are moving to Dunwoody, Ga., near Atlanta,
where daughter Kayla lives. Other children include
daughter Shondra of Nashville, son Jeffrey and niece
and namesake Margaret (adopted by the Duncans as a
child), both of Tupelo.
Besides her job, Duncan is also leaving People’s
Community Baptist Church, where she serves as associate minister and often speaks to area women’s groups.
“I have led a full and busy life. I love encouraging
others and helping people,” she said. “It’s sort of like
closing a chapter of a very long book. And now I’ll
write some short stories.”
Institutional Review Board
Serving on North Mississippi Health Services’ Institutional Review Board are (seated, from left) Bridgette
Wilson, Risk Management; Donna Benefield, Social Work; Pat Deaton, RN, Nursing Support; Jeannine Peters,
Pharm.D., Pharmacy, IRB manager; Janie Lee, Auditing; Amy Dixon, RN, Auditing; Dr. James Shirley, IRB vice
chairman; (standing, from left) Shelly Thompson, IRB coordinator; Dr. Derreck Menefee; Ed Neelly, community
member; Bruce Toppin, J.D., vice president and legal counsel; Dr. John Phillips, IRB vice chairman; Robert Ellis,
Pharm.D., Pharmacy; Larry Anderson, Ed.D., community member; Eldridge Fleming, Ph.D., community member;
Dr. Jimmy Hamilton; Dr. Charles King, IRB chairman; Dr. Stephen Southworth; Dr. William Calhoun; Bob Corban,
Family Medicine Residency Center. Kathy Aycock, Ph.D., community member, and Julie McCord, RN, Infection
Control, also serve. The IRB meets monthly and currently oversees more than 100 biomedical and behavioral
studies.
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May 9, 2014