WHEN:           Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

                        10 a.m.

WHERE:         Merit Health Rankin (upstairs lobby)

350 Crossgates Blvd.

Brandon, MS 39042

BACKGROUND: The Rankin County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on June 2 to assign the lease for Merit Health Rankin hospital to Baptist Memorial Health Care. The lease transfer was completed on Oct. 1 and included the 134-bed community-oriented hospital located at 350 Crossgates Blvd. in Brandon, Mississippi, and an 18-bed senior care program (geriatric psychiatry).

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

·       Jason Little, President and CEO, Baptist Memorial Health Care

·       Chris Anderson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care

·       Brad Beattie, Administrator and CEO, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Rankin County

·       Garrett Wright, Executive Director, Rankin First

·       Hospital leaders, employees and physicians

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WHAT: Baptist Women’s Health Center will honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors during the sixth annual Pink On & Groove On event. Survivors are invited to dress in their best pink ‘60s, ‘70s or ‘80s costume to align with the theme “Breast Cancer through the Decades.” For more information about this free community event, sponsored by Natera and Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation/Think Pink Memphis, visit https://www.baptistonline.org/events/pink-on-and-groove-on.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
11 a.m.–1 p.m.

WHERE: Second Baptist Church Memphis Gymnasium
4680 Walnut Grove Road
Memphis, TN 38117

BACKGROUND: Created by Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women in 2021 during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Pink On & Groove On event started as a drive-through line to recognize and celebrate breast cancer survivors. The event has transformed from a drive-through event with survivors decorating their vehicles to an in-door event with survivors dressing in their best pink outfits to celebrate life and survival with a costume contest, line dancing, photo booth and refreshments.

Baptist Women’s Health Center is the Mid-South’s premier mammography center and is accredited by the National Accreditation Programs for Breast Centers. Baptist’s comprehensive breast program includes board-certified doctors, breast surgeons, radiologists and nurse navigators. Baptist’s mobile mammography unit offers grant-funded mammograms to women who might not otherwise be able to afford screening or diagnostic mammograms. Women can call 901-227-PINK or visit baptistpink.org to find out if they qualify for a grant-funded mammogram and to schedule an appointment.

INTERVIEW/PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES:

• Jennifer Coleman, breast cancer survivor, outpatient marketing coordinator, Baptist Women's Health Center
• Breast cancer survivors

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COLLIERVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 13, 2026 – Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville is hosting a free influenza vaccine event for community members 18 years old and older on Friday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the front parking lot of the hospital, 1500 W. Poplar Ave.

“The flu vaccine remains the most effective way to prevent flu or reduce the severity of infection,” said Lindsay Stencel, CEO and administrator. “That’s why are hosting a free flu vaccine event at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville. Our staff cares about the health of our community and is committed to preventing illness whenever possible and helping save lives.”

No registration or appointment is necessary to attend the event; free flu shots are available while supplies last.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville opened its doors in May 1999. With all the amenities of home, this full-service hospital sits on a 75-acre park-like campus and features extra-large patient rooms and a walking trail. Medical services include a full-service emergency department, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient surgery, a step-down unit and a 14-bed intensive care unit, inpatient and outpatient diagnostics, the Baptist Sleep Disorders Center, outpatient women's services and 88 acute care beds. Baptist Collierville has consistently earned Joint Commission accreditation and awards for advanced hip and knee replacement. For more information, visit baptistonline.org/collierville, call 901-861-9000 or follow us on Facebook at @baptistcollierville.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 9, 2026 – Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis recently named Daniel McFarland chief operating officer.

McFarland began his career at Baptist Memorial Health Care as a summer administrative resident in 2017 and most recently served as assistant vice president of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey since 2024.

“I’m excited to welcome Daniel back to Baptist,” said Sam Lynd, administrator and CEO of Baptist Memphis. “Daniel is an impressive leader, sharpened by his experience with nationally recognized health care organizations during the past nine years. We are excited to have him join our leadership team at Baptist Memphis, where he will have tremendous impact on our staff, patients and community.”

After leaving Baptist Memorial, McFarland served at Baptist Health System in Little Rock as administrative graduate assistant from 2017 to 2018 and then joined Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore as administrative fellow and interim assistant administrator of cardiothoracic surgery from 2018 to 2020. He served as assistant administrator of adult cardiac surgery and pediatric heart services within The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore from 2020 to 2022, followed by service line administrator of neurosciences, spine and digestive services for The Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston from 2022 until 2024.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Arkansas and earned his Master of Health Administration from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. McFarland spends some of his personal time raising and exhibiting Angus cattle and performing as a musician.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, a 706-bed hospital located on an 80-acre medical campus in Memphis, Tennessee, is the flagship hospital of Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the country. Named the No. 1 hospital in the Memphis metropolitan area and No. 2 hospital in the state of Tennessee by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-2027, the hospital serves as a major referral center for patients across the Mid-South and has the only certified adult heart transplant and adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) programs in the Mid-South. The hospital also offers specialty, diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services. For more information, please visit baptistonline.org/memphis, call 901-226-5000 or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-memphis.

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This campaign, which started in 2022, is now in the public phase and is the first major fundraising project for Baptist Health Sciences University and Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine. The broader community is now invited to support this initiative.

“Baptist Health Sciences University is grateful for the generous donors and tremendous funding received to help advance the future of health care in the Mid-South,” said Hampton Hopkins, president of Baptist Health Sciences University. “These contributions support scholarships and capital needs for the expansion of Baptist University programs.”

Baptist University will also use funds raised to support technology needs, enhance research, enrich student life experiences and help respond to the predicted shortage of medical professionals.

“This campaign was our first capital campaign for Baptist Health Sciences University and the newly opened Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine,” said Robbie Johnson, vice president and chief development officer for Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this campaign will aid the next generation of health care workers and providers, as well as help with equipment needs and additional space for the university. We are extremely grateful for everyone who participated in this initiative and invested in the future of health care for the Mid-South.”   

Baptist Health Sciences University (formerly known as Baptist College of Health Sciences) was started in 1912. Baptist University offers 15 programs of study, including the Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine, which accepted its first class of students in fall 2024. In 2017, the Memphis Business Journal ranked the college first among Memphis-area colleges and universities for the best return on investment. Based on a comparison of postgraduate earnings with cost of attendance, Baptist University alumni earn more than graduates of any other college or university in the area. Visit www.baptistu.edu for more information.

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Brad Beattie, most recently chief operating officer for Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, will serve as administrator and CEO and will help lead the 134-bed hospital as it transitions to a Baptist Memorial Hospital.

Beattie has more than 20 years of health care experience, starting his health care career as a clinic administrator with Genesis Physical Therapy Group in 2005. He was billing manager for MEA Medical Clinics from 2006 to 2010 and business operations manager for University Physicians PLLC in 2010 before joining Mississippi Baptist Health System. In 2010, he was chief operating officer for Jackson Heart Clinic. By 2014, he was named the executive director of clinic operations for MBMC’s medical group, where he supported a 170-provider group across 30 locations. His role in growing the medical group to more than 250 employed providers across Central Mississippi contributed to his promotion to chief operating officer for MBMC in 2018.

Baptist Memorial committed to making significant investments to enhance the hospital and its services when Rankin County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on June 2 to assign the lease for Merit Health Rankin hospital and its operations to Baptist Memorial Health Care.

Baptist Memorial will host a news conference on Thursday, Oct. 22 to discuss the transition and future of Merit Health Rankin.

Merit Health Rankin is a 134-bed community-oriented hospital located at 350 Crossgates Blvd. in Brandon, Mississippi. The hospital is easily accessible from both Interstate 20 and Highway 80, and offers a wide range of diagnostic, emergency, inpatient and geriatric behavioral health services, including an 18-bed senior care program (geriatric psychiatry).

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 26 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist Memorial employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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Baptist Memorial Health Care’s Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine and Arcare, a community-based health center that provides high-quality primary and preventive care to underserved communities, previously hosted the summit in Mississippi from 2024 to 2025. The summit focused on strengthening cross-sector collaboration and emphasized the importance of health care, public safety, prevention and community partners working together to strengthen recovery by providing informed, compassionate and evidence-based support.

Topics covered include motivational interviewing and person-centered communication, building recovery capital in the Mid-South, reducing stigma, medications for opioid use disorder and bridging misconceptions through shared goals and collaboration.

The summit also included situation table sessions, an audience panel discussion and an emerging trends panel focused on substance use in West Tennessee, including field, laboratory and forensic perspectives.

“The 2026 West Tennessee Substance Use Summit reflects Baptist Memorial Health Care’s commitment to meeting people with compassion and connecting them with evidence-based care,” said Sierra Butler, manager of the Baptist Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine. “By uniting professionals and community partners across West Tennessee, we can challenge misinformed perceptions, strengthen access to treatment and help more individuals and families find a path to recovery.”

Dr. Omar Manejwala, a nationally recognized psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, gave the keynote address about the essential role of connection, community and support in sustaining recovery and improving lives. Other speakers included representatives from the Baptist Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other professionals working in the addiction medicine sector.

“Addiction is a community disease,” said Dr. Omar Manejwala, keynote speaker for the 2026 West Tennessee Substance Use Summit. “It takes all hands-on deck to solve this problem in our community.”

Breakout sessions provided an opportunity for summit attendees to network and learn how to understand the role of health care providers in supporting individuals who use recreational drugs, reducing stigma around addiction and providing ongoing support and aftercare during recovery by enhancing trust building skills. The summit also included situation table sessions, an audience panel discussion and an emerging trends panel focused on substance use in West Tennessee, including field, laboratory and forensic perspectives.

“Arcare and Baptist have worked together on many projects over the years,” said Joey Flowers, chief strategy officer of Arcare “This partnership brought us to Memphis and allowed Arcare to establish its first clinic in Tennessee. This collaboration brings innovative clinical services to support providers in addressing the opioid crisis.”

Founded in 1986, Arcare is a medical network striving to fulfill its “Health for All” mission by specializing in primary care, behavioral health, chronic disease care, pharmaceutical care, and insurance. As a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC), Arcare is able to care for every patient regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. For more information, visit www.arcare.net.

Baptist Memorial Health Care formed the Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine in 2019 to provide immediate, comprehensive treatment for Baptist Memorial Health Care patients with substance and alcohol use disorders. Patients are connected with an addiction medicine specialist and a supporting team of physicians, therapists, social workers, care coordinators and recovery support specialists through teleconsultation and telemedicine to create a seamless path toward treatment and recovery. Through a strategic partnership with Arcare, the Center has expanded access to community-based addiction treatment, strengthened continuity of care and supported recovery services across the Mid-South. To learn more, visit www.baptistonline.org/services/addiction-care.

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WHAT: Baptist Memorial Health Care’s Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine and Arcare, a community-based health center that provides high-quality primary and preventive care to underserved communities, will host the 2026 West Tennessee Substance Use Summit for health care professionals, addiction prevention and recovery specialists, physicians, registered nurses and law enforcement. Summit participants will discuss emerging trends, the state of the opioid epidemic in the Mid-South and best practices for addressing the epidemic in Tennessee and the country. Registration is free. For more information, visit https://www.baptistonline.org/events/substance-use-summit.  

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 2
              8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

WHERE: Memphis Botanic Garden 
                750 Cherry Rd. 
                Memphis, TN 38117

BACKGROUND: Baptist Memorial Health Care formed the Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine in 2019 to provide immediate, comprehensive treatment for Baptist Memorial Health Care patients with substance and alcohol use disorders. Patients are connected with an addiction medicine specialist and a supporting team of physicians, therapists, social workers, care coordinators and recovery support specialists through teleconsultation and telemedicine to create a seamless path toward treatment and recovery. Through a strategic partnership with Arcare, the Center has expanded access to community-based addiction treatment, strengthened continuity of care and supported recovery services across the Mid-South. To learn more, visit www.baptistonline.org/services/addiction-care.

INTERVIEW/PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES:

• Dr. Shawn Hamm, Director, Baptist Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine and Program Director, Baptist Memorial Medical Education
• Joey Flowers, Chief Strategy Officer, Arcare
• Dr. Omar Manjewala, Chief Medical Officer, DarioHealth Corp., Psychiatrist and Keynote Speaker for the 2026 West Tennessee Substance Use Summit 
• Attendees 

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“The flu vaccine remains the most effective way to prevent flu or reduce the severity of infection,” said Brian Hogan, CEO and administrator. “That’s why we continue to host a free flu vaccine event at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto annually. Our staff cares about the health of our community and is committed to preventing illness whenever possible and helping save lives.”

Appointments are not necessary to attend the event and attendees can arrive as early as 3:30 p.m. for the drive-through line, which will start on the south side of the building.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and a number of other cardiovascular services. The hospital completed a $19 million emergency department expansion and renovation project in 2018 that added 20,000 square feet to the facility. An 87,000-square-foot, $55 million physician office building opened on the hospital campus in July 2022. U.S. News & World Report recognized the hospital as a Best Regional Hospital and high-performing in eight specialties for 2026–2027, the American Heart Association has acknowledged the hospital for cardiac and stroke care, and the American College of Cardiology named the hospital a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence in 2025. For more information, please call 662-772-4000, visit desoto.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-desoto. 

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The messages may use the MyChart name and logo and offer recipients free medical supplies or other rewards in an attempt to obtain personal or financial information.

The fraudulent messages can look convincing but knowing what to look for can help you protect your personal information.

How the scam works

Some of the fraudulent emails tell recipients they have been selected to receive a free “MyChart Medicare Kit.” Others ask recipients to complete a survey before claiming a kit or other “Senior Health Package.”

The messages may include the MyChart logo and buttons labeled “Claim Your Reward,” “Start Survey” or “Claim Kit Now.” Some also use language designed to create a sense of urgency, such as telling recipients an offer is available for a limited time. MyChart warns patients that it does not conduct giveaways.

How to spot a fraudulent message

Seeing the MyChart name or logo does not mean a message is legitimate. Scammers can copy logos and other design elements to make fraudulent emails appear authentic.

One of the easiest ways to identify a suspicious message is to check the sender. Legitimate Baptist MyChart emails will come from an email address ending in @baptistonecare.org or @bmhcc.org. Legitimate Baptist MyChart text messages come from the short code 70517.

Be suspicious of a message claiming to be from MyChart if it

● Comes from an unfamiliar email address or phone number

● Offers a free product, prize, Medicare kit or other giveaway

● Says you have been “selected” or have won something

● Asks you to complete an unexpected survey to receive a reward

● Creates a sense of urgency or pressures you to act immediately

● Asks you to click on a link or button and provide personal or financial information

What to do if you receive a suspicious message

Never provide your MyChart password or verification code in response to an unsolicited email, text message or phone call.

If you receive an email or text message that you suspect is fraudulent, do not click on any links or buttons in the message, including an “unsubscribe” link.

Do not reply to or forward the message. Instead, mark the email or text as spam or junk and delete it.

If you need to access your Baptist OneCare MyChart account, open the MyChart app or go directly to the Baptist OneCare MyChart log-in page.

What to do if you’ve already clicked the link

If you clicked a suspicious link but did not provide any information, close the website.

If you entered your MyChart username, password or other account information, change your MyChart password as soon as possible by visiting Baptist OneCare MyChart directly.

If you provided credit or debit card information through a fraudulent website, MyChart recommends contacting your bank or card issuer to report the information as compromised, report any unauthorized transactions as fraudulent and request a replacement card.

When in doubt, go directly to MyChart

Phishing scams are designed to look legitimate and may change over time. If you aren't sure whether a MyChart email or text message is real, don't use any links in the message. Access your account directly through the MyChart app or the Baptist OneCare MyChart website.

For additional information about recognizing fraudulent messages and protecting your information, visit MyChart's Staying Safe From Scams and Fraud resource.

Bailey is a board-certified nurse practitioner with Baptist Medical Group-Medicine Preoptimization Clinic. Out of 165 nominees from across Baptist Memorial’s 200 clinics and 25 hospitals, Bailey was selected as the best for her exceptional patient care, clinical expertise, leadership and lasting contributions to her clinic.

“It is a privilege to recognize Arika as Baptist Memorial Health Care’s 2026 Advanced Practice Provider of the Year,” said Amanda Comer, chief advanced practice nursing officer for Baptist Medical Group. “She was the first advanced practice provider at the Baptist Medical Group-Medicine Preoptimization Clinic and was instrumental in supporting clinic staff and the growth of the clinic. Arika’s commitment to service and continuous support of advanced practice providers across the Mid-South have helped strengthen the profession and Baptist Memorial Health Care.”

Baptist Memorial presents the APP Award annually during National Advanced Practice Provider Week to advanced practice providers, which includes nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician assistants, who demonstrate excellence in promoting positive change in the nursing practice environment. National APP Week is celebrated annually during the fourth week in September. Baptist Memorial recognizes team members at a one-day event designed to educate, inspire and celebrate local APP providers who help ensure patients and communities receive safe, high-quality care.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist Memorial employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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Coley, who has more than 20 years of health care experience in clinical services, operations, compliance, physician services and executive leadership, has served as chief operating officer for Baptist Anderson since June 2025. He will replace John G. Anderson, the current CEO, on Oct. 1. Anderson recently announced plans to transition to an executive advisor position with Baptist Memorial before retiring next year.

Since joining Baptist Anderson, Coley has helped advance physician recruitment efforts, improve financial performance and support key facility and service line initiatives.

From 2021 to 2025, Coley held the dual role of chief administrative officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County. Prior to joining Baptist Memorial in 2021, Coley spent 15 years helping lead the community-based, 200-bed Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth. Under his leadership, the hospital earned numerous awards for quality and workplace excellence while expanding its services and infrastructure. Some of his most notable accomplishments include launching cardiovascular surgery, opening a comprehensive oncology center and advancing the construction of a new inpatient wing, emergency department and radiology department. He also helped establish the facility as a medical student training site and supported the development of three medical residency programs in internal medicine, cardiology and emergency medicine. During his final two years with the organization, Coley transitioned into physician operations, where he led managed care contracting, provider recruitment, physician contracts and daily operational oversight.

Coley holds a Bachelor of Science in nuclear medicine and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in health care management. He also has certifications in hospital leadership, Lean Six Sigma and community involvement.

Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the U.S., in January 2024. Founded by Dr. William Jefferson Anderson in 1928, the hospital became the leader in offering premier medical services in Meridian, Mississippi, with 260 patient beds on its north campus and 140 beds on its south campus. Providing unparalleled care in East Central Mississippi and West Central Alabama, Baptist Anderson offers access to the area’s only cancer center, including radiation oncology and medical oncology services, a level III trauma emergency department with helipad service, advanced intensive care and cardiac care units, a maternity program with a level III newborn ICU, an inpatient pediatric center, a medically based fitness center and a network of primary care, specialty and rural health clinics. For more information, visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/anderson or follow us on Facebook.

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WHAT: Baptist Memorial Health Care and cityCURRENT are hosting a reception featuring Sarah Wells, a former Olympian and star of “The Amazing Race Canada.” Wells will talk about the importance of maternal health, how she overcame adversity, the importance of adaptability and how to transform challenges into opportunities. For more information, visit https://www.baptistonline.org/events/city-current.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 17
6 p.m.

WHERE: Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women Main Lobby
6225 Humphreys Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38120

BACKGROUND: Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist Memorial employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

INTERVIEW/PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES:

• Sarah Wells, former Olympic-medal winning hurdler and star of “The Amazing Race Canada”
• Dr. Lou Arrindell, neonatologist, Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women

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The 74 students will begin their clinical training at the following hospitals in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee: Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center will have nine students, Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto will have nine students, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle will have three students, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis will have 22 students, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi will have five students, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County will have five students, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center will have 19 students and NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital will have two students.

“This is an incredible milestone for the students and faculty of Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine,” said Hampton Hopkins, president of Baptist Health Sciences University. “All of the students that started with our inaugural class in 2024 are continuing to the next phase of their training. As they advance professionally and in their practice of medicine, they will help strengthen our community, reduce the gaps in medical care and increase access to high-quality health care professionals across the region.”

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projects a shortage of almost 70,000 primary care physicians by 2036 and an equal shortage of specialty physicians.

“I am so proud of these students and their dedication to their training and this region,” Hopkins said. “Data show many medical students often stay in the communities where they train. Our hope is that these students will choose to stay in the Mid-South and make a difference for the next generation of patients.”

Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is the first school for Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine in Memphis and West Tennessee and one of 15 majors of study offered by the university. As part of Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems with 25 hospitals across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine students have the unique opportunity to study and train at some of the best hospitals and with one of the largest multispecialty physician groups in the Mid-South. Like medical doctors, DOs complete four years of medical school, followed by residency and fellowship training. The primary campus for the school includes a 100,000-square-foot building with the latest medical technology in Memphis’ medical district.

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Anderson will be the executive advisor of community and strategic development for Baptist Memorial Health Care. In this position, he will focus on community engagement and strategic development initiatives.

Anderson plans to stay in this new position for the next year while helping transition Baptist Anderson’s new leadership team before retiring in October 2027. A new administrator/CEO for Baptist Anderson has not yet been named.

Anderson, who was elected the 2026-2027 chair of the Mississippi Hospital Association board of governors on July 1, began his career with Baptist Anderson, formerly Anderson Regional Health System, in 1990 as an assistant administrator. He advanced to vice president of operations in 1997 and administrator of Baptist Anderson-South before becoming CEO of the health system in 2015. His key achievements include leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the 2024 merger with Baptist Memorial.

Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Science in health administration from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a past fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the MHA Committee on Legislation.

Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the U.S., in January 2024. Founded by Dr. William Jefferson Anderson in 1928, the hospital became the leader in offering premier medical services in Meridian, Mississippi, with 260 patient beds on its north campus and 140 beds on its south campus. Providing unparalleled care in East Central Mississippi and West Central Alabama, Baptist Anderson offers access to the area’s only cancer center, including radiation oncology and medical oncology services, a level III trauma emergency department with helipad service, advanced intensive care and cardiac care units, a maternity program with a level III newborn ICU, an inpatient pediatric center, a medically based fitness center and a network of primary care, specialty and rural health clinics. For more information, visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/anderson or follow us on Facebook.

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People living in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas and face a 30% higher risk of dying from stroke, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health. That gap has widened over the past two decades, and the hospital is committed to helping change that.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability.

“Patients and health care professionals in Carroll County face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author of the Association’s rural health advisory. “Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County is a 70-bed facility in Huntingdon, Tennessee, that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical care to West Tennessee in a variety of specialized areas, including cardiac care, pediatrics, general surgery, physical therapy and palliative care, among others. The hospital offers advanced medical technology, such as 3D mammography and the Baptist TeleHealth Center, powered by TeleGuardian. Baptist Carroll County has earned many awards and recognitions, including the Tennessee Quality Award, Premier Inc.’s QUEST Award for High-Valued Healthcare, the QUEST Hero Award, the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2015 and multiple “A” Hospital Safety grades from the Leapfrog Group. The hospital was one of only two in Tennessee named to the Chartis Center for Rural Health 2025 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list. Baptist Carroll County also operates an outpatient surgery department in Jackson, Tennessee, offering convenient access to same-day surgical services with advanced capabilities. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook.

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People living in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas and face a 30% higher risk of dying from stroke, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health. That gap has widened over the past two decades, and the hospital is committed to helping change that.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability.

“Patients and health care professionals in Paragould face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author of the Association’s rural health advisory. “Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-basedguidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Paragould provides progressive, compassionate health care to residents throughout Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. A 129-bed hospital with eight medical clinics, inpatient rehabilitation services, multiple medical specialties and a 91-bed assisted living facility, the hospital has received multiple recognitions for its cardiovascular and women’s health care. Formerly named Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Baptist Paragould merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care in March 2026. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/baptistmemorialparagould/.

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People living in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas and face a 30% higher risk of dying from stroke, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health. That gap has widened over the past two decades, and the hospital is committed to helping change that.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability.

“Patients and health care professionals in Union County face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author of the Association’s rural health advisory. “Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Union County offers a variety of services, including adult and pediatric inpatient care, cancer care, sleep lab, maternity, orthopedics, surgery, robotic surgery, a 24-hour emergency department and diagnostics. The hospital also has positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans, 3D mammography, TeleHealth services and an eICU. Baptist Union County has an excellent reputation for providing quality care and recently earned multiple “A” Safety Grades from the Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Facebook.

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Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis was named the Best Regional Hospital in Memphis and the No. 2 hospital in Tennessee. Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson was named the Best Regional Hospital in Mississippi and Jackson; and Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven, Mississippi, was recognized for the first time as a Best Regional Hospital, making the list just behind Mississippi Baptist Medical Center for the No. 2 spot in Mississippi and the No. 3 spot in metro Memphis.

In addition to its Best Regional Hospital designation, Baptist Memphis earned High Performing ratings in 15 procedures and conditions: heart bypass surgery; back surgery; hip fracture; colon cancer surgery; lung cancer surgery; ear, nose and throat surgery; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; heart failure; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); heart attack; diabetes; kidney failure; pneumonia; heart arrhythmia and stroke.

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center earned High Performing ratings in nine procedures and conditions: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; colon cancer surgery; prostate cancer surgery; gynecological cancer surgery; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; heart failure; diabetes; kidney failure and stroke.

Baptist DeSoto earned High Performing ratings in eight procedures and conditions: colon cancer surgery; heart failure; COPD; heart attack; diabetes; kidney failure; pneumonia and stroke.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, earned High Performing ratings in six procedures and conditions: hip fracture; COPD; heart attack; diabetes; kidney failure and pneumonia.

NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas, earned High Performing ratings in three conditions: diabetes, kidney failure and pneumonia.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County in New Albany, Mississippi, and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton in Covington, Tennessee, each earned a High Performing rating for pneumonia.

The annual U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings are designed to help patients make informed decisions about where to receive care for complex health conditions and common procedures. Hospitals are evaluated using objective measures, such as patient outcomes and experience, staffing and other quality metrics. For more information about the 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings and methodology, visit the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals website.

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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Priority will operate on a fee for service basis and will provide the ambulances, branded Baptist Ambulance, for the county. The new contract will go into effect on Dec. 1.

Local crews and leadership will be dedicated to Oktibbeha County and will be supported by the clinical, operational, fleet and surge resources of the broader Priority Ambulance national network. The organization will work collaboratively with Baptist Memorial, Oktibbeha County, local first responders, emergency management, law enforcement and other community stakeholders to support both 911 emergency response and interfacility transportation operations across a multistate service area.

Under the Baptist Ambulance brand, the company serves more than 50,000 patients annually through a team of more than 450 EMS professionals and a fleet of more than 80 ambulances and support vehicles, and can provide additional ambulances, personnel, leadership support and specialized capabilities during high-demand periods, major incidents or disasters. Over the past decade, Baptist Memorial’s partnership with Priority has expanded to serve multiple counties across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.

MedStat Emergency Medical Services will continue to provide emergency medical and transport services for the county until the new agreement goes into effect.

Baptist Memorial Health Care acquired Baptist Memorial Hospital-Oktibbeha County (formerly OCH Regional Medical Center) on Oct. 1, 2025. The 96-bed hospital offers 21 medical specialties to families in a seven-county area surrounding Starkville, Mississippi. More than 13 clinics and medical practices are associated with the hospital, from family medicine to medical specialties that include breast health, cardiology, orthopedics, sleep medicine, surgery, pain management, wound care and more. For more information, visit och.org or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OCHRegionalMedicalCenter/.

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The six leaders promoted, along with the one retirement, include the following:

· Paul Cade, VP/metro market leader, Baptist Memorial Health Care

· Sam Lynd, administrator and CEO, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis

· Craig Earley, administrator and CEO, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital

· Skipper Bondurant, administrator and CEO, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County

· Kevin Redd, chief administrative officer, Baptist Union City and Baptist Carroll County

· Alicia Poczekaj, associate administrator, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville

· Susan Breeden, former administrator and CEO, Baptist Carroll County

For the past three years, Cade served in a dual role as Baptist Memorial vice president and metro market leader and Baptist Memphis’ administrator and CEO. With this promotion, he will now focus full time on his market leader responsibilities.

Cade began his career at Baptist Memorial in 1993, serving in several leadership roles at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mississippi, before becoming the administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City. Cade returned to Baptist Golden Triangle as associate administrator in 2004 and served as administrator and CEO from 2008 to 2023 before moving to the Memphis metro market.

Lynd most recently served as CEO of NEA Baptist, which included the hospital and clinics, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He joined Baptist Memorial in 2011 as a Frank Groner Administrative Fellow and earned an MBA and Master of Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

During the last 15 years, Lynd has held progressive leadership roles, including assistant administrator positions at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County in New Albany, Mississippi, and NEA Baptist; CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton in Covington, Tennessee; system service line administrator for emergency services; and chief operating officer of Baptist Memphis.

Craig Earley was named administrator and CEO of NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. Prior to that, he served as chief operating officer of Baptist Memphis. Earley joined Baptist Memorial in 2013 as a Frank Groner Administrative Fellow, earning an MBA and Master of Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He then served in several leadership roles at NEA Baptist and Baptist Memphis.

Susan Breeden has retired from Baptist after 32 years of dedicated service. On July 31, she stepped down as administrator and CEO of Baptist Carroll County in Huntingdon, Tennessee, a role she held since 1997. During her tenure, Breeden led the successful acquisition of McKenzie Medical Center, the expansion of emergency services at Baptist Carroll County and the development of the Baptist Outpatient Surgery Center in Jackson, Tennessee.

Skipper Bondurant, administrator and CEO of Baptist Union City, will now also serve as administrator and CEO of Baptist Carroll County in a combined role, effective Aug. 1. He has more than two decades of Baptist leadership experience, including serving as CEO of Baptist Union City and Baptist Tipton.

Kevin Redd became chief administrative officer of Baptist Union City and Baptist Carroll County, effective June 26. He most recently served as associate administrator of Baptist Collierville. Redd began his Baptist Memorial career in 2013 with Baptist Health Services Group. He was selected for the Frank Groner Administrative Fellowship Program in 2020 and later served as administrative director of Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven, Mississippi.

Alicia Poczekaj replaced Redd as associate administrator of Baptist Collierville, effective June 26. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and earned a Master of Health Administration from the University of Memphis. Poczekaj began her career with Baptist in 2016 as a liaison and clinical quality manager at the Baptist Clinical Research Institute. Poczekaj then served in several roles, including manager for TCPI Quality Improvement, project manager for BestHealth by Baptist and system project manager for the research institute. She also became a Frank Groner Administrative Fellow in 2022, earned her Project Management Professional certification and became system director of transformation and project management in 2023.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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Baptist DeSoto received these awards for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing strokes receive timely, appropriate treatment and for its ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for people with heart failure. 

“Baptist DeSoto is committed to delivering high-quality care by following the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines,” said Brian Hogan, CEO and administrator of Baptist DeSoto. “Get With The Guidelines helps our care teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping more people in DeSoto County and surrounding areas live longer, healthier lives.” 

Each year, participating hospitals qualify for award recognition by demonstrating sustained performance in delivering quality care for patients with heart failure. 

“We are proud to recognize the leadership and dedicated care teams at Baptist DeSoto for their strong commitment to improving care for people living with heart failure,” said Sabra Lewsey, M.D., MPH, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Heart Failure System of Care Advisory Group. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines — Heart Failure, a 20-year flagship quality improvement program, often achieve better patient outcomes, including fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — benefitting patients, families, communities and health care systems alike.” 

Baptist DeSoto also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll/Elite Award for reducing the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy. 

“We are proud to recognize Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in its commitment to caring for people experiencing strokes,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”   

In addition, Baptist DeSoto received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to heart disease or stroke.

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and a number of other cardiovascular services. The hospital completed a $19 million emergency department expansion and renovation project in 2018 that added 20,000 square feet to the facility. An 87,000-square-foot, $55 million physician office building opened on the hospital campus in July 2022. U.S. News & World Report recognized the hospital as a Best Regional Hospital in the metro-Memphis area and Mississippi for 2026–2027, the American Heart Association acknowledged the hospital for cardiac and stroke care, and the American College of Cardiology named the hospital a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence in 2025. For more information, please call 662-772-4000, visit desoto.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-desoto. 

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WHAT: Nearly 158 Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine students will volunteer at 10 different community organizations in the metro-Memphis area during orientation. Students will pack food boxes, clean and serve at The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, the Dorothy Day House, Room in the Inn, City View Towers, YMCA, Youth Villages, Collierville Animal Society, MIFA and Elmwood Cemetery. This year marks the third consecutive year of day of service activities for Baptist University students. 

WHEN: Friday, July 31
             9 a.m. to noon

WHERE: YMCA
               7171 Goodlet Farms Pkwy. 
               Cordova, TN 38016 
               Students will be packing food for children. 

BACKGROUND: Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is the first school for Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine in Memphis and West Tennessee and one of 15 majors of study offered by the college of osteopathic medicine. Part of Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems with 25 hospitals across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s DO students have the unique opportunity to study and train at some of the best hospitals and with one of the largest multispecialty physician groups in the Mid-South. Like medical doctors, Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine students who focus on a holistic, patient-centered medical approach, complete four years of medical school, followed by residency and fellowship training. The primary campus for the school includes a 100,000-square-foot building with the latest medical technology in Memphis’ medical district.

INTERVIEW/PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES:     

• Ryan Costello, assistant clinical sciences professor, Baptist Health Sciences University
• Sarah Stevens, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, Baptist Health Sciences University  
• Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine students 

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The event marked a significant milestone for the $27 million community hospital that will feature an emergency department and inpatient services with advanced telehealth capabilities, inpatient and outpatient imaging services and point-of-care lab services.

The community had the opportunity to sign the beam from July 6 to July 20 at the Fayette County Courthouse located at 16755 Highway 64 in Somerville. The Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette County Industrial Development Board, Flintco, A2H and Baptist Memorial executives signed the beam during the topping out ceremony.

The ritual of topping out to celebrate the completion of a structure dates back more than a thousand years. Contractors and organizations continue the tradition by placing the last or highest structural beam and lifting an evergreen tree, usually with a banner or flag attached.

Located at the northwest corner of Highway 64 and Warren Road near Tennessee Tractor, this will be the only hospital in the 11-city county of more than 41,000 residents, according to the 2020 census.

Flintco, A2H and Covider Health are partners on the development and construction of Baptist Fayette County, which will begin hiring for select clinical positions this summer and fall. Interested candidates can apply at careers.baptistonline.org.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist Memorial employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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WHAT: Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto will host a free community outreach and trauma injury prevention event in collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Trauma Care System Foundation. Health care professionals, first responders, other emergency medical community organizations and the community are invited to the two-hour event to learn how to protect themselves from common injuries, access local resources, participate in demonstrations and connect with other leaders on safety, emergency preparedness and injury prevention. There will be giveaways, interactive educational opportunities and door prizes.    

WHEN: Friday, July 31
             10 a.m. to noon

WHERE: Northwest Mississippi Community College 
               Ranger Center 
               1210 Church Road W. 
               Southaven, MS 38671

BACKGROUND: Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and a number of other cardiovascular services. The hospital completed a $19 million emergency department expansion and renovation project in 2018 that added 20,000 square feet to the facility. An 87,000-square-foot, $55 million physician office building opened on the hospital campus in July 2022. U.S. News & World Report recognized the hospital as a high-performing hospital in six specialties for 2025–2026, the American Heart Association acknowledged the hospital for cardiac and stroke care, and the American College of Cardiology named the hospital a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence in 2025. For more information, please call 662-772-4000, visit desoto.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-desoto. 

INTERVIEW/PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES:     

• Christina Batton, Quality Improvement Manager, Baptist DeSoto
• Matt Edwards, Director of Trauma Systems, Mississippi Trauma Care System Foundation  
• Attendees 

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