Recently, representatives from the Office of Mississippi Physicians Workforce presented two checks to Dr. Jon C. Jackson, Program Director, and Gene Amason, Program Administrator, of the Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) Psychiatry Residency Program. These funds will be used to provide wellness resources/equipment, faculty education material, and board review material to enhance the psychiatry residency experience at MSH.
Data shows that most physicians remain in the state in which they complete their residency. By creating and expanding Mississippi Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, the number of physicians who remain in Mississippi to practice can be directly increased. With that goal in mind, in 2012 the state legislature established the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce (OMPW). The mission of OMPW is to reduce the shortage of physicians in Mississippi by expanding residency training programs in the state. Dr. John Mitchell and his team were crucial in guiding MSH program leadership through the process of becoming a Sponsoring Institution with the Accreditation Council for Medical Education (ACGME), which led to receiving final accreditation and establishment of the MSH Psychiatry Residency Program in 2021.
The MSH Psychiatry Residency Program is publicly funded by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. It is unique in that it provides residents with a broad range of psychiatry and medical rotation opportunities in one location. In developing MSH’s residency program, the hospital, program leadership, faculty, and staff kept in mind the whole person and built elements into the program to address physician wellness. The Office of Graduate Medical Education provides access to various services designed specifically for residents to receive support in dealing with the unique challenges during training. These services and resources are designed to support and promote well-being in the clinical learning environment.
The residency program’s leadership is grateful for the support of Dr. Mitchell and the OMPW. Without their assistance, the MSH Psychiatry Residency Program would not exist today.