The University of Mississippi Medical Center has received a $10 million donation that will go toward a new facility to advance its cancer patient care and research.
The gift came from the Bower Foundation, a Ridgeland-based institution that directs its funds and energies into making systemic improvements in Mississippi’s health and education infrastructures. The Bower Foundation’s donation, the largest-ever in the institution’s history, is part of a larger campaign to build a new five-story home for UMMC’s cancer center and research institute.
UMMC officials plan to use the center to bring advanced, collaborative cancer care together with greater convenience and comfort for patients. As things stand, 70% of the $125 million needed to bring the facility to fruition has been raised. A $25 million pledge by Sandy and John Black in early 2025 aided in that effort.
“Mississippi continues to face the highest cancer burdens in the nation, and improving outcomes requires more than excellent clinical care,” Bower Foundation President and CEO Anne Travis said. “It demands strong systems, better access to care, and a commitment to long-term solutions. This investment reflects our belief that advancing population health and strengthening cancer care infrastructure must go hand in hand.
“The Cancer Center and Research Institute at UMMC is uniquely positioned to drive statewide impact, and we are proud to support a project that aligns so closely with our mission to improve the health and well-being of Mississippians for generations to come.”
The Bower Foundation has given more than $20 million to UMMC over the past two and a half decades with funds going toward the hospital’s School of Nursing, along with the John D. Bower School of Population Health and its Bower Center for Culinary Medicine.