When Jim Kennedy was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, he experienced the fear and uncertainty that often accompanies a serious cancer diagnosis. Now he is helping ensure more Mississippians have access to care closer to home through a $5 million gift supporting the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s vision for a world-class cancer center.
The gift, announced by UMMC, is intended to advance the medical center’s plans to expand cancer services, research and patient support. UMMC is a major health care and research institution in Mississippi that treats patients across the state and trains physicians and health professionals.
Access to comprehensive, local cancer care can be especially important for people with metastatic disease, who often require coordinated, ongoing treatment from multidisciplinary teams. Philanthropic investments commonly help academic medical centers build facilities, attract specialists and fund clinical programs that aim to improve patient outcomes and reduce travel burdens for families.
Details about how the $5 million will be allocated are available from UMMC. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."
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