This annual UMMC Alliance culinary event held at the Jackson Medical Mall has become a huge competition among our talented UMMC staff and faculty as they prepare their traditional ethnic cuisines from all over the world. This year's judges, Ken Crotwell, Malcolm White and Debbie Thornton, had a tough job choosing winners among our list of distinguished chefs! Each department's chefs donated and prepared 500 tasty bites and showcased their culinary skills. As always, the competition was both fierce and friendly. This year's awards: Best Overall - Children's Hospital Administration; Heart Healthy - Slicers and Dicers - Department of Surgery; Best Taste - Administrative Affairs; People's Choice - Hospital Administration; Best Presentation - Hospital Administration.

Plans are underway for TASTE of UMC 2009. Mark your calendars for 7:00 p.m., Saturday, February 21 at the Jackson Medical Mall! Please visit our website at http://alliance.umc.edu to learn more about the UMMC Alliance and its mission in supporting the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

This year, Suzan and Tommy Thames were the honorary chairs of the Taste of UMC. Suzan is well-known to the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children for her fund-raising efforts targeted to meet the needs of our pediatric patients. She and her husband, Tommy, were honored for their many contributions to the Medical Center.