Photos By: Joe Ellis/UMMC Communications
Dr. Paul Parker spent his career caring for young gastroenterology patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A $250,000 donation to the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute from Parker and his wife, Kerry, is aimed at bringing state-of-the-art cancer care close to home for Mississippians.
“Mississippi deserves a first-class facility to care for our patients with cancer,” he said. “We have a wonderful Medical Center. It is unfortunate that so many adults in Mississippi leave the state to receive certain cancer treatments.”
The gift toward It’s About Time: The Campaign for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute will help fund the construction of a new five-story home for CCRI, one that will combine advanced collaborative cancer care with convenience and comfort for patients. The campaign has raised more than $88 million toward its $125 million goal.
The Parkers, of Jackson, are especially passionate about adult cancer care as both were treated at CCRI for cancer. Kerry is a 25-year stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor, and Paul’s pancreatic cancer was treated at CCRI in 2025…