Janet Brumfield, a University of Mississippi alumna, announced on May 17 that she has created a $100,000 scholarship endowment to help students from southwest Mississippi pursue degrees in physical therapy and nursing.
The initiative aims to address the shortage of health care workers by reducing financial barriers for aspiring professionals. Brumfield said her own experiences as a physical therapist and educator inspired her to support future caregivers. “These health care professions have touched my life deeply, and supporting future caregivers feels especially important,” Brumfield said.
Brumfield practiced physical therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Mississippi before moving to Georgia, where she worked for decades at Northside Hospital in various leadership roles. She explained that reflecting on her career after retirement led her to focus on scholarships as a way to give back: “After retiring, I spent time reflecting on my life, my career and the people who helped me along the way. As part of my estate planning, I wanted to give back in a way that felt meaningful. Supporting scholarships became a natural choice.” She added that directing gifts toward students from her home region allows her to honor both community and education: “By directing my gifts to SHRP and to students from my home region of southwest Mississippi, I can honor the community that raised me in McComb and the education that shaped my professional life.”
Jay Garner, dean of the School of Health Related Professions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said scholarships like this can be transformative for students: “Scholarships like this can open doors for students who might otherwise be unable to afford higher education,” Garner said. “Beyond easing tuition costs, they validate a student’s hard work, character and potential, often becoming life-changing investments in both students’ futures and in the communities they will serve.”
Brumfield also directed part of her gift specifically toward nursing due to persistent shortages statewide. Tina Martin, dean of the School of Nursing at UMMC, said: “Janet Brumfield’s gift will help meet the urgent need for more students entering our profession. Her generosity sends a powerful message that our students’ commitment to caring for others is valued and supported, inspiring them to remain in the field.” Recent data show increasing vacancies among nurses across Mississippi with turnover rates exceeding 20% in many regions.
Reflecting on her upbringing between McComb and New Orleans as well as involvement with organizations such as Solidarity Sandy Springs during retirement years—where she was recently named board member—Brumfield expressed hope these scholarships would encourage new generations: “My hope is that these scholarships will ease the financial burden of education and let students know that someone believes in their potential. This is my way of paying forward the support I once received.”
