Mississippi is blessed to have thousands of talented and passionate physicians and healthcare providers, and we’re fortunate in Ridgeland to have access to physicians of almost every specialty. Many doctors become a part of the families they serve and they often form relationships that span a lifetime. Dr. Gerry Ann Houston is one of those physicians. She grew up in Baldwyn, Mississippi; graduated from Ole Miss, and then studied medicine at The University of Mississippi Medical Center. When many of her colleagues were choosing pediatrics, family medicine, and other areas of medicine, she chose the field of oncology. After twenty-five years at Jackson Oncology, Dr. Houston retired, but that’s hardly a word that describes her everyday life. Even after retirement she still actively lives out her calling as a physician who cares for the sick, the needy, and the dying. She makes a lifelong impression on her patients and their families because she’s in the unique role of Medical Director of Hospice Ministries, Inc., in Ridgeland.

Dr. Houston is not just the Medical Director of Hospice Ministries, Inc., she’s a part of its history that began over thirty years ago. In 1988, after practicing as a medical oncologist, she became burdened that patients with chronic illnesses were not always getting the special end-of-life care that they desperately needed. She believed that in their last days, weeks, or months, patients should be able to be in a comfortable place, such as their own home if they wanted. They should be surrounded by their family and the things they treasure most here on Earth. Hospice care was a new concept at that time, so Dr. Houston, with the help of her friend and businessman Dan Broughton, made a big move in Mississippi to start a hospice. “With my knowledge of taking care of patients at the end of their lives and Dan’s business skills, we were able to do this successfully,” says Dr. Houston.

That bold move in 1988 led to the beginning of what we now know as Hospice Ministries, Inc. A few years later, in 1992, Dr. Houston and Dan Broughton were approached by Dot Cannon, one of the ladies of the Willing Heart Circle in Brookhaven, Mississippi, to start a hospice there. “The people and physicians in that community were very supportive because they believed as we do, that hospice care is important.” In 1999, Hospice Ministries, Inc., built the first inpatient hospice center in Central Mississippi. They also continued to grow their home care program that offers care to patients in their own homes. What started out as a passion for helping people in their last days of life led to a multi-location organization that this year alone cared for more than one thousand patients and families.

“As an oncologist, I’ve walked the end-of-life journey with many families. Their pain is not always physical; it may be spiritual as well, and I love being a part of a team that includes not only some of the best healthcare providers, social workers, staff, and volunteers that I know, but chaplains, as well,” says Dr. Houston.

“Hospice care is what I love to do and it’s why I still work even after retiring eleven years ago. People ask me how long I plan on doing this and I reply that I’ll be doing it until I can’t do it anymore,” she continues. “It’s just a part of me. People also ask me why I am in a role where there always seems to be sadness. I don’t look at it that way. It’s a very rewarding experience to know that you’ve made somebody peaceful and comfortable and that you’ve made their last days the best it can be for them. They can die peacefully surrounded by their family. If they don’t have a family, then we, at Hospice Ministries, are their family. In our inpatient unit, someone will be with them as they are approaching their last breath so that they don’t die alone.”

In addition to being the Medical Director at Hospice Ministries, Inc., Dr. Houston is also an avid cyclist and runner. When one of the long-term employees at Hospice Ministries approached her a few years ago with the idea of holding a 5K race to benefit Hospice Ministries, she didn’t hesitate to get behind it. “I love this race because it’s not just a regular 5K, it’s a time when families honor their loved ones who spent their last days with us. Some families and groups will wear a t-shirt commemorating their loved one. The families love seeing the Hospice Ministries team and they love knowing that someone cared for and is still honoring their family member. It’s a special time,” says Dr. Houston. The annual race is on May 4, this year, and registration opens soon online at hospiceminitries.org/5k.

To learn more about Dr. Gerry Ann Houston and Hospice Ministries, Inc., visit hospiceministries.org