Mark Adams, CEO of Methodist Rehabilitation Center, has announced he’ll retire on July 10 after 33 years at the Jackson hospital.
Adams came to Methodist Rehab in 1989 as chief operating officer and was named CEO in 1993. During his tenure, MRC developed an internationally recognized research program, a long-term, residential care facility for young adults with severe disabilities and a vocational and community reintegration program for people with brain and spinal cord injuries.
His accomplishments also include a historic affiliation agreement with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2014. The partnership has led to better cooperation between each entity’s clinical, research and educational pursuits, as well as the establishment of a Neuro Institute and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation academic unit at UMMC.
Adams was mentored by the late Earl Wilson, the hospital’s founding board chairman. Wilson’s daughter Ginny Mounger said Methodist Rehab “thrived immensely” under Adam’s leadership.
“Mark fully embraced Methodist Rehab’s mission of being committed to excellence in the delivery of comprehensive rehabilitation services,” said Mounger, chair of MRC’s fund-raising arm, the Wilson Research Foundation. “Methodist Rehab continues to serve those in our community and beyond who need us.”
Today, MRC has grown to include seven orthotics and prosthetics clinics in Mississippi and one in Louisiana, outpatient therapy clinics in Ridgeland and Flowood and clinics for physical medicine and pain management in Flowood.
Adams said the growth was motivated by MRC’s over-arching mission to restore ability and hope. “Whenever we recognized a need in our patient population, we did our best to provide services,” he said. “As MRC moves forward under new leadership, I’m confident they’ll continue to find innovative ways to serve those who have come to rely on MRC’s expertise.”
The new CEO will be David McMillin of Madison, who has been on MRC’s Board of Trustees since 1999, most recently as board chairman.
McMillin recently retired from a 35-year career with Xerox Corporation. After working in sales, sales training and sales management, he was most recently a regional financial controller. He was awarded numerous accolades, including Leadership Person of the Year.
McMillin received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi, and his Master of Business Administration from Millsaps Else School, where he received the Charles H. Sewell award for Outstanding MBA Student.
Replacing McMillin as MRC board chairman will be Sam Lane of Jackson. He is Chief Development Officer for First Commercial Bank, which he co-founded in 2000 after decades of banking experience.
Lane became intimately aware of MRC’s capabilities in 2007. His son Samuel became an MRC patient after suffering a life-threatening brain injury while a student at the University of Georgia.
The experience led Lane to become involved with the Wilson Research Foundation. Since joining the foundation’s board in 2008, he has helped raise over $10 million for research, education and technology needs at MRC.
Gary Armstrong of Madison is also assuming a new role at MRC. Currently chief financial officer, Armstrong will add president to his title. He joined MRC in 1977 and has held positions of progressive responsibility, beginning in information services and eventually moving to finance.