OLinc Kicks Off 2026 With Healthcare Innovation Luncheon at Baptist Memorial

Oxford-Lafayette Incorporated opened its 2026 quarterly community luncheon series with a healthcare-focused program at Baptist Hospital Medical Plaza, gathering local health executives, clinical specialists, a prescription technology entrepreneur, and a pharmaceutical researcher under the theme "The Future of Healthcare."

The event, scheduled for Jan. 30 at 11:30 a.m., drew together a speaker lineup that ranged from hospital leadership to cutting-edge pharmaceutical science. Brian Welton, CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital–North Mississippi, addressed changes in the healthcare landscape and their impact on Lafayette County and the broader community. Michael Brown, a board-certified sports clinical specialist, spoke on wellness, injury prevention, and staying active throughout life.

Alex Bucklew, co-founder of SimpleScript, presented one of the program's more immediately practical angles: an overview of a prescription comparison platform built to help users find lower medication prices. For anyone who has stood at a pharmacy counter weighing cost against necessity, Bucklew's platform represents the kind of local-meets-national healthcare conversation OLinc said it designed the series to spark.

The luncheon closed with remarks from Dr. Mo Maniruzzaman, chair and professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery, who discussed advancements in pharmaceutical processes including continuous manufacturing and 3D-printed medicines, a field that could reshape how drugs are produced and distributed in the coming decade.

Oxford-Lafayette Incorporated described the program as aligned with priorities in a recently completed strategic plan aimed at strengthening quality of life across Lafayette County. The luncheon was open to all residents, with a $25 admission that included lunch. OLinc members attended at no cost.

Reservations for future quarterly luncheons can be made by contacting Rosie Vassallo at rosie@oxfordms.com or 601-941-1027.