A Family Legacy and a Passion for a Healthier Mississippi
Author: Vanessa Beeson
Randy, Rand, and Anita Henderson (Photo by Submitted)
Rand Henderson's ties to medicine and Mississippi State run deep. Both his parents are physicians, and his mother, Anita, earned her bachelor's degree in biochemistry from MSU.
The Hattiesburg native and 2018 biochemistry alumnus grew up watching his mother, a pediatrician, and his father, a neonatal hospitalist, serve their patients and community.
"Being born and raised in Mississippi and watching my parents inspired me to want to practice medicine in Mississippi. It's a wonderful state, but it's a place where a lot of people need help, and I felt like my parents were not only medical leaders but community leaders," he said. "We'd be at dinner, and a family would come up to them and thank them for the care they provided. To have an impact on people, where they approach you in public just to say thank you, is powerful."
Henderson went on to medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and is now in his third year of the combined internal medicine-pediatrics residency program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
"This residency will make me a well-trained physician qualified to care for adults and children. I am particularly interested in pursuing a fellowship in congenital cardiology. My residency training in internal medicine/pediatrics will make me well equipped to care for these patients throughout their lifetime, providing much needed continuity of care for these complex patients," he said.
His interest in advocacy also grew at MSU and continued beyond graduation. As a student delegate of the Mississippi Medical Association, Henderson worked alongside his mother to help pass State Plan Amendment 23-0015, extending postpartum care for Mississippi mothers on Medicaid from 60 days to 12 months.
Now, as a member of Virginia chapters of the Association of American Physicians and the American College of Physicians, he continues to expand his knowledge of policy and advocacy.
"Legislative processes and policies can vary from state to state. Being so close to Washington, D.C. also provides a unique opportunity to learn and bring what I learned back to Mississippi to affect legislative change for the betterment of our state and our people," he said. "Mississippi has a unique set of needs, and I want to address those needs and hopefully change patients' lives from a policy standpoint as well. Everyone deserves access. Everyone needs champions and a voice. I want Mississippians to be healthy in the easiest and most affordable way possible."
Henderson said MSU prepared him well for medical school.
"I found research opportunities in both biochemistry and chemistry. One of those projects was under the direction of Dr. Carrie Vance, who was a great mentor. The biochemistry major really set me up and helped me find my niche in medicine. The difficulty with some of those courses really prepared me for medical school," he said. "Mississippi State was a great launching point for my career."
He advises students to enjoy the process.
"Keep chipping away and take it step by step. Don't let it all speed pass you while trying to enjoy the ride. Explore your interests and get involved in research. Your professors are a wealth of knowledge and really want to share with you," he said.
After residency and a fellowship, Henderson hopes to return to Mississippi.
"Mississippi is an amazing state with beautiful people who have been underserved for a long time. It's a privilege to be a physician because you typically meet patients when they're uncertain. Being empathetic and kind at that moment is so important because you really get invited into different people's worlds and can really make a lasting impact. It's just a great opportunity to impact people and communities for the better," he said.
Date: 2026-09-18
