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New name. Same devotion.

For more than seventy years, people across South Mississippi have trusted us with some of the most important moments of their lives. The first breath. The hardest diagnosis. The unexpected emergency. The long awaited healing. The final goodbye. Through generations of families and millions of moments, we have been here.

What began as a single hospital has grown into one of Mississippi’s largest regional healthcare systems, with more than 40 facilities and clinics serving communities across South Mississippi. Today, more than 600,000 people, nearly 20% of Mississippi’s population, live within the communities we serve. Nearly 5,000 team members carry that responsibility every day.

Over the years, we grew into new communities, added new services, and welcomed new hospitals and clinics into our family. We grew larger, but the reason we are here never changed. We are here to care for people. For their health. For their families. For the lives they love and the lives they want.

“Our name is Forrest and this campaign–‘for life.’–is what our devotion looks like in action.”

– Jeff Cook, CEO

At Forrest, we know our calling: a life devoted to the care of others.

For Life is what that calling means for our patients. It means caring for the whole person and their whole life, not just the moments when healthcare is needed.

From first breath through every season of life, Forrest is here to help our patients stay well, move forward, celebrate milestones, weather difficult seasons, and keep doing more of what makes life meaningful. Because we believe healthcare should be about more than adding years to life. It should help people live more of the life they love.

Through every age, every season, and every moment, our devotion remains the same.

for your health. for your people. for everything you live for. for life.

Our promise takes the field

This season, look closely at the Southern Miss Golden Eagles’ football jerseys. Stitched over their hearts are two words that mean everything to us: for life.

These two words represent the promise Forrest makes to every patient, every family, and every community we serve: to care in all ways, for all people, always. And now, that promise is taking the field.

Our partnership with The University of Southern Mississippi carries our devotion beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics and into a place where South Mississippi comes together, The Rock.

Because Forrest isn’t just here when you need healthcare. We’re here for the communities we call home, the teams we cheer for, the people we love, and the life we share.

Southern Miss TO THE TOP! Forrest. for life.

For employees. for life.

For more than seventy years, the story of Forrest has been written by the people who show up every day to care for others.

Today, nearly 5,000 team members carry that story forward across South Mississippi. You are the familiar face, the steady hand, the reassuring voice, and the reason generations of families have placed their trust in Forrest.

Our name is changing. Our look is changing. But who we are at our core is not.

The same people. The same calling. The same devotion to care.

 

As we move forward together as Forrest, we know you’ll have questions about what’s changing, what isn’t, and what this new brand means for you. We’ve gathered answers to some of the questions we’re hearing most often below.

Most importantly, thank you. Thank you for the way you show up, the way you care, and the way you serve our patients, their families, and one another. You are the reason our devotion is more than something we say. You are the reason people experience it every day.

Why are we doing this? Haven’t we always been Forrest?

We have, and that is the primary motivation behind this campaign. We’ve spent 70+ years becoming one of the strongest health systems in the state, but we grew into a collection of different names and ways of telling our story. From the public’s perspective, and even internally, it was becoming harder to see that we are one system. Uniting under one name ensures we all share the physical and financial strength that comes with unity. This isn’t us becoming something new. It’s us finally looking like who we already are.

Is Forrest being bought, sold, or merged?
No. We are the same organization, owned and led by the same people, headquartered here in Mississippi. This is a decision about our own identity, not something happening to us. No outside company is taking over.
Is my job affected? Are there going to be layoffs?
No. This rebrand is a naming change only. Your position, team, reporting structure, and how our organization is built all stay the same. No jobs are changing or being cut because of this. What’s changing is the name on the door, not the people behind it or the work you do every day.
When is this happening? What changes first?

This is a deliberate, phased journey, not an overnight switch. It starts with us, the people inside the system, before becoming public. From there, you’ll see it roll out in stages across our locations and materials over the coming months and into 2027. We’re moving at the pace of doing it right. As each phase approaches, you’ll get specifics well before anything changes around you.

Will my location's name change? Will my badge, email, or title change?
We can confirm all locations will transition to the Forrest name over time. The renaming of your respective facility will have no impact on your job title, description, or where you fall in your organization’s structure. The sequence for announcing specific location names and updating badges and email addresses is still being finalized and will be announced in stages well into 2027.
What does "Forrest. for life." actually mean for me and my work?

It’s a promise about how we care: not only when someone is sick, but before illness begins and through every stage of a person’s life. For most of us, it’s not a new way of working. It’s a name for something our people have always done. It shows up in moments everyone sees and the ones no one does. For Life is simply us being honest about the devotion here since 1952.

I expect a patient, friend, or a neighbor to ask me about this. What do I say?
You don’t have to have every answer and won’t be expected to. The simplest, truest version: “We’re the same Forrest, the same people, and the same care. We’re bringing all our locations together under one name, and nothing changes about how we care for you.” If they want more, point them here to the FAQ section of our campaign’s landing page. Speaking honestly, in your own words, is worth more than any script we might provide.
What's a brand ambassador, and am I one?
Our “official” brand ambassadors are leaders and trusted voices across our system: VPs, directors, managers, and people others naturally look to, who help carry this message and answer questions as it rolls out. If you’re asked to serve as one, you’ll be given the tools and language to do it well. But in a real sense, everyone who wears this name shapes what it means.
What's expected of me right now?
Only that you continue providing the same devoted service and care you always have. Beyond that, familiarize yourself with what is changing, ask questions when you have them, and be honest and kind when patients or neighbors bring it up. That is all.
Where do I go with a question that isn't answered here, or a concern I'd rather raise privately?
You will always go to your immediate supervisor, manager, or director with any questions. If they do not have an immediate answer, trust that they will seek clarity and provide direction when and where it is needed and appropriate.

For patients. for life.

For more than seventy years, you have trusted us to care for you and the people you love. As we move forward as Forrest, some things will look different, but the care you know, the people you trust, and our devotion to you remain the same. We know a new name can bring questions about your doctors, appointments, locations, insurance, medical records, and what these changes mean for your care. We’ve answered some of the most common questions below so you can move forward with confidence knowing that we are still here, still yours, and still devoted to caring for you, for life.
Forrest is becoming one name. What does that mean?
For more than 70 years, we’ve grown from a single hospital into a network of hospitals, clinics, and caregivers serving communities across South Mississippi. Along the way, new facilities and providers have joined the Forrest family, which meant adopting different ways of telling our story. We’re bringing them together as one: Forrest. The same people, same places, same devotion, no matter which of our locations life leads you to.
Why change a name people already know and trust?
Simply put, we want to make it easier for you to know and trust us. As we grew, our story became a bit scattered, which made it harder to see that we’re all part of one system. By coming together as Forrest, every community can share in our combined strength, while still keeping the local care you rely on. Our name is changing, but our purpose, which has guided us since 1952, stays the same.
Is Forrest being sold or merging with an outside company?
No, we’re not being bought or merging with anyone else. We’re still the same organization, led by the same people, and based right here in Mississippi. This was an intentional, well-thought-out decision to better share who we are and how we tell our story with a unified voice.
What is "Forrest. for life."?
It’s our promise, and it’s the heart of everything we’re doing. Forrest For Life means caring for you not only when you’re sick, but championing your wellness long before to prevent illness from ever having a chance. It means being there through every stage and every season of your life. And no matter where life may lead you, we will be there so you’ll never have to face it alone.
Will I see the same doctors and caregivers?
Your care stays right where it is, with the same providers, teams, and locations you already trust. Only the name on the building is changing. So, whether you need emergency services in Hattiesburg or are visiting your primary care physician in Poplarville, the people and the care you receive stay the same.
I go to one of Forrest's regional hospitals. Is it closing or losing its name?
No, none of our facilities are closing or relocating. This naming rebrand is about connection, not closure. Uniting under one name means your community’s hospital is backed by the full strength of the entire Forrest system, while the caregivers and the place you know stay right where they’ve always been. As you begin to see updates over time, they signal investment in your community, not a retreat from it.
Do I need to do anything?
Nothing at all. Your appointments, records, and care team all stay the same. There’s nothing for you to update or sign up for. If we ever need you to do something, we’ll contact you directly and make it easy.
When will I start to see these changes?
You’ll start to see changes gradually. By no means is it an overnight process but rather a careful, deliberate one that will be carried out through the end of this year and well into 2027. We’re taking our time because doing it thoughtfully and with care is more important than doing it quickly.​
Why is Forrest partnering with Southern Miss?

Our roots remain firmly planted right here in the Pine Belt. Our home is Southern Mississippi, where fall Saturdays are special. Partnering with The University of Southern Mississippi brings our “Forrest. for life.” promise to the football field. Teaming with the Golden Eagles this season shows our commitment to where it all started. It’s one of the first places you’ll see what Forrest For Life means, in a spot our community already loves.

Will my costs or services change?
We’re only changing our name and how we share our story. The services you count on and the care you trust are not changing.
How can I be part of this?
We would love for you to join us. This is an invitation for our communities to join us on this journey, not a public service announcement. Please continue to follow along and share what Forrest means to you and your family. Your voice helps shape who we strive to be and is essential to writing our next chapter.
Where can I learn more?

You’ll find everything you need here, and we’ll continue providing updates as this journey unfolds. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn, or if you have specific inquiries, please use the contact form or points at the bottom of this page.