Abigail Gamble, PhD
Associate Professor
Department:
SPH-Dept Preventive Medicine
Email:
agamble2@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 815-9482
Biography
Dr. Abigail Gamble is an Associate Professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) with faculty appointments in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Population Health Science within the John D. Bower School of Population Health. She serves as Director of Research and Community Engagement at the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities.
A native of New Jersey, Dr. Gamble earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary Education and Liberal Studies from Rowan University, where she also captained the university’s field hockey team. She later earned her Master of Science in Health Promotion and PhD in Health and Kinesiology from the University of Mississippi, where her doctoral research received multiple university and national awards. Before joining UMMC in 2014, she served as the Evaluation Lead for the Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative at the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Dr. Gamble’s research focuses on implementation science, maternal and child health, and chronic disease prevention in underserved populations. She has led numerous federally and foundation-funded projects aimed at improving health outcomes through telehealth innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and policy translation. Her work is nationally recognized for advancing evidence-based, community-engaged approaches to address health disparities in the Deep South.
Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys exercising and spending time with her nieces and nephews, who inspire her lifelong commitment to improving the health and well-being of future generations.
Education
| University of MS, PhD, Health and Kinesiology | 2011 |
| University of MS, MS, Health Promotion | 2007 |
| Rowan University, BA, Elementary Education | 2003 |
| Rowan University, BA, Liberal Studies | 2003 |
| University of California, San Francisco, Graduate Certificate, Implementation Science |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, Lifestyle Coach | 03/2018 - Present |
| Certification, Certified Health Education Specialist | 03/2010 - 02/2014 |
Current Positions
| Director | 12/2022 - Present |
| Associate Professor, School of Population Health, Department of Preventive Medicine | 07/2022 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Population Health, Department of Preventive Medicine | 09/2016 - 06/2022 |
| Assistant Professor, Kent State University | 08/2015 - 08/2016 |
| Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics | 04/2014 - 06/2015 |
| Instructor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics | 04/2013 - 04/2014 |
| Evaluation Lead, Mississippi State Department of Health | 07/2011 - 03/2013 |
| MS Network Organizer, Safe Routes to School | 08/2010 - 06/2011 |
| Adjunct Instructor, University of Mississippi | 08/2010 - 06/2011 |
| Weight Management and Lifestyle Counselor, University of Mississippi | 08/2010 - 06/2011 |
| Principal Investigator, University of Mississippi | 2010 - 07/2010 |
| Graduate Instructor/Research Assistant, University of Mississippi | 08/2006 - 12/2009 |
| Exercise Specialist II, North Mississippi Baptist Memorial Hospital | 02/2006 - 05/2008 |
| Fitness Graduate Assistant, University of Mississippi | 08/2004 - 07/2006 |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, Teen Mom Study: A Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Trial, NIMHD | 10/2023 - 06/2026 |
| Extramural, Advancing, Inspiring, and Motivating for Community Health Through Extension: Aim for Change 2, CDC | 09/2023 - 09/2028 |
| Extramural, Impact of Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension and Mandated Postpartum Depression Screening on Care for Gestational Diabetes and Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy, NICHD | 09/2023 - 07/2030 |
| Extramural, Southern Center for Maternal Health, NICHD | 09/2023 - 07/2030 |
| Extramural, Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC) at UMMC, NHLBI | 08/2023 - 09/2025 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Diabetes Project: Advancing Health Equity in Diabetes Care and Prevention, CDC | 06/2023 - 06/2028 |
| Extramural, Connected Community Care: Mitigating Social Needs and Improving Health with Community Health Workers, MSDH | 01/2023 - 09/2024 |
| Extramural, Teen Mom 2: A Multicomponent Digital Health Intervention to Improve Black Maternal Cardiometabolic Health in Mississippi’s WIC Community, NIMHD | 09/2022 - 08/2023 |
| Extramural, Mississippi School-based Telehealth Program: A Population Approach to Advance Health Equity, MDE | 03/2022 - 09/2024 |
| Extramural, Peer Health Coaching Program for Pregnant Adolescents: Proof of Concept, HRSA | 09/2021 - 09/2024 |
| Extramural, Evaluation and Return on Investment of UMMC’s Diabetes Prevention Program, AMA | 01/2021 - 12/2024 |
| Extramural, Sustainability of UMMC's Diabetes Prevention Program, MSDH | 11/2020 - 10/2021 |
| Extramural, Telehealth Diabetes Prevention Intervention for the Next Generation of African American Youth (TELE-GEN) pilot study, NHLBI | 07/2020 - 07/2022 |
| Extramural, Advancing, Inspiring, and Motivating Community Health through Extension: AIM for CHangE, CDC | 09/2018 - 09/2021 |
| Extramural, PM-CALM: Preventive Medicine Curriculum for Access to Lifestyle Medicine, HRSA | 05/2018 - 04/2023 |
| Intramural, Teen Mom Study, NIGMS | 08/2017 - 07/2022 |
| Extramural, Challenges and Requirements for Building Public Health Department Capacity to Advance Health Equity, Kellogg Foundation | 01/2017 - 08/2017 |
| Intramural, Helping Hands for Health Hearts (4H4U): Pilot Study, UMMC Office of Research | 05/2014 - 04/2015 |
| Extramural, Mississippi In-School Physical Activity Policy Translation, RWJF | 03/2013 - 11/2013 |
| Extramural, The Burden of Chronic Disease and Health Risk Factors in Mississippi Adults and Youth, My Brother's Keeper, Inc. | 03/2012 - 09/2012 |
| Extramural, The Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, CDC | 10/2010 - 09/2015 |
| Extramural, The Role of Policy and the Built Environment on Children’s In-School Physical Activity in the Mississippi Delta, RWJF | 01/2010 - 12/2010 |
| Extramural, Physician Practices Among Obese Women of Childbearing Age, University of Mississippi | 06/2008 - 06/2010 |
| Extramural, Safe Routes to School, Oxford, MS, MDOT | 02/2008 - 02/2011 |
| Extramural, Perception of the Rural Environment for Physical Activity: Instrument Development, RWJF | 11/2007 - 03/2009 |
| Extramural, Defining Activity Friendly Environments in the Rural South, RWJF | 01/2007 - 06/2008 |
| Extramural, Student Recreation In-Door Cycling Program, Ole Miss Parents Association | 08/2004 - 12/2004 |
Publications
Report | |
| Beech BM, Bruce MA, Gamble A, Crump ME, Hamilton GE Challenges and Requirements for Building Public Health Department Capacity to Advance Health Equity: The Mississippi Case | 2017 |
| Gamble A, Hallam JS, Cormack ML Mississippi In-School Physical Activity Policy | 2014 |
| Gamble A, Mendy V, Short V Mississippi Chronic Disease Indicators Report, 2012 | 2012 |
Journal Article | |
| Harris KK, Christman BD, Hillegass WB, Lim CS, Burton ET, Afshan S, Liu X, Sandridge SW, Welsch M, Zhang L, Sandlin R, Grayson B, Gamble A, Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Pediatric Patients at a Mississippi Academic Medical Center. American journal of health promotion : AJHP, 2025 Aug 27;:8901171251370666 | 2025 |
| Affuso O, Buckley L, Gamble A, Heitman E, Tyrone RS, Reneker JC, Outcomes and evaluation of a National Institutes of Health funded training program for doctoral students: The Jackson Heart Study Graduate Education and Training Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Evaluation and program planning, 2025 Aug;111:102606 | 2025 |
| Agbonlahor O, Gamble A, Compretta C, Mann JR, Faruque F, Psychosocial factors and associations with preventive cardiovascular screening among U.S adults: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey, 2023. Preventive medicine, 2025 May;194:108272 | 2025 |
| Agbonlahor O, Gamble A, Compretta C, Mann JR, Bidwell J, Williams BD, Provider Lifestyle Counseling Among Adults With Cardiometabolic Disease Diagnosis Differs by Sociodemographic Characteristics and Lifestyle Modification: NHANES 2017-2020. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 2025 Jan 28;:15598276251316850 | 2025 |
| Gamble A, Khan T, Hughes A, Guo Y, Vasaitis S, Bidwell J, Christman B, Telehealth Diabetes Prevention Program for Adults With Prediabetes in an Academic Medical Center Setting: Protocol for a Hybrid Type III Trial. JMIR research protocols, 2023 Nov 13;12:e50183 | 2023 |
| Gamble A, Beech BM, Wade BC, Sutton VD, Lim C, Sandridge S, Welsch MA, Telehealth Diabetes Prevention Intervention for the Next Generation of African American Youth: Protocol for a Pilot Trial. JMIR research protocols, 2021 Mar 31;10(3):e25699 | 2021 |
| Gamble A, Beech BM, Blackshear C, Cranston KL, Herring SJ, Moore JB, Welsch MA, Recruitment planning for clinical trials with a vulnerable perinatal adolescent population using the Clinical Trials Transformative Initiative framework and principles of partner and community engagement. Contemporary clinical trials, 2021 May;104:106363 | 2021 |
| Gamble A, Beech BM, Blackshear C, Herring SJ, Welsch MA, Moore JB, Changes in Physical Activity and Television Viewing From Pre-pregnancy Through Postpartum Among a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Perinatal Adolescent Population. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology, 2021 Dec;34(6):832-838 | 2021 |
| Gamble A, Baskin ML, Cranston KL, Herring SJ, Hinton E, Saulters MM, Moore JB, Welsch MA, Beech BM, Effects of eHealth interventions on physical activity and weight among pregnant and postpartum women and the sociodemographic characteristics of study populations: a systematic review protocol. JBI evidence synthesis, 2020 Nov;18(11):2396-2403 | 2020 |
| Robinson JC, Lim CS, Hinton E, Pintado I, Gamble A, Compretta C, Ravola M, School-based obesity prevention programs in rural communities: a scoping review protocol. JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, 2019 Jul;17(7):1326-1333 | 2019 |
| Chatfield SL, Gamble A, Hallam JS, Men's Preferences for Physical Activity Interventions: An Exploratory Study Using a Factorial Survey Design Created With R Software. American journal of men's health, 2018 Mar;12(2):347-358 | 2018 |
| Buys D, Gamble A, Tomlinson S Volunteers create backpack meals program to reach students at risk of weekend hunger J Hunger Envir Nutrit. 2018;13(1):55-57. | 2017 |
| Gamble A, Chatfield SL, Cormack ML Jr, Hallam JS, Not Enough Time in the Day: A Qualitative Assessment of In-School Physical Activity Policy as Viewed by Administrators, Teachers, and Students. The Journal of school health, 2017 Jan;87(1):21-28 | 2017 |
| Walsh SM, Meyer MR, Gamble A, Patterson MS, Moore JB, A Systematic Review of Rural, Theory-based Physical Activity Interventions. American journal of health behavior, 2017 May 1;41(3):248-258 | 2017 |
| Beech BM, Bruce MA, Gamble A, Brunson C, Jones ML, Academic Health Center-Rural Community Collaborations: 'Healthy Linkages' to Improve the Health of Rural Populations. Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 2016 Apr;57(4):118-22 | 2016 |
| Kegler MC, Honeycutt S, Davis M, Dauria E, Berg C, Dove C, Gamble A, Hawkins J, Policy, systems, and environmental change in the Mississippi Delta: considerations for evaluation design. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 2015 Apr;42(1 Suppl):57S-66S | 2015 |
| Short VL, Gamble A, Mendy V, Racial differences in ideal cardiovascular health metrics among Mississippi adults, 2009 Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Preventing chronic disease, 2013 Nov 21;10:E194 | 2013 |
| Gamble A, Waddell D, Ford MA, Bentley JP, Woodyard CD, Hallam JS, Obesity and health risk of children in the Mississippi Delta. The Journal of school health, 2012 Oct;82(10):478-83 | 2012 |
| Umstattd Meyer MR, Moore JB, Abildso C, Edwards MB, Gamble A, Baskin ML, Rural Active Living: A Call to Action. Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 2016 Sep-Oct;22(5):E11-20 | |
| Gamble A, Foreword. Family & community health, 2016 Oct-Dec;39(4):223-4 | |
| Gamble A, Saulters MM, Cranston KL, Jones DW, Herring SJ, Beech BM, Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement Strategies for Exercise Interventions With Rural Antenatal Adolescents: Qualitative Interviews With WIC Providers. Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 2020 Sep Oct;26(5):497-502 | |
| Pitts LE, Kaur IP, Christman BD, Bidwell JH, Khan T, Gamble A, Case Report: Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program in an Academic Medical Center. Clinical diabetes : a publication of the American Diabetes Association, 2025 Spring;43(2):324-327 | |
| Goldin Evans M, Wallace M, Bazzano AN, Biggio JR Jr, Cruz K, Gamble A, Green C, Jah Z, Longo S, Perez S, Reed RN, Shaffer JG, Shi L, Harville E, The Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity (SCMHE): a multisector multifaceted community-based approach to reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality in the Gulf South. Frontiers in public health, 2024;12:1465779 | |
| Alam S, Nandi U, Scarborough S, McNeill E, Callison K, Shi L, Gamble A, Maternal Health Legislation Enacted in Three Southeastern States in the United States Between 2018-2023: Policy Surveillance. Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 2024;65(5-6) | |
Abstracts | |
| Alam S, McNeill E, Tang M, Rong R, Christman BD, Gamble A, Hillegas WB, Hall JL, Xiong X, Wright L, Shi L Economic evaluation of detection, treatment, and prevention of interventions for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: a systematic literature review Value Health. 2025:28(6) (Supplement 1);S113 | 2025 |
| Gamble A Implementation of a telehealth lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes in Black parent-child dyads Telemed e-Health. 2023:29(3) | 2023 |
| Harris KK, Lim CS, Liu X, Welsch MA, Zhang L, Hillegass WB, Gamble A Prevalence of severe obesity in Mississippi youth Ann Behav Med. 2023; 85(1):S174 | 2023 |
| Buck RJ, Morris-Hill S, Gamble A Mississippi Momnibus: innovative strategies to improve Black maternal health and advance health equity Ann Behav Med. 2023; 85(1):S644 | 2023 |
| Kharbanda V, Alam S, Morris-Hill S, Welsch MA, Gamble A Maternal social support for physical activity in predominantly Black perinatal adolescents Ann Behav Med. 2023; 85(1):S646 | 2023 |
| Sylvester H, Turk P, Anugu A, Blackshear C, Christman B, Welsch MA, Gamble A Telehealth diabetes prevention intervention for the next generation of African American youth pilot trial Am J Med Sci. 365(S1):S404-S405 | 2023 |
| Gamble A, Blackshear C, Lim CS, Sandridge S, Sutton VD, Welsch MA, Beech BM Effectiveness of a telehealth lifestyle intervention on reducing diabetes risk in Black families Obesity. 2022;30(S1):55-293 (p140) | 2022 |
| Gamble A Recruitment planning for clinical trials with a vulnerable perinatal adolescent population: Experiences from the Teen Mom Study. Ann Behav Med. 2021; 55:S588-S588. | 2021 |
| Behrman P, Houdeshell-Putt LV, Ford S, Gamble A Planning and recruitment of underrepresented perinatal populations for inclusion in health services research Ann Behav Med. 2021; 55:S586-S586 | 2021 |
| Gamble A Recruitment and retention strategies for research with rural pregnant adolescents Ann Behav Med. 2020;54(suppl 1):S745 | 2020 |
| Mendy VL, Vargas R, El-sadek L, Gamble A Trends in heart disease mortality among Mississippi adults over a three decade period, 1980 through 2013 Circulation. 2016; 133(suppl 1):AP096 | 2016 |
| Mendy V, Short V, Smith L, Gamble A Disparities in multiple risk factors for heart disease and stroke in the Mississippi Delta Amer J Epidemiol. 2012;175(suppl 11):S105 | 2012 |
| Gamble A, Waddell D, Bentley J, Hallam J Policy and environmental predictors of in-school physical activity for elementary school-aged children Obesity. 2011;19(suppl 1):S127 | 2011 |
| Gamble A, Waddell D, Bentley J, Hallam J Policy and environmental predictors of in-school physical activity for elementary school-aged children Obesity | 2011 |
| Gamble A, Hallam JS, Bentley JP Physical education class characteristics and physical activity of elementary school-aged children in the Mississippi Delta Med Sci Sports Exercise. 2011;43(5) | 2011 |
Thesis | |
| Gamble A Differences between Older and Younger Adults on Composite Balance and Selected Health Correlates | |
Dissertation | |
| Gamble A The Role of Policy and the Built Environment on Children’s In-School Physical Activity in the Mississippi Delta | |
Book Chapter | |
| Moore JB, Gamble A, Gardner D, Peluso A, Perry D Emerging Policy Landscape Surrounding CSPAPs Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs: Putting Research into Evidence-based Practice. Ed. Carson RL. Human Kinetics; Webster, CA. 2020. 19 – 30. | 2020 |
Historical Article | |
| Erfle SE, Gamble A, Effects of daily physical education on physical fitness and weight status in middle school adolescents. The Journal of school health, 2015 Jan;85(1):27-35 | 2015 |
Presentations
| Poster Presentation, The Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity: Objectives and Design, Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research, Austin, TX | 06/2024 |
| Platform Presentations, A Rural Call to Action 2.0: Looking back and paving the way forward, Annual Active Living Conference, Chattanooga, TN | 03/2024 |
| Poster Presentation, An evaluation of a diabetes prevention program implementation strategy: preliminary results from an academic medical center, Academy Health Annual Research Meeting, Seattle, WA | 06/2023 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Health Equity Panel, Mississippi State Medical Association CME in the Sand Annual Meeting, Destin, FL | 05/2023 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Diabetes Prevention in Adults and Youth, Mississippi State Medical Association CME in the Sand Annual Meeting, Destin, FL | 05/2023 |
| Platform Presentations, Maternal Health Equity: Are we asking the right questions?, Empowering Communities Conference, Jackson, MS | 05/2023 |
| Poster Presentation, Implementation findings from a single-arm pilot trial of a lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes in Black youth, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, Minneapolis, MN | 09/2022 |
| Platform Presentations, The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Diabetes Prevention, Mississippi State Medical Association, Jackson, MS | 07/2022 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Implementation and Evaluation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program in a Telehealth Setting for Medicaid Beneficiaries, Diabetes Coalition of Mississippi, Virtual | 02/2022 |
| Poster Presentation, Application of the Clinical Trials Transformative Initiative’s recruitment recommendations for clinical trials with a vulnerable perinatal adolescent population, Southeast IDeA Conference, Virtual | 11/2021 |
| Poster Presentation, Changes in perinatal adolescent physical activity and TV viewing from prepregnancy through pregnancy in a population with health disparities, Southeast IDeA Conference, Virtual | 11/2021 |
| Poster Presentation, Recruitment of vulnerable populations underrepresented in health research: Experiences with pregnant and postpartum adolescents and their parents in the Mississippi Delta, Society for Public Health Education, Virtual | 04/2021 |
| Poster Presentation, Recruitment of vulnerable populations underrepresented in health research: Experiences with pregnant and postpartum adolescents and their parents in the Mississippi Delta., Society for Public Health Education, Virtual | 04/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Giving Childhood Back to our Youth: The Importance of Diabetes Prevention and Treatment among Adolescents., University of Mississippi Medical Center | 12/2020 |
| Platform Presentations, Beyond the walls of clinical practice: Implications of multigenerational living in the context of poverty and obesity prevention among vulnerable African American families in the Mississippi Delta, National Abstracts Competition for Medical Students Abstract Day, UMMC | 11/2020 |
| Poster Presentation, A theoretical and multigenerational conceptual model and research framework for obesity prevention among vulnerable populations, American Public Health Association, Virtual | 10/2020 |
| Poster Presentation, Implications of multigenerational households in the context of poverty on obesity among vulnerable African American families: A theoretical conceptual model and research framework, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, Virtual | 10/2020 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Engaging Community-Public Health-Academic Partnerships to Create Messaging and Risk Communication for Vulnerable Mississippi Populations in the COVID-19 Pandemic, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Virtual | 05/2020 |
| Poster Presentation, Recruitment and retention strategies for research with rural pregnant adolescents, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Virtual | 03/2020 |
| Platform Presentations, Recruitment, retention and engagement strategies for exercise interventions with rural antenatal adolescents, Active Living Research, Orlando, FL | 02/2020 |
| Platform Presentations, Recruiting pregnant adolescents in an intervention study: perspectives of WIC providers using qualitative interviews, Southeast Regional IDeA Conference, Louisville, KY | 11/2019 |
| Platform Presentations, Qualitative interviews with WIC providers to probe recruitment, retention, and engagement strategies for exercise interventions with rural antenatal adolescents, 14th Annual UAB Health Disparities Research Symposium, Birmingham, AL | 04/2019 |
| Poster Presentation, Exploring exercise behavior in pregnant and postpartum adolescents in Mississippi, Mississippi Public Health Association, Jackson, MS | 10/2018 |
| Poster Presentation, Lessons learned from the “done in a day research mob”: Process evaluation of a brief and rapid community-based participatory research project, American Academy of Health Behavior, Tucson, AZ | 03/2017 |
| Poster Presentation, Evidence-based physical education programs: a comparison using physical fitness and weight status outcomes among middle school adolescents, American Academy of Health Behavior, Sawgrass, FL | 02/2016 |
| Roundtable, Lessons from my front porch: social determinants and rural America, Active Living Research, Clearwater Beach, FL | 02/2016 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, School and Community Linkages to Improve Child Health, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC | 10/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, A process evaluation of the Mississippi State Employee Wellness program, Society for Public Health Education, Portland, OR | 04/2015 |
| Platform Presentations, Rural active living: a call to action, Active Living Research, San Diego, CA | 02/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Facilitators and barriers to successful implementation of in-school physical activity policy in the Mississippi Delta, American Public Health Association, New Orleans, LA | 11/2014 |
| Invited Symposia, Moving Kids Towards Success! School Policies that Support Active, Attentive Students; Dialogue4Health webinar, Diaolgue4Health, Virtual | 05/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Barriers and facilitators of implementing in-school physical activity policy in rural communities, American Academy of Health Behavior, Charleston, SC | 03/2014 |
| Platform Presentations, Informing Mississippi legislators of factors associated with in-school physical activity policy and practices in rural, low-income, predominantly African American school settings, Active Living Research, San Diego, CA | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Multiple risk factors and disparities associated with heart disease and stroke among Mississippi Delta women, American Public Health Association, San Francisco, CA | 10/2012 |
| Platform Presentations, Physical education class characteristics and in-school physical activity opportunity for elementary school-aged children in the Mississippi Delta, Southern Obesity Summit, Charlotte, NC | 10/2012 |
| Poster Presentation, Delta Alliance for Congregational Health: Identifying at-risk and undiagnosed individuals, Southern Obesity Summit, Charlotte, NC | 10/2012 |
| Poster Presentation, Engaging community leaders to advocate for health in rural settings: Lessons from the Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, Southern Obesity Summit, Charlotte, NC | 10/2012 |
| Poster Presentation, Disparities in multiple risk factors for heart disease and stroke in the Mississippi Delta, Society for Epidemiological Research, Minneapolis, MN | 06/2012 |
| Poster Presentation, Walkability and perceived environmental barriers to walking to school in a rural environment, American Academy of Health Behavior, Austin, TX | 03/2012 |
| Poster Presentation, The role of policy and the built environment on children’s in-school physical activity in the Mississippi Delta, Active Living Research, San Diego, CA | 03/2012 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Breakout Session: Innovative dissemination methods, Active Living Research Annual Conference Grantee Meeting, San Diego, CA | 03/2012 |
| Poster Presentation, Built environment and active commuting to school in a rural community., American Public Health Association, Washington, DC | 11/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, In-school physical activity opportunity and physical activity levels of elementary-school age children in the Mississippi Delta, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC | 11/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, Best practices to evaluate the impact of school health policy on childhood obesity, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC | 11/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, Policy and environmental predictors of in-school physical activity among elementary school-aged children, Obesity Society, Orlando, FL | 10/2011 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Complete Streets in predominantly rural states, Safe Routes to School 3rd Annual National Conference, Minneapolis, MN | 08/2011 |
| Platform Presentations, Physical education class characteristics and physical activity of elementary school-aged children in the Mississippi Delta, American College of Sports Medicine, Denver, CO | 06/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, The role of policy and the built environment on children’s in-school physical activity in the Mississippi Delta, The University of Mississippi Graduate Student Poster Symposium, University, MS | 04/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, Differences in behavioral variables among CrossFit and traditional fitness training participants, American Academy of Health Behavior, Hilton Head, SC | 03/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, The role of policy and the built environment on children’s in-school physical activity in the Mississippi Delta, American Academy of Health Behavior, Hilton Head, SC | 03/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, Examining barriers and facilitators of physical activity for older adults in rural settings: Qualitative findings, Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA | 11/2010 |
| Poster Presentation, Physical activity research in rural environments, American Academy of Health Behavior, Hilton Head, SC | 03/2009 |
| Poster Presentation, Differences between older and younger adults on composite balance and selected health correlates, South East American College of Sports Medicine, Birmingham, AL | 02/2008 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Faculty Marshal, John D. Bower School of Population Health, Univesity of Mississippi Medical Center | 2025 |
| Nomination, Mid-Career Faculty Award, Group on Women in Medicine and Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2025 |
| Gold Medallion, Excellence in Research, Univesrity of Mississippi Medical Center | 2024 |
| Honorable Mention, Beacon Award, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2024 |
| Fellow, L.C. Dorsey Research Honor Society | 2023 |
| Health Policy Fellow, Center for Mississippi Health Policy | 2022 |
| Exemplar Recruitment Case Study, Clinical Trials Transformative Initiative | 2021 |
| Excellence in Community Engaged Research, University of Mississippi | 2019 |
| Young Investigator Award, Society for Pediatric Research | 2015 |
| Health Disparities Research Training Program Scholar, University of Alabama Birmingham | 2014 |
| 2012 Top 20 Most Influential Research, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | 2013 |
| Nominated Young Leader Award, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | 2012 |
| Best Poster Award, University of Mississippi | 2011 |
| Outstanding Student Poster, American Academy of Health Behavior | 2011 |
| Graduate Research Fellow, University of Mississippi Graduate School | 2010 |
| Active Living Research Dissertation Award, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | 2010 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Association for Clinical and Translational Science, Member | 2025 - Present |
| Academy Health, Member | 2024 - Present |
| The Obesity Society, Member | 2020 - Present |
| Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, Member | 2020 - Present |
| Society for Implementation Research Collaboration, Member | 2018 - Present |
| Society of Behavioral Medicine, Member | 2018 - Present |
| American Academy of Health Behavior, Member | 2014 - 2015 |
| Public Health Education & Health Promotion, American Public Health Association, Officer, Other Officer, Scientific Program Planner | 2012 - 2016 |
| Mississippi Safe Routes to School State Network Program, Officer, Other Officer | 2010 - 2013 |
| American Red Cross, Member | 2007 - 2011 |
| American College of Sports Medicine, Member | 2007 - 2010 |
| Action for Healthy Kids, Member | 2007 |
| American Public Health Association, Member | 2005 - 2017 |
Committee Service
| SOPH - Awards and Recognition Committee, Member | 2024 - Present |
| SCHOOL OF POPULATION HEALTH - ACADEMIC COUNCIL, Member | 2024 - Present |
| SCHOOL OF MEDICINE-CURRICULUM, Member | 2023 - Present |
| MEDICAL CENTER-RESEARCH ADVISORY, Member | 2022 - Present |
| SOPH - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Vice Chair | 2022 - 2024 |
| SOPH - Awards and Recognition Committee, Chair | 2022 - 2024 |
| THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS - Community Health Needs Assessment, Co-Chair | 2020 - Present |
| MEDICAL CENTER-SACS LEADERSHIP, Member | 2020 - 2022 |
| APHA - Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section, Secretary | 2017 - 2018 |
| MCCTR - Community Engaged Research Working Group, Member | 2017 - 2021 |
| MEDICAL CENTER-FACULTY SENATE, Member | 2017 - 2020 |
| American Academy of Health Behavior, Research Review Chair | 2016 - 2017 |
| MEWI - Rural Interdisciplinary Case Exchange (RICE) Bowl, Member | 2014 - 2014 |
| Interdisciplinary Mississippi Child Health Council, Member | 2013 - 2015 |
| SOM - Pediatric Discovery Council, Member | 2013 - 2015 |
| APHA - Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section, Program Planning Committee, Chair | 2012 - 2016 |
| American Academy of Health Behavior - Student Program Planner, Member | 2011 - 2011 |
Community Service
| Word of Life Church, Childcare Volunteer | 06/2020 - 05/2022 |
| Oxford Safe Routes to School, Volunteer | 08/2010 - 05/2011 |
| Boys and Girls Club, Oxford, Volunteer | 03/2010 - 06/2010 |
Other Service
| D&I Research Consultation and Advising Unit, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Leadership | 09/2025 - Present |
| External Advisory Board, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, University of South Carolina, Advisor | 01/2025 - Present |
| Implementation Science | 2024 - Present |
| Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine | 04/2020 - Present |
| International Journal for Public Health | 2019 - Present |
| American Journal of Public Health | 2019 - Present |
| Journal of Physical Activity and Health | 2017 - Present |
| Maternal and Child Health | 2016 - Present |
| Family & Community Health, Guest Editor, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention | 02/2015 - 06/2016 |
| Preventive Medicine | 05/2014 - Present |
| Health Education and Behavior | 04/2014 - 12/2016 |
| Family and Community Health | 11/2013 - Present |
| Annals of Behavioral Medicine | 09/2012 - Present |
| Journal of Rural Health | 02/2012 - 12/2013 |
| American Public Health Association, MCHES Credentials Reviewer | 08/2011 - 08/2011 |
| American Public Health Association, Confernece Session Moderator | 11/2008 - 11/2011 |
Teaching Experience
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Fall 2025-2026 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Summer 2025-2026 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Fall 2024-2025 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Summer 2024-2025 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Fall 2024-2025 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Proposal Development | Fall 2023-2024 |
| PHS 791, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Independent Study | Spring 2023-2024 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Summer 2023-2024 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Spring 2023-2024 |
| PHS 798, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Doctoral Dissertation Research | Fall 2023-2024 |
| MS733, Graduate, Course, Course Director, Social and Behavioral Science Theory | Spring 2019-2020 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Resident Lectureship, Department of Family Medicine and Department of Preventive Medicine | Summer 2018-2019 |
| MS733, Graduate, Course, Course Director, Social and Behaivoral Science Theory | Spring 2018-2019 |
Directed Student Learning
| Supervised Research, Advised: Julia Hansen | 2025 - 2025 |
| Supervised Research, Advised: Anna Grace McCreary | 2025 - 2025 |
| Supervised Research, Advised: Morgan Williams | 2025 - 2025 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Surveilling obesity among Mississippi children and adolescents Advised: Brian Christman | 2025 - Present |
| GTEC Mentor, Advised: Quest Whalen | 2024 - 2025 |
| GTEC Mentor, Advised: Assata-Senghora Demyers | 2024 - 2025 |
| Directed Individual/Independent Study, Advised: Sydney Morris-Hill | 2024 - 2024 |
| Directed Individual/Independent Study, Advised: Rebekah Andrew Ayyasamy | 2024 - 2024 |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, Assessing the contextual factors that influence the introduction, deliberation, and adoption of maternal health legislation in Mississippi Advised: Sabrina Alam | 2023 - Present |
| GTEC Mentor, Advised: Destinee Manning | 2023 - 2025 |
| GTEC Mentor, Advised: Garrett Jordan | 2023 - 2025 |
| Supervised Research, Advised: Clayton Becht Rowell | 2023 - 2023 |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, Weight status and cardiometabolic disease risk among children and adolescents in the United States Advised: Kisa Harris | 2023 - 2024 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Mobile health application, self-care, and diabetic kidney disease: a feasibility and effectiveness study Advised: Lisa Deloris Slade | 2023 - Present |
| Supervised Research, Advised: Lauren Pitts | 2021 - 2024 |
| Master's Thesis Committee Member, Comparative Effectiveness of Lifestyle versus Pharmacological Therapy for Diabetes Prevention in Adults Advised: Cassie Chandler | 2021 - 2022 |
| Supervised Research, Advised: Melanie McDonald | 2019 - 2019 |
| Supervised Research, Advised: Katherine Cranston | 2018 - 2022 |
Fellows supervised
| Population Health, Post-Doc Advisor, 1 fellows supervised | 03/2025 - Present |