Rachel S. Tyrone, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department:
SPH-Population Health Science
Email:
rtyrone@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-5778
Biography
Dr. Rachel S. Tyrone is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences and is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) with extensive clinical and academic experience in early childhood development, maternal and infant mental health, and workforce development. Dr. Tyrone earned her A.A. from Copiah Lincoln Community College, B.S. and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Southern Mississippi, and completed her PhD in Population Health Sciences at UMMC. Dr. Tyrone coordinates the Child Health and Developmental Promotion Fellowship Program and is actively involved in statewide initiatives to strengthen the early childhood workforce and integrate developmental health into primary care. Her research portfolio includes peer-reviewed publications on Adverse Childhood Experiences, developmental outcomes, and interdisciplinary training innovations. A dedicated educator and mentor, she regularly delivers lectures and trainings on social determinants of health, issues related to early childhood development, and workforce enhancement. Dr. Tyrone’s work reflects a commitment to improving population-level outcomes through collaborative, equity-focused, and evidence-based strategies.
Education
| School of Population Health, PhD, Population Health Sciences | 2022 |
| University of Southern Mississippi, MS, Speech-Language Pathology | 2014 |
| University of Southern Mississippi, BS, Speech Language Pathology | 2014 |
| Copiah Lincoln Community College, Associates of Arts, Speech Language Pathology | 2012 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, American Speech and Hearing Association, American Speech and Hearing Association | 01/2016 - Present |
Current Positions
| Assistant Professor, School of Population Health, Department of Population Health Science | 01/2025 - 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 Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery | 05/2022 - 01/2015 |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, Early Childcare ECHO Mississippi State University and Mississippi Department of Human Services, MS Department of Human Services | 10/2024 - 12/2025 |
| Extramural, CHAMP for Moms: Enhancing Maternal Wellness Through Integrated Psychiatry, Substance Use Support, and Consultation, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) | 09/2023 - 09/2028 |
| Extramural, Gradate Training and Education Center, NHLBI | 08/2023 - 08/2025 |
| Extramural, Early Child Autism Evaluation Clinic: University of Mississippi, Hearing | 07/2023 - 07/2026 |
| Extramural, Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, MS State Legislature | 07/2023 - Present |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| 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 |
| Walker CS, Gardner SK, Tyrone RS, Withrow S, Long B, Sarver DE, Buttross S, Developmental/behavioral training innovation in a high-need, low-resource state: The child health and development promotion fellowship. Families, systems & health : the journal of collaborative family healthcare, 2022 Dec;40(4):596-605 | 2022 |
| Musshafen, L. A., Tyrone, R. S., Abdelaziz, A., Sims-Gomillia, C. E., Pongetti, L. S., Teng, F., ... & Reneker, J. C Associations between sleep and academic performance in US adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis Sleep Medicine, 83, 71-82. | 2021 |
| Beech, B. M., Bruce, M. A., Cohen-Winans, S., Harris, K., Jones, R., Tyrone, R. S., & Thorpe Jr, R. J. Weight Misperception among African American Adolescents: The Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study Ethnicity & disease, 31(3), 461. | 2021 |
| Musshafen LA, Tyrone RS, Abdelaziz A, Sims-Gomillia CE, Pongetti LS, Teng F, Fletcher LM, Reneker JC, Associations between sleep and academic performance in US adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep medicine, 2021 Jul;83:71-82 | 2021 |
| Beech BM, Bruce MA, Cohen-Winans S, Harris K, Jones R, Tyrone RS, Thorpe RJ Jr, Weight Misperception among African American Adolescents: The Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study. Ethnicity & disease, 2021 Summer;31(3):461-468 | |
Presentations
| Poster Presentation, Resilience for whom? Population-level patterns in the distribution of positive childhood experiences, Pediatric Academic Societies, Boston, MA | 04/2026 |
| Poster Presentation, Community Engagement in Childcare Behavioral Health: Professional Development and Support for Rural Childcare Directors and Teachers Through ECHO for Childcare Providers, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Sciences, Pittsburg, PA | 09/2025 |
| Poster Presentation, The Jackson Heart Study Graduate Education and Training Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center: Outcomes and Program Evaluation, American Heart Association Epi Lifestyle, New Orleans, LA | 03/2025 |
| Poster Presentation, Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Developmental Outcomes among Mississippi Children: An Exploratory Analysis of Novel Exposure Classifications, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Sciences, Minneapolis, MN | 09/2022 |
| Platform Presentations, Pediatric Feeding Disorders and Treatment, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Jackson, Mississippi | 09/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Science Communication on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Their Effects on Infant, Child, and Adolescent Development, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Jackson Mississippi | 09/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, A Panel Discussion on Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Jackson Mississippi | 09/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Pieces of the Pediatric Puzzle: Decoding Experiences from Womb to Tomb”, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Virtual | 05/2020 |
| Platform Presentations, Feeding the Medically Complex Child, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association Annual Conference, Virtual | 05/2020 |
| Platform Presentations, Feeding the Medically Complex Child, Young Child Expo and Conference, Virtual | 04/2020 |
| Platform Presentations, The Speech-Language Pathologist Role in Addressing Health Disparities, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association, Biloxi Mississippi | 03/2019 |
| Platform Presentations, Feeding Therapy: A Behavioral Management Approach, Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association, Biloxi Mississippi | 04/2018 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| MCCTR Community-Engaged Research Summer Institute, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research | 2026 |
| Systems Science for Social Impact: Group Model Building, Washington University in St. Louis | 2026 |
| W.K. Kellogg Community Leadership Network Fellow, W.K. Kellogg | 2026 |
| Advocacy Scholars Symposium, University of Mississippi, University of Mississippi | 2025 |
| Systems Science for Social Impact: Introduction into Systems Science, Washington University in St. Louis | 2025 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Early Childhood Development Coalition, Member | 2026 - Present |
| Screen Time Action Network: Early Childhood Working Group, Member | 2024 - Present |
| Interdisciplinary Association of Population Health Science | 2021 - Present |
| American Speech and Hearing Association, Member | 2016 - Present |
| Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association, Member | 2016 - Present |
Committee Service
| SCHOOL OF POPULATION HEALTH-AWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE, Member | 2026 - Present |
| UMMC School of Population Health Science: Culture Comittee, Member | 2026 - Present |
| UMMC School of Population Health Science: Curriculum Committee, Member | 2025 - Present |
| UMMC School of Population Health: Admission Committee, Chair | 2025 - Present |
| Group on Women in Medicine and Science, Chair | 2025 - Present |
| UMMC Speech Language Pathology Doctoral Program Development Committee, Member | 2025 - Present |
| UMMC School of Population Health Qualifying Exam Committee, Member | 2025 - Present |
| Academic Innovations Committee, Member | 2025 - Present |
| Screen Time Action Network: Early Childhood Workgroup, Member | 2025 - Present |
| Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association, Chair | 2025 - Present |
| Screen Time Action Network, Member | 2024 - Present |
| Group on Women in Medicine and Science, Chair | 2019 - 2020 |
| Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association, Member | 2019 - 2020 |
| Child Health and Developmental Promotion Fellowship Clinical Training Committee, Member | 2019 - Present |
| Mississippi Speech and Hearing Assocation, Chair | 2018 - 2020 |
| Group on Women in Medicine and Science, Member | 2017 - 2018 |
Community Service
| Community Outreach: Developmental Screening, Screener/Developmental Expert | 03/2026 - 03/2026 |
| Read Across America Service Project: Spann Elementary, Educator | 03/2026 - 03/2026 |
| Building and Retaining Workforce: Why Mental health Matters, Trainer | 06/2025 - 06/2025 |
| Madison County School Distract Administration Training: Mental Health Effects of Screen Time, Trainer | 06/2025 - 06/2025 |
| Community Outreach: Developmental Screening, Screener/Developmental Expert | 03/2025 - 03/2025 |
| Madison County Parent Training Symposium: Mental Health Effects of Screen Time, Trainer/Presenter | 03/2025 - 03/2025 |
| Community Outreach: Developmental Screening, Screener/Developmental Expert | 06/2024 - 06/2024 |
| Teacher and Parent Training: Little Light House, Trainer | 02/2021 - 11/2021 |
Other Service
| Mississippi Speech and Hearing Assocation, Clinical Mentor | 01/2023 - 07/2023 |
Teaching Experience
| MPH 700, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Essentials of Public Health | Annual 2026 |
| PHS 753, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Systems Science and Population Health | Annual 2025 |
| PHS 700-01, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Essentials of Population Health | Annual 2025 |
| PHS 700-02, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Essentials of Population Health | Annual 2025 |
| PHS 794, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Journal Club | Annual 2025 - 2025 |
| PHS 735, Population Health, Clinical/Practicum, Preceptor, Educational Internship | Fall 2025 - 2025 |
| PHS 753-02, Population Health, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Social Determinants of Health | Fall 2024 - 2024 |
| PHS 731-01, Population Health, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Social Determinants of Health | Spring 2024 - 2024 |
| PHS 747, Population Health, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Survey Development, Qualitative Methods, and Analysis | Summer 2024 - 2024 |
| PHS 731-01, Population Health, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Social Determinants of Health | Fall 2024 - 2024 |
| PHS 731-01, Population Health, Course, Course Developer, Social Determinants of Health | Fall 2024 - 2024 |
| XXX 000, Medicine, Course, Course Director, CHDP Early Childhood Seminar | Annual 2024 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Assessing Communication | Spring 2022 - 2022 |
| XXX 000, Medicine, Course, Course Director, CHDP Journal Club | Annual 2022 - 2024 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Evaluation of Communicative Disorders | Spring 2021 |
Directed Student Learning
| Supervised Research, Advised: Tory Corley, Angie Garrett, Jordan Gill, Olivia Palisi, James Loome | 2025 - Present |
| Internship Advisor, Advised: Jennifer Melton | 2017 - 2017 |
Fellows supervised
| Child Health and Development Promotion Fellowship, Direct Clinical Supervisor, 11 fellows supervised | 07/2018 - Present |