Eight UMMC Graduates pose for a photo at Commencement

70th Annual UMMC Commencement

Friday, May 22, 2026 10 a.m.
Mississippi Coliseum
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Earn your UMMC degree online
Students interacting at an Interprofessional Education event

Interprofessional Education at UMMC
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Welcome to the Office of Academic Affairs

Portrait of Dr. Scott Rogers and Dr. Natalie Gaughf
Scott M. Rodgers, MD Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Natalie W. Gaughf, PhD, ABPP Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The University of Mississippi Medical Center supports six health professions schools on its main campus in Jackson and successfully graduates roughly 1000 health care professionals each year, many of whom choose to stay and practice in the state.

The Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs oversees the academic enterprise of UMMC. To support our academic mission, each member of our team plays an essential role in our continuing success as we work to identify and promote best practices in health care education, including the following: 

  • Academic planning and strategy
  • Academic policies and procedures
  • Continuing health professions education
  • Faculty development and success
  • Institutional accreditation
  • Quality improvement and innovation in education
  • Resources through the Rowland Medical Library
  • Student services and success

Our goals are to provide quality education to our students and trainees and to promote lifelong learning to our alumni, faculty, and staff.

Thank you for visiting our webpage, and please feel free to browse through our many programs.  

Six Schools. One UMMC.

  1. School of Medicine building exterior.

    1955

    School of Medicine
  2. School of Nursing building exterior.

    1958

    School of Nursing
  3. School of Health Related Professions building exterior.

    1973

    School of Health Related Professions
  4. School of Dentistry building exterior.

    1975

    School of Dentistry
  5. Guyton Research Complex building exterior.

    2001

    School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences

  6. School of Population Health exterior building.

    2016

    John D. Bower School of Population Health

Faculty Directory

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Academic Affairs News

Celebrating the completion of renovations at the South Oxford Center are, from left, Rep. Josh Hawkins; Sen. Daniel Sparks; Dr. Kristi Reece, assistant dean for the UMMC School of Nursing Oxford instructional site; nursing student Jack Taylor of Corinth; Dr. Tina Martin, dean of the UMMC School of Nursing; Dr. Glenn Boyce, chancellor of the University of Mississippi; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor of health affairs; Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs; and Dr. Natalie Gaughf, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Ribbon cut on renovations at UMMC School of Nursing in Oxford

Monday, July 14, 2025

High-tech spaces for nursing education and capacity for more students in Oxford will add up to more nurses to care for Mississippians, UMMC School of Nursing leaders say. Renovations at the South Oxford Center were celebrated with a ceremony and reception Wednesday. Read More

Nursing faculty and UMMC leaders applaud the lifting of the beam to the top of the new School of Nursing, which is set to open next year.

Photos: New School of Nursing reaches pinnacle

Monday, July 14, 2025

A beam signed by faculty was lifted by crane to the top of the new UMMC School of Nursing to cap off a topping-out ceremony Friday. The new building will accommodate increasing nursing enrollment on the Medical Center campus. Read More

Latest Articles

Members of the MD-PhD class are, front from left, Caroline Sit, Shelley Edwards, Madeline Griffin, Madison Hansen and Assata DeMyers; and back from left, Hayley Murphy, Xavier Person, Jack Berman, Meredith Johnson and Garner Fincher.

MD-PhD program grows in numbers, but also in potential and staying power

Published on Monday, July 14, 2025

 Doctor of Medicine graduate Boris Kuyeb.

Photos: UMMC Commencement 2025

Published on Tuesday, May 27, 2025

 Graduates from the schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, Population Health and Health Related Professions were applauded by friends and family during ceremonies at the Mississippi Coliseum.

UMMC celebrates the graduating class of 2025

Published on Friday, May 23, 2025

 Taylor Lefler enjoyed working closely with other graduates during her School of Population Health PhD biostatistics and data science studies as seen in this 2022 photo during a student body meeting.

#2025UMMCGrad: Love of games, puzzles lead to student’s future career

Published on Monday, May 19, 2025

 School of Nursing Alumna of the Year Heather Pierce, left, is joined by Dr. Chelsea Andries, 2025 School of Nursing Early Career Achievement Award winner.

Pierce, Andries win UMMC School of Nursing alumni honors

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

 TEACH Prize honoree Dr. Katie Barber, center, receives congratulations and a $10,000 facsimile check from Regions Bank officials LoRose Moore, far left, and Myer Mack, far right. Between them are, from left, Dr. Donna Strum, dean of the School of Pharmacy; Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs; and Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

With TEACH Prize win, Katie Barber reaches ‘pinnacle’ of profession

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

 Dr. Jay Garner, dean of the School of Health Related Professions, is joined, from left,  by Dr. Kristi Moore, 2025 Alumnus of the Year, Dr. Luke Bynum, Early Career Achievement Award winner, and Dr. Whitney Bondurant, SHRP Alumni Board President.

SHRP recognizes Alumnus of the Year, Early Career Achievement award winners

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

 Jordan Mallette earns a PhD from the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences this month, establishing her career in research and education.

#2025UMMCGrad: PhD student focuses on the interconnectedness of the body

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

Find Us on Social Media

Get news and information you need about the Office of Academic Affairs by connecting with us through our social media community. Our office is active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Learn more about the student activities, events, programs, and services we support.

We look forward to engaging with you!

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Upcoming Academic Calendar Items

Portrait of Saurabh B. Bhardwaj

CE – Controlled Substance

Tuesday, July 15 at 12:00 p.m

Saurabh B. Bhardwaj, a division chief, will present "Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia and Role of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)" as part of the Continuing Education - Controlled Substance Prescribing Series.

Read More
Image of person touching their toes

Adult Chair Yoga Classes

Tuesday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m

Join us at the Center for Integrative Health for a free, one-hour, beginner-level chair yoga class to help build strength and flexibility of the body and mind from a seated posture. Any interested participants can sign up by filling out the online form or calling the CIH at (601) 815-3424, option 1.

Read More

SHRP Last Day to Withdraw (DPT and OTD only)

Wednesday, July 16 at 12:00 a.m

School of Health Related Professions' last day to withdraw from a course and receive a “W” grade if failing (DPT and OTD only) is Wednesday, July 16.

Read More

SOPH Last Day for Withdrawal Grade

Wednesday, July 16 at 12:00 a.m

School of Population Health's last day to receive a withdrawal grade if failing is Wednesday, July 16.

Read More

Physiology & Biophysics Seminar

Wednesday, July 16

CCRI Seminar

Thursday, July 17

SOPH Last Day for Dissertation Defense for August 2025 Degree

Friday, July 18

SOPH August 2025 Completion Deadline

Friday, July 18

SGSHS Certificate Applicants Fall 2025 Deadline

Monday, July 21

Ophthalmology Journal Club

Monday, July 21

Center for Integrative Health Move and Groove

Monday, July 21

CE – Controlled Substance

Tuesday, July 22

View Full Academic Calendar