Awards and Achievements
Published on Friday, March 8, 2024
Dobbs Recognized with Honorary Chair
Dr. Thomas Dobbs was named Chair of the Study of Health Disparities by UMMC and the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation. “Most of what drives health has nothing to do with walking into the clinic or going to the hospital. It has everything to do with having a safe environment, a supportive family, financial stability, and access to necessary services," says Dobbs. "But we’re just part of it. I think we can be a catalyst. We bring something special. Keep your eyes open because great things are going to come out of this school.”
Click here to read an article about the recognition.
IHL Names Compretta Top Diversity Educator
Dr. Caroline Compretta has been recognized by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning’s Diversity Committee as the overall winner of the IHL Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards. This recognition is presented annually in observance of Black History Month. As the overall winner, she was honored as the “Diversity Educator of the Year.” Read more about the recognition here.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion 2024 Pillars Awards
We are incredibly proud of these three SOPH faculty who were presented Pillar recognitions from the UMMC Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Pillars are institutional awards that honor individuals who have made meaningful contributions that broaden diversity and promote a climate of inclusion in the UMMC community and beyond. Dr. Lei Zhang received the Lifetime Achievement Award for demonstrating commitment to the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout his career. Dr. Caroline Compretta and Dr. Abigail Gamble received Beacon recognitions for their work reducing health disparities for people with chronic illnesses. Congratulations to all!
Dean Gholar Inducted into UMMC Nursing Hall of Fame
SOPH Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Victoria Gholar was inducted into the Class of 2024 University of Mississippi Medical Center Nursing Hall of Fame.
Nahar is 2024 Regions TEACH Prize Finalist
The Nelson Order for Teaching Excellence welcomed the Class of 2024. 21 individuals across the University of Mississippi Medical Center academic mission were inducted, and seven were named as Regions Bank TEACH Prize finalists. Congratulations to Dr. Vinayak Nahar, nominated by the School of Population Health.
Other Awards
Alexa Lampkin – 2024 Early Career Achievement Award from the UMMC School of Dentistry
Tran Le – 2nd place oral presentation, "Using Bayesian Hierarchical Models to Account for Learning Effects in Cognitive Measurements." Alabama-Mississippi Chapter Meeting of the American Statistical Association; April 2024
Inder Kaur – 3rd prize in the Fellow and Junior Investigator category presented at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 2024 annual meeting
Successful Dissertation Defenses
Congratulations!
Courtney Gomillia, Population Health Science, HIV/STD Testing Behaviors of Men Who Have Sex With Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kisa Harris, Population Health Science, Weight Status and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk among Children and Adolescents in the United States
Breanna Wade, Population Health Science, A Preliminary Exploration: Self-Care Burnout in Patients with Chronic Disease