| Welcome | Dr. Sydney Murphy
Dean, School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences |
| Remarks | - Dr. John Clemmer, Alumni Board Representative
- Dr. Scott Rodgers, Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
- Dr. Natalie Gaughf, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
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| Recognition of Graduates – Master's in Clinical Investigation | Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment Graduates: Dr. Summer Morrissette – MS in Clinical Investigation – Clinical Trials Track - Capstone project: The itch of CTCL.
Dr. Chaudhry Sohail - MS in Clinical Investigation – Clinical Trials Track - Capstone project: Evolving trends in pulmonary embolism (PE) treatment: opposing results from propensity score matching (PSM) and survey-weighted analyses (SVY) using the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS).
Dr. Yasmin Elzaki– MS in Clinical Investigation – Translational Human Research Track - Capstone project: Patterns of prescription of biologic medications for pediatric patients with polyarticular non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the University of Mississippi Medcial Center.
Dr. Danielle Frieson – MS in Clinical Investigation – Maternal Fetal Medicine Track
- Thesis: Characterizing inflammatory mechanisms of glucose intolerance and the therapeutic impact of metformin on T-cell pathways in diabetic pregnancies.
Dr. Jean Vel – MS in Clinical Investigation – Maternal Fetal Medicine Track
- Thesis: A role for CD4+ T-cells in mediating gestational diabetes phenotype.
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| Recognition of Graduates – Doctorate Programs | Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment Dr. Erin Norcoss, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs Graduates: - Adesanya Akinleye – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
- Mentor: Dr. Gene Bidwell
- Dissertation: A kidney targeted MMP-2 inhibitory biologic furor treatment in renal fibrosis.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 2
- Abstracts accepted: 16
- Current Position: Industry Research (location: undecided)
- Laura Alberto – Doctorate in Biomedical Materials Science
- Mentor: Dr. Yuanyuan Duan
- Dissertation: Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Lifetime Prediction of Zygomatic Implants.
- Michael Brown – Doctorate in Clinical Anatomy
- Mentor: Dr. Timothy Dasinger
- Dissertation: The Effects of Peripheral Visual Attention on Shoulder Range of Motion.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 3
- Abstracts accepted: 3
- Current Position: Associate Professor (Physical Therapy)-University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Aubrey Cantrell – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
- Mentor: Dr. Jian-Xiong Chen
- Dissertation: Novel Mechanisms of Ferroptosis in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Heart Failure.
- Amanda Criswell – Doctorate in Nursing
- Mentor: Dr. Angela Duck
- Dissertation: Considering a Relationship Between Nurse Stigma and Quality of Nursing Care.
- Breland Crudup – Doctorate in Physiology & Biophysics
- Mentor: Dr. Barbara Alexander
- Dissertation: The Role of Sex Hormones on Renal and Cardiac Susceptibility in the Male.
- Publications
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 4
- Abstracts accepted: 15
- Book Chapter: 1
- Current Position: Internal Medicine (Internship) - Univer
- Shelley Edwards – Doctorate in Neuroscience (MD-PhD)
- Mentor: Dr. Kevin Freeman
- Dissertation: Behavioral Pharmacology of Fluorinated Fentanyl Analogues.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 5
- Co-authored publications: 11
- Abstracts accepted: 25
- Current Position: Resident Physician - Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC)
- Elizabeth Gordineer – Doctorate in Neuroscience
- Mentor: Dr. Matthias Krenn
- Dissertation: The Effect of Electrical Neuromodulation with Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation on Sensorimotor Processing in Humans.
- Publications
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 2
- Abstracts accepted: 12
- Current Position: Project Manager - Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Ashley Johnson – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
- Mentor: Dr. Michael Garrett
- Dissertation: Models & Molecular Approaches to Study Arhgef11, A Novel Gene in Hypertensive Kidney Disease.
- Publications
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 6
- Abstracts accepted: 2
- Jordan Mallette – Doctorate in Physiology & Biophysics
- Mentor: Dr. Barbara Alexander
- Dissertation: Sex Steroids and Cardiovascular and Renal Disease in the Male.
- Publications
- First authored publications: 2
- Co-authored publications: 3
- Abstracts accepted: 13
- Book Chapters: 1
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Douglas McLaurin – Doctorate in Cell & Molecular Biology
- Mentor: Dr. Michael Hebert
- Dissertation: A Role for the Cajal Body Marker Protein Coilin in m6A RNA Methylation & the Innate Immune Response in Zebrafish
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 3
- Co-authored publications: 5
- Abstracts accepted: 6
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Andrew Milner – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
- Mentor: Dr. Michael Garrett
- Dissertation: Genetic and Molecular Insight into Kidney Development using the HSRA Rat, a Novel Model of Nephron Deficiency.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 1
- Abstracts accepted: 9
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Stacee Naylor– Doctorate in Nursing
- Mentor: Drs. Kenneth Butler & Laree Hiser
- Dissertation: Engaging Older Adults in Aging and Cognition-Based Outcomes Research: A Comparative Analysis of Successful Recruitment Methods in Mississippi.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 2
- Abstracts accepted: 2
- Current Position: Director of Clinical Operation - The MIND Center; Deputy Director - The Jackson Heart Study - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MC)
- Kim Uyen Cong Nguyen – Doctorate in Cell & Molecular Biology (MD-PhD)
- Mentor: Dr. Yann Gibert
- Dissertation: The Role of Lipid Mediators Derived from N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Vertebrate Hematopoiesis during Zebrafish Development.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 2
- Abstracts accepted: 8
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship (Location - undecided)
- Tanya Pareek – Doctorate in Neuroscience
- Mentor: Dr. Barbara Gisabella
- Dissertation: Characterization of hippocampal molecular targets in alcohol use disorder.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 6
- Co-authored publications: 7
- Abstracts accepted: 34
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - John Hopkins University: Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (Baltimore, MD)
- Amisha Parekh – Doctorate in Biomedical Materials Science
- Mentor: Dr. Michael Roach
- Dissertation: Hydroxy and Tricalcium-phosphate Anodization Coatings on Titanium to Improve Osseointegration.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 6
- Co-authored publications: 4
- Abstracts accepted: 11
- Book Chapters: 1
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - American Dental Association Forsyth Institute (Somerville, MA)
- Iftekhar Rafiqullah – Doctorate in Microbiology & Immunology
- Mentor: Dr. Yuanyuan Duan
- Dissertation: Genomic Prediction of Complex Phenotypes in Gram-positive Pathogens.
- Jaren Reeves-Darby – Doctorate in Neuroscience
- Mentor: Dr. Donna Platt
- Dissertation: The Relationship Between Alcohol Use Disorder and Sleep Disruptions.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 4
- Co-authored publications: 4
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Juliana Sitta – Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences: Bioimaging
- Mentor: Dr. Candace Howard-Claudio
- Dissertation: Ultrasound-targeted Delivery of Microbubbles Containing Oncolytic Virus for Immune Modulation and Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 4
- Co-authored publications: 3
- Abstracts accepted: 63
- Current Position: Assistant Professor (Radiology) - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Kendra Stansak – Doctorate in Neuroscience
- Mentor: Dr. Bradley Walters
- Dissertation: The Role of Pou4f3 in Vestibular Sensory Cell Function and Aging.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 1
- Co-authored publications: 2
- Abstracts accepted: 10
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Jaccare Jauregui Ulloa – Doctorate in Biomedical Materials Science
- Mentor: Dr. Susana Salazar Marocho
- Dissertation: Light-assisted debonding of zirconia ceramics.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 2
- Co-authored publications: 1
- Abstracts accepted: 17
- Current Position: Researcher IV (Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery) - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
- Xi Wang – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
- Mentor: Dr. Denise Cornelius
- Dissertation: The Role of NLRP3 Activation and IL-33 Signaling in the Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia.
- Monica White – Doctorate in Nursing
- Mentor: Dr. Angela Duck
- Dissertation: The Relationship between Health Care Access, Health Care Utilization, and Type 2 Diabetes Control in African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study.
- Publications:
- First authored publications: 1
- Abstracts accepted: 1
- Current Position: Assistant Professor (Nursing) - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
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| Presentation of Awards | Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment Award Selection Committee: - Dr. Brian Akerley, Microbiology and Immunology
- Dr. Timothy Dasinger, Clinical Anatomy
- Dr. Angela Duck, Nursing
- Dr. Eric George, Physiology and Biophysics
- Dr. Michael Hebert, Cell and Molecular Biology
- Dr. Susana Salazar Marocho, Biomedical Sciences – PhD
- Dr. Joshua Speed, MD-PhD
- Dr. Eric Vallender, Neuroscience
- Dr. Jan Williams, Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology
Presenter: Dr. Natalie Gaughf, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs PHI KAPPA PHI Inductees: - Sheetal Chowdhury
- Ashley Johnson
- Summer Morrissette
- Juliana Sitta
Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment Recipients: - Amisha Parekh – 2025 Robert A. Mahaffey Jr. Memorial Award for Research Potential in Cell & Molecular Biology
- This award is given to recognize, encourage and promote superior scientific research capability of young investigators.
- Andrew Milner – 2025 Excellence in Pharmacology Award
- This award is presented to a Medical Pharmacology PhD candidate who has demonstrated academic and research excellence, outstanding professionalism, and service to the UMMC community.
- Jaren Reeves-Darby – 2025 Regions Outstanding Graduate Research Award
- This award is in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments by a graduate student.
- Mohammad Khan, PhD – 2025 Postdoctoral Fellow Award
- This award is in recognition of an outstanding postdoctoral fellow.
- Douglas McLaurin – 2025 Regions Randall Graduate Research Award
- This award is in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments by a graduate student.
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| Closing Remarks and Thanks | - Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Dean School of Medicine
- Dr. Scott Rodgers, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
- Dr. Natalie Gaughf, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
- Office of Alumni Engagement
- LoRose Moore, Regions Bank
- YOU, our Graduates, and Awardees
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