SOD earns Gov's GIVE award; neurosurgery prof ascends to ASIA presidency

The Office of the Governor and Volunteer Mississippi recognize the School of Dentistry for its outstanding volunteer outreach, while a professor of neurosurgery assumes a national spinal injury organization's presidency. 

SOD's outreach efforts land Governor's GIVE award

First Lady Deborah Bryant, center, honorary chair of Volunteer Mississippi, presents the Outstanding Volunteer Outreach by a Health Care Education Program Award to Dr. John Smith, left, associate professor of dentistry (care planning and restorative sciences) and Dr. David Felton, School of Dentistry dean and professor of dentistry (care planning and restorative sciences), during the Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards April 10 at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

Bryant presented awards to 10 individuals and four organizations during the event. Established through the Office of the Governor and Volunteer Mississippi, GIVE Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding impact through gifts of service, advocacy and outreach on behalf of the citizens of Mississippi.

Volunteer Mississippi is the state office of volunteerism. It was established as the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service in 1994. Volunteer Mississippi works to encourage a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility to Mississippi and the nation.

Service is considered an important opportunity for learning and for the development and practice of professional values and ethics at UMMC. The School of Dentistry emphasizes the importance of supporting and responding to the needs of the Mississippi community.

Patients treated by dental students and graduate residents pay fees at a reduced rate for dental services. The school provides free services to the community through specialized activities planned by the school, such as Give Kids A Smile, Dental Mission Week, dental care provided at the Jackson Free Clinic twice a month, and the new Community Outreach Dental Externship Program.

In 2017, Give Kids A Smile outreach was expanded into Dental Mission Week. More than 922 patients were seen during the week of February 6, 2017, for an estimated $422,185 in uncompensated care.

Neurosurgery prof picked to lead national spinal group

Tansey

Dr. Keith Tansey, professor of neurosurgery, assumed the presidency of the American Spinal Injury Association, the premier North American organization in spinal cord injury care, education and research, at the association's annual meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexixo, in late April.

Tansey, who also serves as senior scientist for the Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery at Methodist Rehabilitation Center and as a physician for the Spinal Cord Injury Medicine and Research Services at the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, is the first M.D./Ph.D. to lead the association.

Created in 1973, ASIA boasts more than 500 members who are committed to the well-being of people with spinal cord injury, discovery and knowledge translation, interdisciplinary collaboration, engagement of the next generation and the ideal that every member matters.