New faculty join UMMC academic ranks

Published on Monday, October 9, 2023

Medical Center leadership is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty and leadership staff. 

Dr. Casey Boothe

Dr. Casey Boothe, who recently earned a PhD in clinical anatomy at UMMC, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of advanced biomedical education in the School of Medicine. 

She previously served as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Advanced Biomedical Education at UMMC and in the Department of Biological Sciences at Mississippi State University. 

Boothe, a member of the American Association for Anatomy, has co-authored several manuscripts/abstracts and has made a number of scientific presentations at national and international conferences, seminars and workshops.  

Her research interests are study strategies and time management techniques students utilize, self-regulated learning and students’ metacognitive awareness, incorporating retrieval practice into anatomy education, and teaching methods utilized in histology.  

The recipient of several academic and research awards, Boothe has served on various professional organization and conference committees and has extensive volunteer and service experience.  

Dr. Cristiane Araujo Tuma Santos

Dr. Cristiane Araujo Tuma Santos, recently a diagnostic radiology resident at UMMC, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an instructor of radiology in the School of Medicine.  

In 2000, she earned her medical degree at Faculdade de Medicina de Campos in Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil, and completed her internal medicine residency, followed by a hematology fellowship, at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás in Goiânia, Brazil. She also completed the Master’s Program in Health Science at Universidade Federal de Goiás in Goiânia. She is currently completing a breast imaging fellowship at UMMC.  

Her professional experience includes operating a private practice as a hematologist at the Instituto de Hemoterapia de Goiânia, and serving as an assistant professor of hematology at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás. 

As a researcher, Santos is the co-author of a number of scientific publications and has participated in various poster and oral presentations, including those at international conferences. 

She is a member of several professional associations; among them are the Radiological Society of North America, American Roentgen Ray Society, Society of Pediatric Radiology, and Society of Breast Imaging. She has authored several journal publications and is a book author.  

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Dr. Miles F. Sawaya

Dr. Miles F. Sawaya, recently a general practice resident in the School of Dentistry at UMMC, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of advanced general dentistry in the School of Dentistry. 

Sawaya earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2022 at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis before starting his residency at UMMC. At UTHSC, he took on a number of leadership roles and earned a number of academic honors, including the Dean’s Leadership Award.  

He was also an award-winning researcher and participated in oral presentations at UTHSC and at the 2022 American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research/Canadian Association for Dental Research Annual Meeting in Atlanta.  

His clinical focus now is on special needs OR dentistry, as well as treating cardiac and cancer patients to prepare them for their necessary medical treatment/procedures.  

His community service record is extensive and includes volunteering with Mid-South Mission of Mercy, providing free dental care and performing surgical extractions for patients in need.