Marshall receives first endowed chair in allergy, immunology at UMMC

The Department of Medicine of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and the Triplett family are proud to announce the endowment of the R. Faser Triplett, Sr., M.D. Chair in Allergy and Immunology.

As the first board certified allergist-immunologist in Jackson, Dr. Triplett was a founding partner of the Mississippi Allergy Clinic. His leadership in the field of allergy and immunology has been recognized in many ways including his election as president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Other service to medicine has included leadership as president of the Mississippi State Medical Association, founder and chairman of the Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi, and state delegate to the American Medical Association.  His son, R. Faser “Chip” Triplett, Jr., states that his dad was very proud of the endowed chair as he devoted more than 35 years to practicing allergy in Jackson, Mississippi.

Following his death in 2010, Triplett’s five children knew the first funds they wanted to grant from the family foundation would be to complete the chair.  In addition to his many contributions to the field of allergy, Triplett’s spirit of philanthropy extended to his alma mater, the University of Mississippi.  His generosity is evidenced by the Triplett Alumni Center on the Oxford Campus, which serves as the home of alumni activities and recognizes his election to the Ole Miss Hall of Fame.

Gailen D. Marshall, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., the recipient of the chair, is professor of medicine and pediatrics and division director for clinical immunology and allergy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. He is known nationally and internationally as an academic leader in the specialty. He has published more than 180 peer-reviewed articles, reviews and book chapters. He is an active speaker in regional, national and international venues, and is editor-in-chief of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Dr. Marshall is a graduate of Texas A&M University and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

His research efforts are focused on the effects of psychological stress on immune responses in various diseases including allergic rhinitis and asthma and the immunomodulatory effects of new therapeutic agents for allergy and asthma. Dr. Marshall has extramural grant support from a variety of sources, including the National Institutes of Health. The support from the chair endowment will allow expanded development of division activities including research and educational efforts.

Dr. James Keeton, vice chancellor of health affairs at UMMC and dean of the UM School of Medicine, expressed appreciation for the family’s gift as well as their commitment to philanthropy.

“Faser Triplett was a credit to the medical profession who was committed to developing specialized medical services for patients in Mississippi and beyond,” he said.  “I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to him than for his family to have completed this chair in his honor.  This will have an impact on the training of future physicians who have no better example on which to model their lives than Dr. Triplett.”