UMMC faculty, academic departments get kudos

Published on Monday, October 25, 2021

Bibb tapped for national GWIMS service

Dr. Kimberly Bibb, assistant professor in the School of Medicine, has been appointed to serve as a member at large on the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Group Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) steering committee.

Bibb, who practices in the Department of Family Medicine, is past president of UMMC’s GWIMS chapter, which advances the full and successful participation and inclusion of women faculty and learners within academic medicine.

The local chapter supports the mission of the Association of American Medical Colleges to improve the health of all by serving as a national forum to promote policies, practices and programs that advance women’s successful participation and inclusion.

Bibb’s “strong passion for advocacy and policy change will be a tremendous asset to GWIMS,” the national organization said in a statement. “She looks forward to working along with her fellow committee members to develop more programs for women in academic medicine on both the local and national level.

Bibb will be recognized at the national GWIMS virtual conference Nov. 8-10.

UMMC Lifestyle Medicine joins ACLM Health Systems Council

UMMC’s Lifestyle Medicine program has been invited to become a founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Health Systems Council.

The Council is a collaborative learning community of health systems that integrate Lifestyle Medicine programs into their organizations and have made a commitment to enhance their efforts by embracing strategies that are most effective in promoting health. Council members share their findings with fellow member health systems that focus on integrating lifestyle medicine into patient care, employee health, and their broader communities.

As a council member, the Medical Center’s Department of Preventive Medicine, led by chair Dr. Josh Mann, will network with other health care systems that offer lifestyle medicine services to learn their best practices.

The Lifestyle Medicine program at UMMC began when Mann joined the department in 2015, and with the help of Dr. Josie Bidwell, nurse practitioner and associate professor, developed clinical operations with Bidwell becoming clinical director. The department launched a Medicare diabetes prevention program led by Dr. Abigail Gamble, assistant professor. The program added medical nutrition therapy services, led by Dr. Elena Dent, assistant professor and a longtime dietitian.

The department solidified its relationship with ACLM with the integration of a Lifestyle Medicine residency curriculum for Preventive Medicine residents.  Dr. Vipina Nair, chief resident, has helped the department further its efforts through a Lifestyle ECHO series in partnership with Mississippi State University.

Lifestyle Medicine partners with the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior through collaboration with the Center for Integrative Health, led by Dr. Danny Burgess, associate professor, as well as other UMMC departments.

“The future is bright for Preventive Medicine as the department plans to expand the diabetes prevention program, focus on exploration of novel lifestyle programs and value-based care models, and put Mississippi on the map as a leader of lifestyle medicine,” Dent said.

UMMC pharmacist recognized by Pharmacist Moms Group

A University of Mississippi Medical Center pharmacist has received a national honor from the Pharmacist Moms Group.

Dr. Seena Haines, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, is winner of the Nontraditional Pharmacy Award bestowed by Pharmacist Moms Group in conjunction with Women Pharmacist Day observed Oct. 12. The day honors women who have made a significant impact on the pharmacy industry.

Haines also is the lead faculty member in the Medical Center’s Office of Well-being and a Well-being and Resilience Champion.

Over half of pharmacists in the United States are women who have today, more than ever, had to juggle work and home life responsibilities,” Suzanne Soliman, a pharmacist and founder of Pharmacist Moms Group, said in a news release.

"Over the past 18 months, health care providers, including pharmacists have had to put their lives on the line to treat patients,” Soliman said. “COVID-19 has created a new set of realities that none of us could have imagined, and with the new variants, pharmacists continue to help save lives by immunizing the entire country.”

The group also honored a woman pharmacist in each of the categories of health system pharmacy, independent pharmacy and community pharmacy.