Staff receive national appointments; online course wins recognition
Medical Center faculty and staff often are recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for their academic or medical achievements. These accolades place UMMC among health science centers worldwide.
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UMMC leaders earn national appointments with continuing medical education accreditor
Two University of Mississippi Medical Center employees have received national-level appointments from the leading organization governing continuing medical education in the United States.
Dr. Sarah Sterling, professor of emergency medicine, has been appointed to the Accreditation Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Vickie Skinner, senior director of the Division of Continuing Health Professional Education, has been appointed as an ACCME surveyor.
The ACCME is the accrediting body for continuing medical education and serves as the steward of the standards for integrity and independence in accredited continuing education. These standards are designed to ensure that accredited continuing education serves the needs of patients and the public; presents learners with accurate, balanced and scientifically justified recommendations; assures health care professionals and teams that they can trust accredited continuing education to help them deliver compassionate, evidence-based care and maintains a clear separation between accredited continuing education and marketing or sales activities.
Under Skinner’s leadership and operational management, the School of Medicine achieved and currently maintains ACCME Accreditation with Commendation, an elite distinction held by fewer than 5% of accredited organizations.
As a member of the ARC, Sterling will review information gathered during the accreditation process for continuing medical education providers and make recommendations regarding accreditation decisions to the ACCME Board of Directors’ Decision Committee.
“Serving on the ACCME ARC has been an exciting opportunity to learn about the standards that ensure quality, evidence-based CME is being provided by an organization,” said Sterling. “UMMC already is recognized for its strong commitment to CME and educational excellence, and I look forward to applying lessons learned through the ACCME that can further enhance our programs at UMMC and support Dr. Skinner and her team. Through high-quality CME, we can support physician well-being, promote professional growth and ultimately improve clinical care and outcomes for the patients and communities we serve.”
Skinner’s new appointment will help ensure the ACCME receives the information necessary to support accreditation reviews and decision-making processes related to providers’ CME programs.
In this role, she will review and evaluate accredited organizations' self-study reports and performance-in-practice examples for compliance with ACCME standards. “By participating in this process, surveyors enhance their professional development and advance their understanding of the ACCME’s accreditation requirements, which ultimately benefits their organizations, learners and patient outcomes,” said Skinner.
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SHRP online offerings help UMMC win recognition for course design
The University of Mississippi Medical Center has been recognized nationally for online course design by a peer-reviewed consortium of institutions.
Quality Matters has given the Medical Center its Endorsement for Course Design Quality Assurance. The designation makes UMMC just the third institution in the U.S. to earn the distinction.
The designation came as a result of reviews of four courses at the School of Health Related Professions – Introduction to Research, Health Promotion and Data Analysis and Outcomes Assessment, all in the Master of Health Systems Administration program; Fundamentals of Applied Research, in the Doctor of Health Administration program; and Computed Tomography Applications and Sectional Imaging, in the Radiologic Sciences program.
Reviews for SHRP were spearheaded by Dr. Robin Benson Thompson, a coordinator of Quality Matters for UMMC and an associate professor of education at SHRP.
“This recognition is a tremendous reflection of Dr. Robin Benson Thompson’s leadership and the exceptional work of our faculty and staff,” said Dr. John Garner, dean of SHRP. “Being recognized as just the third institution in the country to earn this designation is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to the intentional, high-quality work happening within SHRP every day. This achievement places our programs among a very select group nationally and reinforces our commitment to innovation, quality and student success.”
Review processes to achieve the designation involved an evaluation of institutional processes, training materials and course review practices in the Standards for Teaching, Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Student Success, or STARS, Course Recognition Program.
“Maintaining a structured quality assurance process is essential to ensuring the effectiveness of online and hybrid courses. Formal review and recognition practices foster a culture of continuous improvement, promote consistency across courses and encourage the use of evidence-based teaching strategies aligned with evolving educational standards,” Thompson said. “Collectively, these efforts help ensure that students experience engaging, accessible and learner-centered learning environments. This commitment strengthens both academic quality and institutional credibility.”
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SON’s Fletcher inducted as fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Dr. Audwin Fletcher, tenured professor of nursing, has been inducted into the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners program for 2026.
Fletcher was among 59 members of the organization recognized for outstanding achievements and exemplary service, among the profession’s highest honors. Fellows in the program are those who have made or continue to make a positive and profound impact on national and global health.
A 35-year employee of UMMC, Fletcher holds a doctorate in clinical health sciences and is an advanced practice registered nurse, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. He has taught and mentored students in the School of Nursing for 28 years, including both the undergraduate and graduate programs.