2024 Pillars

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2024 Pillars Honorees

Click here to watch the awards presentation video that was released Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

Excellence Award - Student/Trainee Category

  • Honoree - Sunna Savani, School of Medicine Class of 2024
  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Nneka Agum, MD, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine; Kamryn Davis, School of Medicine, Class of 2026; Hanna Glenn, School of Medicine, Class of 2024

The Excellence Award honors a student, resident, or fellow from any school of UMMC who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the institution’s goals to promote diversity and inclusion within the institution and through service to the commUNITY.

Inclusion Award - Staff Category

  • Honoree - Venessia Randle, Project Manager I, School of Dentistry
  • Honorable Mention - Porscha Fuller, Project Manager, School of Medicine; Samantha Mulligan, Executive Assistant, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine

The Inclusion Award recognizes a full-time or part-time executive/administrative, professional, secretarial and clerical, service and maintenance, skilled crafts, or technical & paraprofessionals staff member that does not hold a faculty position who has shown outstanding leadership in expanding diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Beacon Award - Faculty Category

  • Honoree - Caroline Compretta, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, John D. Bower School of Population Health
  • Honorable Mention - Abigail Gamble, PhD, Associate Professor, Departments of Preventive Medicine and Population Health Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine
  • Honorable Mention - Katie McClendon, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, Clinical Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Student Services, Jackson Campus, Director of Student Affairs, Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy
  • Honorable Mention - Roselin Nittala, DrPH, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine

The Beacon Award honors any clinical or non-clinical faculty member with an academic designation or rank who demonstrates inclusive excellence in teaching, instruction, research, or clinical practice at UMMC.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Alumni Category

  • Honoree - Lei Zhang, PhD, MBA, Professor and Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship, School of Nursing

The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges an alumni who has made a significant contribution to improving health outcomes in diverse communities in the state of Mississippi and beyond. 

Esprit De Corps Award - Team, Department or Office Category

  • Honoree - Student Health Coalition of MS
  • Honorable Mention - Department of Medicine, School of Medicine; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine; UMMC Specialty Pharmacy Program

The Esprit De Corps Award acknowledges a team, department, or office that demonstrates successful collaboration on efforts to improve outcomes of diverse communities in any of UMMC's mission areas of education, research, and health care.

Inspiration Award - Community Category

  • Honoree - Isabella Kelly, Co-Founder, Student Health Coalition of MS

The Community Inspiration Award recognizes a community member or an organization that helps advance diverse and/or underrepresented communities through servant leadership in the areas of fairness and inclusion.