Research
Research
Faculty in the Department of Preventive Medicine conduct a broad and growing research portfolio aimed at understanding the factors that predict health and disease and identifying the most effective approaches for promoting health and preventing illness across the lifespan.
First established just over 70 years ago and re-formed in 2015, the department has evolved from its roots in population and community health into a program spanning public health, clinical prevention, and cancer research. Today, it brings together expertise in social science, health behavior, epidemiology, health services and implementation science, community engagement, and geospatial methods under one roof.
Much of our work remains centered on the prevention of chronic disease, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cognitive decline, while also addressing mental health, the health of people with disabilities, and the geographic and social factors that shape health outcomes across Mississippi and the South. Community engagement and implementation science are woven throughout these efforts, connecting faculty directly with the communities they serve and helping translate discoveries into practices that are adopted in real-world settings. The department is also rapidly expanding its clinically linked and cancer-focused research, translating population-level discoveries into meaningful progress at the bedside.
Faculty Leadership & Recognition
The department's senior research faculty hold key leadership roles across UMMC and are consistently recognized among the medical center's most successful investigators through its Excellence in Research Awards:
- Dr. Caroline Compretta serves as UMMC's Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and has received the university's Platinum Excellence in Research Award. In 2026, she also received the SEC Faculty Achievement Award.
- Dr. Fazlay Faruque directs the department's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing Program and has received UMMC's Gold Excellence in Research Award.
- Dr. Abigail Gamble directs research and community engagement for the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities and has received UMMC's Gold Excellence in Research Award.
- Dr. Joshua Mann, department chair, has received UMMC's Silver Excellence in Research Award.
In addition, Drs. Compretta, Faruque, and Gamble have all been inducted into the L.C. Dorsey Research Honor Society, which recognizes investigators whose work has significantly advanced minority health and the health of underserved communities.
This established leadership group is joined by a new generation of faculty who are building national reputations in emerging areas ranging from cancer rehabilitation to care for underserved populations. Together, they are positioning the department for its next chapter of growth in pursuit of practical solutions to some of the most pressing individual and population health challenges.