Message from the Chief Residents

Welcome to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program! We are the chief residents for the 2023-24 academic year.  

Though we have distinctive personalities, sports allegiances, and music tastes that set us apart, we share one commonality -- that we all chose Jackson, Mississippi and UMMC for this fundamental part of our training and career growth. And now that we have finished our residency training, we can confidently say that we are very thankful that we did!  We all agree that Jackson provides a wonderful backdrop in which to do residency; it is a busy capital city with lots to do, but still maintains a small-town feel. In addition to this, our patient population allows an excellent opportunity to provide top notch care to a diverse patient population with a variety of disease processes. We are excited to have the opportunity to further serve our residents, students, and faculty that have invested so much in us throughout our time here.  

The past few years have been challenging for everyone we know, but we are excited to continue our focus on education, scholarship, and providing high quality care to the good people of Mississippi and its surrounding states.  The best way to learn medicine is through experience and mentorship, and a nurturing and supportive program is exactly what you can expect to find in UMMC. We can say without hesitation that the training you will receive at UMMC during your three years is second to none. The quality of the training you will receive here will allow you to practice confidently in any setting, anywhere in the world. As the state of Mississippi’s only academic center and level 1 trauma center, you will have an unparalleled educational opportunity to experience diverse pathology and patient populations. 

We are excited that you are considering our program for your training in Internal Medicine. We look forward to meeting you! 

- Mari, Preston, Raina, and Steven 

More about us

Mari Young, MD 

• Hometown: Farmington, NM 
• Undergraduate: University of New Mexico 
• Medical School: St. George's University 
• Future Plans: Cardiology fellowship

Preston Bell, MD

• Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS
• Undergraduate: University of Southern Mississippi
• Medical School: University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Future plans: Cardiology fellowship

Raina Muthukumaru, MD

• Hometown: St. Louis, MO
• Undergraduate: Webster University
• Medical School: Saba University 
• Future plans: Cardiology fellowship

Steven Billingsley, MD  

• Hometown: Laurel, MS
• Undergraduate: Mississippi State University
• Medical School: University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Future plans: Cardiology fellowship