Educational Sessions
**Please click on session titles to view more information about the sessions **
Opening Session | 9:00am – 10:00 am CT
IMPAC
The State of Mississippi: Opportunities and Actions to Address Maternal Health in Mississippi
State of Maternal Health: The State of Mississippi: Opportunities and Actions to Address Maternal Health in Mississippi
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Discuss Mississippi’s progress in maternal health and public health strategies to address maternal health.
- List emerging research activities to address maternal health in Mississippi.
- Identify opportunities for practitioners, academics, and communities to engage in solutions and/or programs to address maternal health in Mississippi
Speakers
Daniel Edney, MD, FACP, FASAM
Mississippi State Department of Health
June Gipson, PhD
My Brother’s Keeper, Inc
Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Morris
Delta Health Alliance
Session Chair
The University of Southern Mississippi
Session Moderator
Mississippi State Department of Health
Jennifer Lemacks, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Concurrent Session I | 10:15am – 11:15 am CT
HALL A
Brush up on Community Health: The Heart of Reaching Mississippi Communities
Community Health: Brush up on Community Health: The Heart of Reaching Mississippi Communities
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Explain health care professionals’ role in program development and execution.
- Discuss the impact of community health workers on community health outcomes.
- Recognize interventions and strategies to promote stakeholder collaboration and engagement to community health programs and research.
Speakers
Juanita C Graham, DNP-RN FRSPH
Mississippi State Department of Health
Deborah Donnell, MPH, BSN, RN
Mississippi State Department of Health
Robert A. Lee, MPC, MA
Mississippi State Department of Health
Kina White,DrPH, MHSA, FACHE
Mississippi State Department of Health
Selma Alford,MPA
Mississippi State Department of Health
Lindsey Williams,PharmD
Mississippi State Department of Health
Carla Bassett, RDH
Mississippi State Department of Health
Session Chair
Jackson Heart Study Community Engagement Center
Dr. Juanita Graham
Mississippi State Department of Health
Deborah Donnell
Mississippi State Department of Health
Carla M. Bassett, RDH
Mississippi State Department of Health
Kina L. White, DrPH, MHSA, FACHE
Mississippi State Department of Health
Selma Alford,MPA
Mississippi State Department of Health
Selma Alford serves as the Director of Language Access with the Office of Health Equity for the Mississippi State Department of Health. Born in Puerto Cortez, Honduras, Ms. Alford moved to Mississippi in 2010, where she found a passion for working with communities facing disparities.
Selma works with the Office of Health Equity and the Health Disparity Response Unit during the pandemic to address the impact of COVID-19 on the African-American, Hispanic/Latin, and Vietnamese communities as of March 2020. Prevention efforts have included conducting interpretation for the COVID-19 hotline, COVID-19 follow-up teams, and travel across Mississippi to assist with COVID-19 efforts in the Hispanic/ Latin, African-American, and Vietnamese communities. She successfully organized six different town halls for the Latinx community and one for the Vietnamese community, where the state Health Officer addressed the community on COVID-19. Selma has served as the organizer, promoter, coordinator, panelist, and moderator during the Hispanic town halls and assisted as the organizer, coordinator, and technical support in the Vietnamese town halls.
Presently, Selma continues to work around efforts for the Vietnamese and Hispanics by identifying and addressing COVID-19 challenges and providing resources such as access to CHWs and grant funding in the Office of Health Equity. Recognizing that COVID is still part of our day-to-day life, Selma continues to work with organizations offering COVID-19 testing, educational material, PPE, and access to COVID-19 vaccination.
Under the Office of Health Equity, she finds ways to remove language barriers and ensure equitable and inclusive access to healthcare for all communities in the great state of Mississippi. Selma created the language line that serves all offices and departments for MSDH, she has written and published the MSDH Language Access Plan and the Language Access Policy to assist in the guidance of the Health Department when serving the diverse community in the state and providing several forms of training on Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Cultural Competency, Language Access, and Unconscious Bias to organizations, and community members.
Lindsey Williams
Medication Therapy Management Coordinator
Delta Health Collaborative
Mississippi State Department of Health
Dr. Lindsey Williams currently serves as the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Coordinator for the Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, a part of the Office of Preventive Health, within the Mississippi State Department of Health. The Delta Health Collaborative consists of clinical and community initiatives that work together to battle hypertension and prevent heart disease, stroke, and related health disparities in the 18 Mississippi Delta Counties.
As MTM Coordinator, she works to increase the delivery of Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) services in community pharmacies and ultimately improve patient health outcomes. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Mississippi and completed her postgraduate pharmacy residency training at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. She formerly worked as a clinical pharmacist in a rural hospital setting and has served her community in both independent and chain community pharmacy settings. She has a passion for improving health literacy and health care access in Mississippi.
HALL B
The Inside-Out of Cardiometabolic Health in Mississippi
Cardiometabolic Health: The Inside-Out of Cardiometabolic Health in Mississippi
- Identify early detection strategies for preventing the onslaught of cardiometabolic disease.
- Examine lifestyle modification approaches to improve health and prevent such conditions as obesity and diabetes.
- Discuss proper gut microbiome health.
Speakers
Tammi M Taylor, PhD
Jackson State Univeristy
Jon Stavres, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Austin J. Graybeal, PhD, CSCS
The University of Southern Mississippi
Tanner Thorsen, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Megan Renna, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Stephen Farrow, M.D., MBA
The National Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute
Phillip Trotter, BS
Realizing Lifestyle Care Company
Johnaleka Otis, RN
The National Diabetes and Obesity Institute
Session Chair
The University of Southern Mississippi
Tanner Thorsen, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Stephen Farrow, M.D., MBA
The National Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute
Dr. Stephen Farrow is Executive Director for the National Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute on the Tradition Medical Campus in Biloxi, MS. NDORI conducts clinical trials for rural and underserved communities on new medicines for metabolic obesity and diabetes, and NDORI educates and consults on endocrinology on the coast and in the Delta.
Dr. Farrow is a Detroit native who trained in medicine and endocrinology at Wayne State, Michigan, and the National Institutes of Health, and he has a Vanderbilt International MBA. He completed Federal Executive Institute and Department of Veterans Affairs National Executive Fellowships, and he is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
As a VA physician-executive, Dr. Farrow founded the award-winning Enterprise Traveling Clinician program, negotiated cabinet-level VA-Health & Human Services and VA-Defense clinical collaborations, and implemented an enterprise tool for clinicians to review electronic medical records faster. He has published federally-sponsored studies on elite metabolism and on diabetes and hypertension, and he holds National Scienced Foundation funding to accelerate clinician-patient engagement.
Dr. Megan Renna
The University of Southern Mississippi
Austin J. Graybeal, PhD, CSCS
The University of Southern Mississippi
Jon Stavres, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
HALL C
Strategic Partnerships and Modes to Reach all Mississippians
Innovative Partnerships: Strategic Partnerships and Modes to Reach All Mississippians
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Identify opportunities and challenges of community-academic partners involved in the collaborative research process.
- Discuss the complexities of collaborating with multiple program partners.
- Explain important concepts and strategies used to foster positive change towards improving community health.
Speakers
Nora Charles, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Kristy McRaney, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Leah Pylate, PhD
Mississippi State University
Kathryn Allman
Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition
Joella McCafferty
Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition
Selena McCord, MPH
National Rural Health Resource Center
Alicia Watts, PhD
William Carey University
Session Chair
The University of Southern Mississippi
Kathryn Allman
Mississippi State University
Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition
Choctaw, Montgomery, and Webster Counties
Alicia Watts, PhD
William Carey University
Nora Charles, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Leah Pylate, PhD
Mississippi State University
Kristy McRaney, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Concurrent Session II | 12:45pm – 1:45 pm CT
HALL A
Mississippi One Health: How External Environmental Factors Can Affect Health in Mississippi Populations
Environmental Health: Mississippi One Health: How External Environmental Factors Can Affect Health in Mississippi Populations
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Discuss the coastal populations’ response to repeated environmental stressors.
- Identify tools and interventions designed to improve vulnerable populations’ response to varying environmental factors.
- Delineate how nature engagement can benefit health and its relevance to research, health promotion, and clinical practice.
Speakers
Stephen Seimper
The University of Southern Mississippi
Zhe Qiang
The University of Southern Mississippi
Austen Anderson
The University of Southern Mississippi
Tammy Greer, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Session Chair
The University of Southern Mississippi
Austen Anderson, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
Tammy Greer, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
HALL B
Happier, Healthier Mississippi: Getting to the Youth of the Matters
Substance Use: Happier, Healthier Mississippi: Getting to the Youth of the Matter
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Identify strategies that can be utilized by organizations, communities, and individuals to improve access to care for at-risk populations.
- Describe risks and protective factors of substance use.
- Discuss the importance of prevention and recovery services and resources on college and university campuses.
Speakers
Chris Ellzey, MS
Mississippi State University
Santee Ezell, MS
Mississippi State University
Parri Swinson, OTD
Magnolia Medical Foundation
Truina Taylor
Teen Health MS
Mariaha Amos, MPH
Teen Health MS
Session Chair
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics
Chris Ellzey, MS
Mississippi State University
Christopher (Chris) Ellzey originally graduated from Mississippi State University with bachelor’s degrees in English literature and Philosophy. After teaching English abroad and elsewhere for the better part of a decade, he made the transition to the field of mental health, earning a master’s degree from MSU in Clinical Mental Health Counseling along the way. As a licensed counselor, he works primarily with children and young adults as they navigate the processes and challenges of growing up and growing into themselves. Since early 2022, he has also been active in the MSU and Starkville, MS communities’ Drug-Free Communities coalition, Prevention and Wellness–Starkville (PAWS), which has spearheaded local efforts to prevent substance misuse and build stronger community supports for children and families in the area.
Parri Swinson, OTD
Magnolia Medical Foundation
Dr. Parri Swinson is a lively, compassionate, and driven pediatric occupational therapist from Atlanta, GA. She is a proud alum of thee Jackson State University where she attended undergraduate schooling then later completed her doctorate of occupational therapy degree at university of St. Augustine in Dallas, TX. Parri is passionate about community health particularly in pediatric health and wellness. Parri has worked alongside Magnolia Medical Foundation and Jackson Medical Mall to create and implement the LIT (living intentionally today) program which addresses the needs of at risk teens in Jackson, MS. Parri aspires to continue to walk in her purpose by creating community health programs to ensure every community member has optimal quality of life.
Santee Ezell, MS
Mississippi State University
Santee Ezell (she/her) serves as the Director of Health Promotion and Wellness at Mississippi State University. Within her role she advises two student organizations which are the award-winning Healthy Dawgs Peer Educators and Aspiring Minorities in Health Professions student organization along with serving as a Health Promotion Instructor. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with two minors in Community Health Sciences and Nonprofit Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi along with a Master of Science in Community Development with an emphasis in Sustainability from Delta State University. After graduating, Santee started her Public Health career that later led Higher Education career at Mississippi University for Women. Since then, she has spent the last 9 years serving college students through prevention education, peer education, policy development, and public health. In her spare time, Santee enjoys spending time with family and friends, scrapbooking, traveling, and the outdoors. She believes the greatest person you can ever be is a servant and to always leave a place better than you found it.
Mariaha Amos, MPH
Teen Health MS
Mariaha Amos, MPH, is Project Coordinator for Project Mind Elevation, where she works with youth partners and community stakeholders to leverage resources to support mental and reproductive health for young people. Her work engages youth in healthcare via social media and on-the-ground campaigns and supports partnership with schools and community organizations. Mariaha travels throughout Mississippi to facilitate youth-friendly training to teachers, coordinators, youth, and other trusted adults.
Truina Taylor
Teen Health MS
Trina Taylor is the Director of Community-Based Education, Gulf Coast Expansion for Teen Health Mississippi. She delivers virtual and in-person trainings from our extensive catalog of youth-centered trainings to our community partners. She spearheads our efforts on the Coast with Sexual Health for Adolescents Rooted in Equity (SHARE) and works on creating change surrounding mental health policies in coastal school districts. After spending the previous three years as a Board Member, Triuna became a full-time team member in 2022. She is based in Pensacola, FL.
HALL C
Towards a Future of Healthy and Connected Women and Children
Women and Children: Towards a Future of Healthy and Connected Women and Children
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Describe maternal mortality crisis in the United States and Mississippi.
- Discuss recommendations for increasing delivery off and access to a continuum of care for mothers and babies in the state.
- Identify strategies and interventions to improve birth to early childhood development.
Speakers
Sandra Melvin, DrPH, MPH
Institute for the Advancement of MH
Susan Russell, MSN,RN
Singing River Health System
Meagan Heidelberg, RN
Singing River Health System
Lori Weimer, RN
Singing River Health System
Carol Ann Risley, PhD, NP
UMMC School of Nursing
Tina Ferrel, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing
Katie Hall, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing and Cancer Center
and Research Institute
Justin Turner, MD
Mississippi State Department of Health
Kathleen Farrington, RN
Mississippi State Department of Health
Sarah Myers, MS,CCC-SLP
The University of Southern Mississippi
Terri Daniels, M.Ed
Southern Mississippi Neonatology
Session Chair
Jackson State University
Katie Hall, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing and Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lori Weimer, RN
Singing River Health System
Tina Ferrel, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing
Sarah Myers, MS,CCC-SLP
The University of Southern Mississippi
Sarah Rouse Myers, M.S, CCC-SLP is Director of The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. Sarah advises and oversees The Children’s Center’s daily administrative and clinical services. She seeks fundraising opportunities and manages grants and deadlines for federal, state, and private dollars needed to provide therapeutic and educational services to families at no cost to them. Sarah specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for very young children with complex communication needs and parent coaching.
Sarah is a proud graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, “to the top!” along with her husband, Bradley, a Nurse Practitioner at Hattiesburg Clinic’s Cancer Center. They have two beautiful twin boys named Hollis and Findley and enjoy spending time together enjoying all that the Hub City has to offer.
Meagan Heidelberg, RN
Singing River Health System
Megan Heidelberg is a wife of 10 years, mom of one 6-year old girl, and nurse of 11.5 years. She grew up with nurses within my entire family and felt that was my designed path as well.
She was blessed to learn neonatal intensive care in Jackson, MS, then transition to the newborn nursery and cross train to labor and delivery at Singing River Health System. She found a passion for women’s health and decided to get my MSN in Women’s Health. She is an APRN in Women’s Health, practiced for about 15 months. She is now currently managing a labor and delivery/nursery unit in Pascagoula, MS.
Closing Session | 2:00pm – 3:00 pm CT
IMPAC
The State of Mississippi: Multi-sectorial Perspectives on Tracking Social Determinants of Health
State of State: The State of Mississippi: Multi-sectorial Perspectives on Tackling Social Determinants of Health
By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
- Discuss program and policy initiatives across diverse sectors (i.e., healthcare, housing, workforce/economic development, transportation, education, environment) that contribute to achieving health and wellbeing for all Mississippians.
- Gain awareness of policies, activities and potential partnerships to address social determinants of health in Mississippi.
- Provide opportunities for practitioners, academics, and communities to engage in multi-sector solutions and/or programs that address social determinants of health in Mississippi.
Speakers
Catherine Brett, MD, MPH, FACPM
Mississippi Division of Medicaid
Brad White
MDOT
Jean Massey
Mississippi Economic Council
Tamara (Henderson) Stewart
Mississippi Home Corporation
Session Chair
The University of Southern Mississippi
Session Moderator
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Ms. Jean Massey
Executive Director, Ascent to 55%
Ms. Jean Massey is an accomplished educator with more than 40 years of experience in the education sector. In August 2022, she was appointed as the Executive Director for the Ascent to 55% initiative at the Mississippi Propel Education Forum, a non-profit program at the Mississippi Economic Council.
Throughout her career, Ms. Massey has held various roles in education, such as serving as a school improvement leadership coach for the Southern Regional Education Board, the Associate State Superintendent for Career and Technical Education, and the Executive Director for the Office of Secondary Education for the Mississippi Department of Education. Before that, she worked as a teacher, coach, and high school principal at Northwest Rankin for 13 years.
Ms. Massey holds an associate degree from Hinds Community College, a Bachelor of Science from Belhaven University, a Master’s in Elementary Education from Jackson State University, and a master’s in education with a concentration in Administrative Leadership from Mississippi College. Currently, she is pursuing her doctorate.
Brad White
MDOT
Brad White was named Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation effective July 1, 2021, and received unanimous confirmation from the Mississippi Senate the following Legislative Session. A native of Simpson County, White is a four time Chief of Staff having previously managed the staffs of the Mississippi Department of Audit, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves.
During the administration of Governor Haley Barbour, White served as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party and as a member of the Republican National Committee.
White has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Belhaven University and resides in Madison where he is a member of First Baptist Church serving on both the Church Council and the Personnel Committee. He is Past President of the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO).
Tamara (Henderson) Stewart
Mississippi Home Corporation
Tamara Henderson-Stewart is a dedicated leader with a profound commitment to advancing public health through interdisciplinary research and community engagement. With over a decade of expertise in housing, community resources, and non-profit management, she brings a wealth of practical experience to her role as Vice President of Federal Grants at Mississippi Home Corporation.
In her capacity, Tamara excels in the coordination of grants and the meticulous tracking of program outcomes throughout Mississippi. Her work ensures the effective deployment of resources to address pressing housing challenges in the state. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for social impact, she navigates the complexities of grant management with finesse, striving to maximize the benefits for vulnerable populations.
Tamara’s scholarly pursuits extend beyond her professional responsibilities. In 2017, she contributed to the academic discourse with her research paper titled “Mental Illness, Healthcare, and Homelessness in Mississippi.” This publication reflects her profound interest in exploring the intersection of health and housing, particularly in the context of marginalized communities.
Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to effect meaningful change, Tamara is currently pursuing a doctorate in epidemiology, building upon her master’s degree in public health from Jackson State University. Her research endeavors primarily focus on the evaluation of housing interventions and their impact on health outcomes among individuals living with HIV. Through rigorous inquiry and evidence-based practices, she seeks to inform policy decisions and shape interventions that promote housing and health equity and social justice.
Building upon her master’s degree in public health, she is currently in an All But Dissertation status in the Public Health Doctoral Program (Epidemiology) at Jackson State University. Her research endeavors primarily focus on the evaluation of housing interventions and their impact on health outcomes among individuals living with HIV. Through rigorous inquiry and evidence-based practices, she seeks to inform policy decisions and shape interventions that promote housing and health equity and social justice.
Tamara’s passion for working is only outweighed by her love for God and family. She is happily married to SSA Lieutenant Marvin Henderson, and they are blessed with two children – Uriah, aged two, and Kyler, aged twelve. Tamara has dedicated her life to serving her community and God.