Educational Sessions 2025

Educational Sessions

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Networking Lunch | 12:00pm–12:30pm CT

Welcome & Opening Remarks | 12:30pm–1:00pm CT

Opening Plenary | 1:00pm–2:15pm CT

GBR A/B

Making the Health of Mississippians a Priority: How Federal and State Policy Decisions Shape Our Public’s Health

State of Maternal Health: The State of Mississippi: Opportunities and Actions to Address Maternal Health in Mississippi

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

Describe how recent federal and state policies and executive orders are shaping health outcomes in Mississippi.
Identify policy areas that promote or impede health for diverse populations across the state.
Analyze real-world examples of how policy changes have affected public health indicators and community resilience in Mississippi.
Engage in dialogue with local, state, and national leaders on strategies to prioritize the health of Mississippians in future policy decisions.

Panelists

Grace Butler Washington

Representative District 69 Hinds County

Renia Dotson

State Epidemiologist and Director for Center for Public Health Transformation, MSDH

Thomas Dobbs

Dean, School of Population Health, UMMC

Catherine Brett

Clinical Medical Director, Health Informatics | Office of Health Services, Mississippi Division of Medicaid

Mitchell Adcock

MS Center for Public Policy Delta health Alliance

Concurrent Session I | 2:30pm–3:30pm CT

Jr. BR A/B

Tobacco Today: Advocacy, Health Impacts, and Public Health Interventions in Mississippi

Tobacco Today: Advocacy, Health Impacts, and Public Health Interventions in Mississippi

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

Identify behavioral and physical signs of nicotine addiction in adolescents and list the neurological impacts of youth nicotine use.
Identify a comprehensive action plan that engages parents, schools, stakeholders, and youth in reducing e-cigarette use through peer education, community outreach, and the reinforcement of tobacco-free policies in school settings.
Identify the health and economic impact of tobacco use in the state and list key strategies used by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Session Chair

TBD

Speakers

Warren Jones, MPH

Epidemiologist, Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health

Edward Clark III

Program Director, Caffee Caffee and Associates Public Health Foundation

Robert McMillen

Professor, Mississippi State University

Jr. BR C

Shaping the Future of Maternal and Child Health in Mississippi Through Impactful Strategies

State of Maternal Health: The State of Mississippi: Shaping the Future of Maternal and Child Health in Mississippi Through Impactful Strategies

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

Identify outreach strategies that will increase tobacco cessation program participation among families.
Identify the role of birth workers in improving maternal health outcomes.
Identify Mississippi Public Health Institute’s Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) strategies.

Session Chair

TBD

Speakers

Sharonda Banks

Director, Health Systems Change, MS State Department of Health

Nakeitra Burse

Executive Director, Six Dimensions

Asia Rush

Program Manager, Six Dimensions

Hannah Sheridan

Program Manager, MSPHI

GBR C

Addressing Social Determinants and Communication Strategies to Advance Health in Underserved Communities

Addressing Social Determinamhdmhdnts and Communication Strategies to Advance Health in Underserved Communities

Learning Objectives:

Identify strategies for incorporating healthy lifestyle modifications to prevent and manage chronic kidney disease.
Identify the combined impact of social determinants of health on stroke prevalence, moving beyond clinical factors and utilizing data from a nationally representative survey.
Identify situational issues relevant to negative vs. positive weight-based discussions.

Session Chair

TBD

Speakers

Brieah Hudson

Assistant Professor, Jackson State University

Building Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Health Equity Among Historically-Excluded Populations within Mississippi

James Robinson

Chairs, Jackson State University

Building Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Health Equity Among Historically-Excluded Populations within Mississippi

Abedin Minhazul

PhD Student, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Composite effect of social determinants of health on stroke prevalence: A Logistic Regression and Causal Mediation Analysis Across 34 U.S. States

Juanita Graham

Research Consultant, Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health

Weight Counseling vs. Weight Shaming: Educating Public Health Professionals to Discuss Sensitive Topics

Jr. BR D

Bridging the Gap: The Role of Language Access in Public Health

State of Maternal Health: The State of Mississippi: Opportunities and Actions to Address Maternal Health in Mississippi

Learning Objectives

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

Colonel Sheldon Morris, Retired
Delta Health Alliance

Jennifer Lemacks, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Jennifer Lemacks is the Associate Dean for Research at the University of Southern Mississippi, School of Nursing and Health Professions and registered dietitian by trade. Her research is driven by a passion to reduce preventable chronic disease disparities in the Deep South through behavioral therapy targeting nutrition and physical activity behaviors. She has received ample training in community-based participatory research methods and health interventions. She has directed a project funded by the National Institutes of Health to explore how to utilize churches to deliver obesity management interventions to young to middle-aged African Americans in South Mississippi. She has also directed a youth mentorship and nutrition program focused on improving diet and social behaviors of 5th graders in the Mississippi Delta. She is currently managing a project funded by Mississippi INBRE, which established the Telenutrition Center in the state and focuses on identifying evidence-based strategies for obesity management among underserved populations in real-world settings.

Concurrent Session II | 3:45pm–4:45pm am CT

Jr. BR A/B

Public Health Strategies to Advance Mental Health Disparities to Solutions

Community Health: Brush up on Community Health: The Heart of Reaching Mississippi Communities

Learning Objectives

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

Dr. Juanita Graham
Mississippi State Department of Health

Dr. Juanita Graham is an Adjunct Graduate Nursing Professor for Purdue University Global, Averett University and South College. Graham is a professional freelance scientific writer and currently serves as a public health research consultant for the Mississippi State Department of Health. Juanita holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degrees in Nursing from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Graham is professionally active with many organizations, recently serving on the ANA-appointed Workgroup that prepared the new edition of the Scope and Standards of Practice for Public Health Nursing. Dr. Graham is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, London, UK.

Robert A. Lee, MPC, MA
Mississippi State Department of Health

Robert Alexander Lee holds a master’s degree in public communication with an emphasis on Strategic Communications from American University, Washington, DC. Mr. Lee is a former awardwinning high school teacher with the Baltimore City School System. His career spans from holding leadership roles with WIC (beginning-of-life) to hospice (end-of-life). Mr. Lee currently serves as the Vice-President for Normalizing Breastfeeding (San Diego County) and a Central Region Representative with the Mississippi Conference on Social Welfare. He is proud to serve as the Community Program and Training Manger for the MSDH Office of Community Workers.

Deborah Donnell
Mississippi State Department of Health

Ms. Donnell is a highly accomplished nurse with an extensive 23-year track record in the healthcare industry. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mississippi University for Women in 2001, followed by a Master of Public Health from Chamberlain University in December 2023. Ms. Donnell’s professional experience includes 12 years in Oncology and 11 years in Public Health. Presently, she is the Clinical Lead at the MS State Department of Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. Additionally, Ms. Donnell is an active volunteer at Catholic Charities Rape Crisis Center. She is also a devoted mother to her 15-year-old daughter, Amanda Michelle.

Carla M. Bassett, RDH
Mississippi State Department of Health

Carla M. Bassett is a Registered Dental Hygienist serving as a Regional Oral Health Consultant (ROHC) for the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Office of Oral Health. She is also the Mississippi Dental Hygiene Liaison (DHL) for the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS) and serves as the Region IV DHL Coordinator on behalf of the NCHBHS and the Office of Head Start. She has 29 years of combined experience in clinical and public health dentistry. Her experience with the Office of Oral Health includes dental program development and management for early education and elementary school programs in Mississippi. She piloted and developed the Make a Child Smile Fluoride Varnish Program for childcare centers and coordinated the MS SEALS School-Based Dental Sealant Program for elementary schools. She organized the collaborative effort of the Cavity Free Kids program that continues to provide oral health education, training, and advocacy in dental disease management. Her current work with the MSDH involves providing oral health anticipatory guidance and training, collecting clinical oral health data, providing dental prevention for infants and children, promoting the benefits of fluoride programs, and working with communities to improve oral health for all Mississippians. In her role as a DHL and RDHL, Carla serves as a communication link between the NCHBHS and Head Start programs on topics related to improving the oral health of pregnant women and children enrolled in Head Start.

Kina L. White, DrPH, MHSA, FACHE
Mississippi State Department of Health

Kina L. White, DrPH, MHSA, FACHE is the Office of Community Health Improvement Director at the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).  Her office includes three Bureaus: Healthy Aging, Injury and Violence Prevention, and Community and School Health.  Dr. White is the Principal Investigator for multiple federal grant programs, also serving as the State Lead for the Age-Friendly Public Health Systems Initiative (AFPHS) with Trust for America’s Health.  Under Dr. White’s leadership, MSDH achieved Exemplar status as the 3rd U.S.-recognized Age-Friendly Public Health System in May 2023.  Strategic efforts are underway for age-friendly communities, universities, and health systems to advance the development of an age-friendly ecosystem. With more than 20 years of professional experience, Dr. White is an equity strategist with an extensive background in healthcare management, community and population health, with a sincere passion to improve health outcomes within Mississippi communities.

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.

Jr. BR C

Innovative Approaches to Advancing Maternal Health in Mississippi

Cardiometabolic Health: The Inside-Out of Cardiometabolic Health in Mississippi

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

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

Holden Adkins, RD
The National Diabetes and Obesity Institute

Tanner Thorsen, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Tanner Thorsen holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, with an emphasis in Biomechanics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is currently a faculty member in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. His research interests include gait and cycling biomechanics, sport biomechanics, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal modeling and simulation. Specifically, he is interested in biomechanically informed rehabilitation protocols for lower extremity orthopedic injuries and diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis, total knee arthroplasty, fall-risk). By utilizing biomechanics to understand patient-specific movement patterns, rehabilitation protocols can be tailored to improve therapeutic and post-operative outcomes. Additionally, he has experience in sports biomechanics, in the realm of collegiate soccer and football, and volleyball.

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. Farrow co-chairs Mississippi Metabolic Obesity Task Force projects on statewide metabolic disease-prevention, nutrition-promotion, and youth health mentorship to advance quality of life, to protect the most-vulnerable, and to drive the economy. In 2022, Dr. Farrow and NDORI received the American Association for Clinical Endocrinology’s International Award for Promotion of Endocrinology Care to the Underserved.

Dr. Megan Renna
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Megan Renna is an Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at USM and a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Mississippi. Dr. Renna received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and joined the USM faculty in August 2021 after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in cancer prevention and control at the Ohio State University’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research. Her research focuses broadly on the intersection between psychological and physical health. She is especially interested in how emotion regulation and negative emotionality disrupts normative biological functioning to enhance risk for and maintenance of chronic health issues with a specific interest in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In addition to directing the Psychophysiology, Emotionality, and Treatment lab within the School of Psychology, Dr. Renna also teaches at the undergraduate and doctoral levels and provides clinical supervision to doctoral students within the Center for Behavioral Health.

Austin J. Graybeal, PhD, CSCS
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Graybeal is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology & Nutrition at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Graybeal earned his BS (2016) and MS (2018) in Kinesiology from Texas Tech University and his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Texas Christian University in 2021. Dr. Graybeal is an expert in nutrition, body composition, and metabolic syndrome with specific expertise in sports nutrition, nutritional interventions for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, and the impact of body composition alterations (through diet and exercise) on general health. Currently, his research focuses on the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome where he studies the ability of artificial intelligence / smartphone-based body composition techniques to predict metabolic health risks and the effect of exogenous ketosis on appetite, metabolism, cognition, and cardiometabolic health

Jon Stavres, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Jon Stavres received his BS and MS in Exercise Science from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, his PhD from Kent State University, and completed his postdoctoral training at the Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute (under the direction of Dr. Lawrence I. Sinoway). Dr. Stavres’ research focuses on blood pressure control and autonomic function in healthy adults and individuals with chronic disease, with a particular emphasis on autonomic dysfunction in cardiometabolic disease. His lab is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research.

GBR C

Risk Factors and Community-Based Solutions to Reduce Chronic Disease Disparities

Innovative Partnerships: Strategic Partnerships and Modes to Reach All Mississippians

Learning Objectives:

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

Kathryn Allman
Mississippi State University
Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition
Choctaw, Montgomery, and Webster Counties

Kathryn Allman graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Public Relations. She began her career in the gift industry in outside sales in Pensacola Florida and surrounding areas. After being in Top 3 for opening new accounts her first year, she moved into management. First as district manager of the Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee area, then into regional management of the southeastern territories. During this period, Allman relocated to Mississippi and started a family with her husband. Eventually she decided that being on the road was taking time away from her young family and moved into managing a gift shop and later into a health educator role with the MS Tobacco Free Coalition of Choctaw, Montgomery and Webster counties, where she is currently still working

Alicia Watts, PhD
William Carey University

Dr. Alicia Watts is currently an Assistant Professor for the Health Information Management (HIM) program at William Carey University. She also helped to develop and launch the school’s Master of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management program. Prior to taking on her role as Assistant Professor, she worked in the field of HIM in roles such as Record Index Specialist, Epic-Certified Clinical Analyst, Adjunct Professor, and Clinical Research Coordinator. She is a proud graduate of William Carey University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, Master of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Administration and Education. Her previous experience and educational background have allowed her to become well versed in information governance, health informatics, leadership, regulatory and compliance, and privacy and security. She is an active member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Component State Association Mississippi Health Information Management Association (MSHIMA).

Nora Charles, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Nora Charles is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Texas A&M University and completed an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas School of Medicine. Dr. Charles teaches courses on psychological assessment, adolescent development, and forensic psychology. She also supervises PhD trainees completing clinical psychology practica in both forensic and general clinical settings. Dr. Charles and her students engage in community-based research on prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk and justice-involved youth. This work is currently funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Leah Pylate, PhD
Mississippi State University

Dr. Leah Pylate is an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion. She serves on various committees, such as MSU’s Collegiate Recovery Community Board, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Her primary research interest includes helping families better understand addiction and recovery through a family systems perspective. She has worked in tobacco control through prevention, advisory board service, cessation, and health promotion for over 15 years. Through collaborative opportunities, Leah aims to continue working with colleagues toward better health for Mississippi’s communities.

Kristy McRaney, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Kristy McRaney is an Assistant Clinical Professor and the Director of the USM Center for Behavioral Health. She is a licensed psychologist specializing in comprehensive psychological evaluation, detection and diagnosis of developmental delays, and evidence-based treatment for traumatic stress in children. She has a passion for advancing the availability of quality mental health care in Mississippi and is a Co-Investigator on a Project ACCESS, a program that increases access to mental health care for rural and at-risk youth by both establishing new service options for these youth as well as creating training opportunities for future psychologists and social workers. She currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the Mississippi Psychological Association (MPA) and is an Individual Affiliate of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Jr. BR D

Connecting Communities: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership, Education, and Access

Innovative Partnerships: Strategic Partnerships and Modes to Reach All Mississippians

Learning Objectives:

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

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Morning Plenary: State of Mississippi | 8:30am–9:30am CT

Concurrent Session III | 9:45am–10:45am CT

Jr. BR A/B

Healing Together: Community-Based Approaches to Trauma, Burnout, and Mental Health Care

Environmental Health: Mississippi One Health: How External Environmental Factors Can Affect Health in Mississippi Populations

Learning Objectives:

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

Austen Anderson, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Austen Anderson, PhD is an assistant professor and licensed psychologist. He leads the Lifestyle, Environment and Flourishing (LEAF) lab which focuses on the links between lifestyle factors, mental health, and well-being.

Tammy Greer, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Greer is a member of the United Houma Nation of South Louisiana and Director of the Center for American Indian Research and Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi where she is an associate professor of Psychology. She, along with the Golden Eagles Intertribal Society, a Native-focus student group at USM, founded and tends the thousand square foot Medicine Wheel Garden and coordinates the Petal Southern Miss Powwow each year in April. She is currently working on the reintroduction of traditional Southeastern native plant dyes for use on textiles, leather-work, and cane and palmetto baskets. Her research involves examining how traditional relationship-based worldviews impact environmental decisions and behaviors and the impact of those worldviews on well-being

Stephen Seimper
The University of Southern Mississippi

Steve Sempier is the Outreach and Deputy Director at the Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium where he leads the program’s extension, outreach and education team. During the past 17 years he has also led numerous Gulf-wide sea grant initiatives including developing the Gulf of Mexico research plan and implementing a community-based restoration program. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, he led a multi-disciplinary team of Sea Grant extension and communications specialists located across the five Gulf of Mexico states that addressed regional issues ranging from oil spill science to harmful algal blooms to marine microplastics. Steve currently serves as the chair of the Sea Grant extension assembly, which is comprised of the 34 Sea Grant extension leaders across the U.S. Prior to joining Sea Grant, he worked at Mississippi State University on an aquaculture risk management project and at Oregon State University on a USAID-supported program devoted to increasing food security in developing nations. Steve earned his B.S. in marine science at Eckerd College; M.S. in marine resource management at Oregon State University; and his Ph.D. In coastal sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Zhe Qiang
The University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Zhe Qiang is the SSCT Endowed Assistant Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Polymer Engineering from the University of Akron, and was a postdoc fellow at Northwestern University. His group’s current research interests include materials and manufacturing science of polymers and their derived functional materials for the sustainable development of environment and society. Dr. Qiang has received many awards and honors, including NSF EPSCoR Research Fellow (2022) , Forbes 30 under 30 in Science (2022), ACS PMSE Early Career Investigator (2023), NSF CAREER Award (2023), and AIChE 35 under 35 (2023).

Jr. BR D

Real Talk on Dementia, Alzheimer’s & Family Caregiving

Substance Use: Happier, Healthier Mississippi: Getting to the Youth of the Matter

Learning Objectives:

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

Triuna Taylor
Teen Health MS

Mariaha Amos, MPH
Teen Health MS

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.

Triuna Taylor
Teen Health MS

Triuna 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.

GBR C

Improving Diabetes Prevention and Care Through Culturally Responsive Strategies and Innovation

Women and Children: Towards a Future of Healthy and Connected Women and Children

Learning Objectives

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 Ferrell, 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

Katie Hall, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing and Cancer Center and Research Institute

Dr. Katie Hall is an associate professor at the UMMC School of Nursing. She began her nursing career as an RN in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at UMMC’s Children’s Hospital in 2008. She moved to academia and joined the School of Nursing faculty in 2015 teaching in the undergraduate traditional program, where she remained until July of 2021 when she moved into the role of research faculty at the UMMC School of Nursing. Dr. Hall completed her Doctorate of Nursing from UMMC in 2019, with her focus placed on environmental factors that potentially increase the risk for patients in MS to be diagnosed with specific health outcomes, such as congenital heart defects. Dr. Hall continues to collaborate on many research projects with her focus remaining on both social and environmental factors that can impact health outcomes of individuals in MS. Research she is currently working on includes community based collaborative work addressing chronic conditions in older adults in rural MS communities; loss to follow-up and barriers to accessing care for women at risk for cervical cancer; and the impact that one’s environment, one’s behaviors, and one’s psychological state can have on stress of women with HIV.

Lori Weimer, RN
Singing River Health System

Lori has been a registered nurse for 38 years spending over 35 years in Women’s and Children’s health. She has served as a staff nurse, nurse educator and now serves as the manager for Labor and Delivery/Nursery at Ocean Springs Hospital. Lori is passionate about Women’s health, especially surrounding childbirth and postpartum care. She has been an instrumental leader in adopting the Maternal Safety Bundles for hemorrhage, hypertension and preventing primary c-section for the Singing River Health System. She is currently the hospital system lead for a project with the March of Dimes to promote equity in maternal healthcare. Lori is a proud grandmother of five and always ready to share a picture or swap a story.

Tina Ferrell, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing

Dr. Tina Ferrell has been a registered nurse for 29 years. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing and the RN to MSN program director at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Nursing. Her research interests are qualitative in design and focus on nursing identity, predicting professional behaviors, health disparities, access to care, and research participation in rural communities. She is well-versed in quality improvement, strategic planning, and application of evidence-based practices. She has conducted qualitative research and is an instructor of qualitative designs in the nursing Ph.D. program.

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.

Concurrent Session IV | 10:50am–11:50am CT

Jr. BR A/B

Progress in Reporting and Data Visualization: Using Data to Address Health Disparities and Showcase Program Impact

Environmental Health: Mississippi One Health: How External Environmental Factors Can Affect Health in Mississippi Populations

Learning Objectives:

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

Austen Anderson, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Tammy Greer, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Stephen Seimper
The University of Southern Mississippi

Zhe Qiang
The University of Southern Mississippi

GBR C

Exploring Barriers and Trends in Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening

Substance Use: Happier, Healthier Mississippi: Getting to the Youth of the Matter

Learning Objectives:

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

Triuna Taylor
Teen Health MS

Mariaha Amos, MPH
Teen Health MS

Chris Ellzey, MS
Mississippi State University

Parri Swinson, OTD
Magnolia Medical Foundation

Santee Ezell, MS
Mississippi State University

Mariaha Amos, MPH
Teen Health MS

Triuna Taylor
Teen Health MS

Networking Lunch, Awards, and Recognition | 12:00pm–1:00pm CT

Lunch Plenary: Workforce & Economic Development | 12:30pm–1:30pm CT

Concurrent Session V | 2:15pm – 3:15 pm CT

Jr. BR C

Empowering Healthy Aging: Strategies, Support, and Sustainable Solutions

Environmental Health: Mississippi One Health: How External Environmental Factors Can Affect Health in Mississippi Populations

Learning Objectives:

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

Austen Anderson, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Tammy Greer, PhD
The University of Southern Mississippi

Stephen Seimper
The University of Southern Mississippi

Zhe Qiang
The University of Southern Mississippi

GBR C

Advancing HIV Care and Building Trust to Improve Health Outcomes in Mississippi

Women and Children: Towards a Future of Healthy and Connected Women and Children

Learning Objectives

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 Ferrell, 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

Katie Hall, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing and Cancer Center and Research Institute

Lori Weimer, RN
Singing River Health System

Tina Ferrell, Ph.D., RN
UMMC School of Nursing

Sarah Myers, MS,CCC-SLP
The University of Southern Mississippi

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.

Jr. BR D

Community-Academic Partnership: A Case Study in Violence Prevention Clinical Trial Design

Chris Ellzey, MS
Mississippi State University

Parri Swinson, OTD
Magnolia Medical Foundation

Santee Ezell, MS
Mississippi State University

Mariaha Amos, MPH
Teen Health MS

Triuna Taylor
Teen Health MS

Closing Session | 3:30pm–4:30pm CT

GBR A/B

Reclaiming the Narrative: Southern Leadership, Legacy, and the Future of Community Health

State of State: The State of Mississippi: Multi-sectorial Perspectives on Tackling Social Determinants of Health

Learning Objectives:

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

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.

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