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
- 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.
Session Chair: June Gipson
Presentations
Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH
Dean, School of Population Health
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Grace Butler Washington, B.A, M.A
Representative District 69 Hinds County
Mississippi Legislature
Renia Dotson
State Epidemiologist and Director for Center for Public Health Transformation
Mississippi State Department of Health
Catherine Brett, Phd, RD, BC-ADM, CDCES
Clinical Medical Director, Health Informatics | Office of Health Services
Mississippi Division of Medicaid
Mitchell Adcock, BA/CPA
MS Center for Public Policy
Delta Health Alliance
Jacinda Roach, PhD, RDN, LD
Maternal and Child Health Director
MS Public Health Institute
Concurrent Session I | 2:30pm–3:30pm CT
Jr. BR A/B
Tobacco Today: Advocacy, Health Impacts, and Public Health Interventions in Mississippi
- 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
Presentations
Youth Brain Development: Tobacco and Vaping Addiction
Warren Jones, MPH
Epidemiologist
Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health
Youth Pathways to Empowerment
Edward Clark III, BS
Program Director
Caffee Caffee and Associates Public Health Foundation
Reducing the Burden of Tobacco in Mississippi over the Past 25 Years
Robert McMillen, PhD
Professor
Mississippi State University
Jr. BR C
State of Maternal Health: The State of Mississippi: Shaping the Future of Maternal and Child Health in Mississippi Through Impactful Strategies
- 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
Presentations
Healthier Beginnings: Mississippi’s Telehealth-Driven Maternal Cessation Model
Sharonda Banks, MHA
Director, Health Systems Change
MS State Department of Health
Birthing Bosses: The Business Development Training for Birth Workers to Address Maternal Health Outcomes
Nakeitra Burse, DrPH, CHES
Executive Director
Six Dimensions
Asia Rush, MPH, CHES
Program Manager
Six Dimensions
Empowering Maternal Health: Strategies for Change in Mississippi
Hannah Sheridan, MA, BSN, RN
Program Manager
Mississippi Public Health Institute
Teresa Jones, MSN, RN
Clinical Program Manager
Mississippi Public Health Institute
GBR C
Addressing Social Determinamhdmhdnts and Communication Strategies to Advance Health in Underserved Communities
- 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
Presentations
Building Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Health Equity Among Historically-Excluded Populations within Mississippi
Brieah Hudson, DrPH, MPH, CHES
Assistant Professor
Jackson State University
James Robinson, PhD
Chair
Jackson State University
Composite effect of social determinants of health on stroke prevalence: A Logistic Regression and Causal Mediation Analysis Across 34 U.S. States
Abedin Minhazul, MPH
PhD Student
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Weight Counseling vs. Weight Shaming: Educating Public Health Professionals to Discuss Sensitive Topics
Juanita Graham, DNP-RN, FRSPH
Research Consultant
Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health
Jr. BR D
Bridging the Gap: The Role of Language Access in Public Health
Bridging the Gap: The Role of Language Access in Public Health
- Identify the challenges and disparities faced by individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) in accessing public health services.
- Analyze the impact of language-concordant care on patient outcomes, health literacy, and public health equity.
- Evaluate effective language access strategies, policies, and best practices for improving communication and service delivery in healthcare.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentation
Bridging the Gap: The Role of Language Access in Public Health
Selma Alford, MPA
Bureau Director, Language Access
MSDH
Concurrent Session II | 3:45pm–4:45pm am CT
Jr. BR A/B
Public Health Strategies to Advance Mental Health Disparities to Solutions
Public Health Strategies to Advance Mental Health Disparities to Solutions
- Identify harm reduction policies or strategies for opioid use disorder that can be implemented within their organizations.
- Identify the impact of stigma at various levels in reducing access to care, and explore strategies to overcome this barrier.
- Identify strategies to improve mental health service delivery in the African American community.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
STIGMA: Shattering The Illusion – Growing Meaningful Awareness
Utsav Nandi, MD, MSCI, MSPHS
Associate Professor
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Brenda Foster, RN
Nurse III Opioid and Substance Use Programs Lead Navigator
Mississippi State Department of Health
Amanda Freeman
Mississippi State Department of Health
CHAIN – Community–Hospital–Agency Integration Network: Expanding MOUD, Harm Reduction, and Linkage to Care to Close Gaps in Care for those living with Opioid Use Disorder
Utsav Nandi, MD, MSCI, MSPHS
Associate Professor
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jon Hubanks, PharmD
Director of the Opioid & Substance Use Disorder Program
The Mississippi State Department of Health
Sophie Durham
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Mental Health Disparities with African Americans
Damien Thomas
CEO/Clinical Director
Resilience Counseling & Recovery Center, LLC
Jr. BR C
Innovative Approaches to Advancing Maternal Health in Mississippi
Innovative Approaches to Advancing Maternal Health in Mississippi
- Describe the trend increase in maternal syphilis in Mississippi to discuss the profound impact of the lack of prenatal care on detrimental maternal outcomes, including maternal syphilis.
- Identify public health prevention strategies and clinical interventions aimed at reducing the rate of maternal syphilis in Mississippi.
- Describe a model of care that provides monitoring and support to expectant mothers in Mississippi.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
The Price of Neglect: Maternal Syphilis in Mississippi, USA, 2013-2023
Manuela Staneva, MD, MPH
Instructor Researcher
John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center
An Ounce of Prevention: Maternal Screening and the Fight Against Congenital Syphilis
Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH
Dean, School of Population Health
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Maternal Health: Much more than a baby!
Tearsanee Davis, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Director, Clinical Programs and Strategy
UMM Center for Telehealth
Tiffany Regan, BSN, RN
RPM RN Care Coordinator
Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center
GBR C
Risk Factors and Community-Based Solutions to Reduce Chronic Disease Disparities
Risk Factors and Community-Based Solutions to Reduce Chronic Disease Disparities
- Identify shared risk factors (modifiable and non-modifiable) contributing to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, and explain their role in health disparities.
- Identify the effectiveness of community-based interventions in managing hypertension, focusing on key predictors and comparing various intervention settings.
- Identify novel biomarkers relevant to early detection of Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic disorders.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Intersecting Risks: Examining Shared Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Factors in Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and Dementia Through the Lens of Health Disparities
Kenneth R. Butler, Jr., PhD
Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Leveraging Trusted Community Partners for Health Promotion: Exploring the Predictors of Blood Pressure Outcomes in the Jackson Heart Study-Community Engagement Center Programs
Border-ere Fiemotonghan, MA
Program Specialist III
Mississippi State Department of Health
Emerging Biomarkers in Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Health: Unlocking Early Detection and Risk Stratification
Felix Twun
Associate Professor
The University of Southern Mississippi
Jr. BR D
Connecting Communities: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership, Education, and Access
Connecting Communities: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership, Education, and Access
- Identify the impact of the Rural Medical & Science Scholars program on rural health workforce development and its influence on career paths in STEM and health sciences.
- Identify civic engagement, local participation, and sustainability, and explain how trust in local government contributes to successful community initiatives.
- Identify the interaction between civic engagement and trust in local government to promote sustainable outcomes in community settings.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Does the Rural Medical and Science Scholars program enhance Human Capital?
Jasmine Harris-Speight, MS
Extension Instructor
Mississippi State University
The Role of Civic Engagement and Trust in Government in Advancing Sustainability: A New Public Service Theory Approach
Latara Arterberry, Ph.D., MBA
Extension Specialist I
Mississippi State University
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Morning Plenary: State of Mississippi | 8:30am–9:30am CT
GBR A/B
The State of Mississippi: A Report on the Health and Well-being of Mississippi
The State of Mississippi: A Report on the Health and Well-being of Mississippi
- Analyze the current health and well-being status of Mississippi based on key public health indicators.
- Identify progress made in addressing Mississippi’s top and emerging public health challenges.
- Explore new and ongoing public health initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes.
- Discuss opportunities for collaboration and innovation in tackling public health issues in the state.
- Engage with the state health officer to ask questions and share insights on public health priorities.
Session Chair: Cassandra Brown
Presentations
Daniel Edney, MD, FACP, FASAM
State Health Officer
Mississippi State Department of Health
Concurrent Session III | 9:45am–10:45am CT
Jr. BR A/B
Healing Together: Community-Based Approaches to Trauma, Burnout, and Mental Health Care
Healing Together: Community-Based Approaches to Trauma, Burnout, and Mental Health Care
- Identify approaches for treating co-occurring trauma and chronic illness.
- Identify primary tools used to measure burnout and secondary traumatic stress Community Health Workers (CHWs) to improve retention and mental health support.
- Identify best practice guidelines for antenatal mental health.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Trauma Disorders & Chronic Illness: Awareness & Approaches
Earl Benjamin-Robinson, PhD
Co-Founder/Principal
The BACH Group
Michael Benjamin-Robinson, DSW, LCSW-BACS
Principal
The BACH Group
Who Heals the Healers? Insights from a Systematic Review on Community Health Worker Burnout
Emily Dent, Masters of Public Health
Instructor
University of Southern Mississippi
Antenatal Mental Health Screening: An Evidence-Implementation Project
Stephanie Tullos, MSN, RNC-MNN
Instructor
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jr. BR D
Real Talk on Dementia, Alzheimer’s & Family Caregiving
Real Talk on Dementia, Alzheimer’s & Family Caregiving
- Identify at least 3 key social and environmental factors contributing to disparities in Alzheimer’s and dementia care.
- Describe 2 evidence-based risk reduction strategies and mental health practices that promote healthy aging and cognitive well-being.
- List 2 practical resources and support mechanisms available for family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Session Chair: Kaye Bender
Panelists
P. Herbert Caldwell, Ph.D
Chief of Compliance
Logan University
Joyee Washington, PhD, MS, MPH, MCHES
Community Engaged Research Consultant
Joyee Washington Consulting, LLC
Sue Ann Meng, LCSW
Social Worker
The MIND Center at UMMC
GBR C
Improving Diabetes Prevention and Care Through Culturally Responsive Strategies and Innovation
Improving Diabetes Prevention and Care Through Culturally Responsive Strategies and Innovation
- Identify how cultural and linguistic barriers affect delivery of the National Diabetes Prevention Program.
- Identify effective strategies for diabetes prevention and management in underserved communities, including the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, continuous glucose monitoring, and remote coaching.
- Identify risk factors, early detection methods, and lifestyle interventions for gestational diabetes.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Delivery of the CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program in the Spanish Speaking Community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Challenges and Successes
Erica Quinn Thompson, MD, MPH, CDFS
Executive Director
Magnolia Medical Foundation
Best Practices for Diabetes Management and Prevention in Mississippi
Catherine Moring, Phd, RD, BC-ADM, CDCES
Project Director, Executive Director
Tallahatchie General Hospital Medical Foundation
Nurturing Maternal Health: A Gestational Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Program
Ciarra Shaw, MPH, Masters of Public Health, Health Admin & Policy
Community Outreach and Grant Specialist
Magnolia Medical Foundation
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
Progress in Reporting and Data Visualization: Using Data to Address Health Disparities and Showcase Program Impact
- Identify various data visualization products to effectively use them to depict nature, scope, and impact of project accomplishments.
- Identify strategies to utilize Tobacco Reporting and Progress System to enhance tobacco control efforts in Mississippi.
- Identify geographic patterns of health disparities through GIS mapping and statistical analysis and evidence-based insights for informing policy and stakeholder actions aimed at reducing structural inequities.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Storytelling with Data Visualization: How to Create Project Achievement Narratives with Dashboards, Infographics, and More
John Bartkowski, Ph.D.
President and Lead Evaluator
Bartkowski & Associates Research Team
Mapping the Distribution of Social Determinants of Health in Mississippi: Census Tract Level Exploration
Tasnim Tabassum, MEcon
Doctoral Student
University of Mississippi Medical Center
The Tobacco Reporting and Progress System (TRAPS) Enhances Tobacco Control Efforts in Mississippi
Sujan Anreddy, Ph.D
Assistant Research Professor
Mississippi State University
Colleen Stouffer, Master’s Degree
Project Director
Mississippi State University
GBR C
Exploring Barriers and Trends in Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening
Exploring Barriers and Trends in Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening
- Identify key trends and disparities in preventive health screenings—including mammograms and prediabetes risk—based on transportation access, age, and race in Mississippi from 2020 to 2024.
- Describe the impact of transportation barriers and limited oral health access on chronic disease prevention, management, and early detection.
- Identify actionable public health strategies to improve screening rates, address transportation challenges, and integrate oral health into chronic disease prevention efforts.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Association Between Lack of Transportation and Prediabetes Among Mississippi Adults: 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Negasi Tsegay, MD, MPH Candidate
Graduate Student
Jackson State University
Yearly Trends in Mammogram Screenings: 2020-2024
Anudeep Kapalavayi, BDS, MPH
Research Data Analyst II
Mississippi State Department of Health
Beyond The Smile: Exploring the Link Between Oral Health and Systemic Disease
Carla Bassett, RDH, FADHA
Regional Oral Health Consultant
MS State Department of Health – Office of Oral Health
Eugenia Daniels-Davis, RDH-BSDH,MPH
Registered Dental Hygienist / Regional Oral Health Consultant
MS State Department of Health – Office of Oral Health
Aryel Winstead, MPH, BSDH, RDH
Regional Oral Health Consultant
MS State Department of Health – Office of Oral Health
Networking Lunch, Awards, and Recognition | 12:00pm–1:00pm CT
Lunch Plenary: Workforce & Economic Development | 1:00pm–2:00pm CT
GBR A/B
Building a Healthier Workforce: Economic Growth Through Workforce Development and Social Determinants of Health
Building a Healthier Workforce: Economic Growth Through Workforce Development and Social Determinants of Health
- Understand current economic and workforce trends impacting Mississippi’s growth and competitiveness.
- Explore workforce development strategies, including successful workforce training programs and initiatives that align with industry needs.
- Examine the role of collaboration between government, industry, and academia in fostering economic development.
- Discuss how innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurial support contribute to workforce readiness and economic resilience.
- Develop actionable solutions to enhance workforce development and economic sustainability in Mississippi.
Session Chair: David Buys
Session Speakers
Scott Waller, BS
President and CEO
Mississippi Economic Council – the State Chamber of Commerce
Megan Gima, MS
TCMAC Oyster Hatchery Manager
University of Southern Mississippi
Reuben Burch, PhD
Associate VP for Research
Mississippi State University
Concurrent Session V | 2:15pm – 3:15 pm CT
Jr. BR C
Empowering Healthy Aging: Strategies, Support, and Sustainable Solutions
Empowering Healthy Aging: Strategies, Support, and Sustainable Solutions
- Identify common types of Medicare fraud targeting older adults, recognize key warning signs, and describe how to report fraud using public resources.
- Identify strategies for preventing Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse and outline how to use S.M.A.R.T. and S.W.O.T. tools to support community-based program development.
- Identify key health and support services for older adults and caregivers in Mississippi and evaluate how accessibility and usability factors influence the effectiveness of AI-driven health resource tools.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Process Workflow for Mapping Resources for Healthy Aging Population in Mississippi
Sujan Anreddy, Ph.D
Assistant Research Professor
Mississippi State University
Colleen Stouffer, Master’s Degree
Project Director
Mississippi State University
Protecting “Our Seniors” from Medicare Fraud
Danielle Guillory, BS
Lead Community Outreach Specialist
Senior Medicare Patrol
Danae Brown
Community Outreach Specialist
Senior Medicare Patrol / AdviseWell
Exercise Program Targeting the Reduction of Underlying Health Conditions and the Increase of Physical Activity
Hayven Hart, MPH
Food and Diaper Project Director
Magnolia Medical Foundation
GBR C
Advancing HIV Care and Building Trust to Improve Health Outcomes in Mississippi
Advancing HIV Care and Building Trust to Improve Health Outcomes in Mississippi
- Identify barriers to HIV care and prevention in Mississippi, including stigma, rural access challenges, and workforce limitations, using recent data and provider feedback.
- Describe the impact of the Ryan White Part B EHE initiative on improving HIV outcomes, such as viral suppression rates, rapid ART access, and retention in care.
- List effective, culturally responsive strategies—such as mobile health units, telehealth, and representative care teams—that improve care engagement, among Black women and underserved populations.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
From Diagnosis to Viral Suppression: The Impact of Ryan White Part B EHE in Ending the HIV Epidemic in Mississippi
Ihunanya Kanu, MD, MPH
Program Planning Monitoring Evaluation Coordinator
Mississippi State Department of Health
The Power of Representation: Building Trust and Inclusive Healthcare for Black Women at Risk for HIV and Substance Use Disorder
Daisy Carter-Slater, MPPA
Program Director
Mississippi Public Health Institute
Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of HIV Care in Mississippi
Elizabeth Jones
Research and Evaluation Associate
Plan A Health Clinic
Rita Momah, DrPH, MPH, CPH, MCHES, FACHE, FACMPE
Ryan White Part B EHE Project Director/PI
Mississippi State Department of Health
Haley James, MPH, CHES
Project Manager
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Kenishia Lee, MD, MPH
IT Analyst
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jr. BR D
Community-Academic Partnership: A Case Study in Violence Prevention Clinical Trial Design
Community-Academic Partnership: A Case Study in Violence Prevention Clinical Trial Design
- Describe three community-sourced interventions under study for the prevention of firearm violence in the Jackson, Mississippi community.
- Identify facilitators and barriers to community participatory design in clinical trials aimed at firearm violence prevention.
- Identify elements of community-academic partnerships that may reduce the impact of health disparities on research study design.
Session Chair: TBD
Presentations
Matthew Kutcher, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Surgery and Emergency Medicine
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Lei Zhang, PhD, MBA
Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship
University of Mississippi Medical Center / School of Nursing
Closing Session | 3:30pm–4:30pm CT
GBR A/B
Reclaiming the Narrative: Southern Leadership, Legacy, and the Future of Community Health
Reclaiming the Narrative: Southern Leadership, Legacy, and the Future of Community Health
- Recognize the historical contributions of Southern communities to the development of community-based healthcare solutions.
- Understand RWJF’s current initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes, including efforts to support healthier communities and strengthen healthcare systems.
- Identify strategies for leveraging community data and cross-sector partnerships to enhance health outcomes in Southern regions.
Session Chair: TBD – Conference LOC Member (Jennifer L. Lemacks)
Presentations
Monica L. Coleman, MS, CRC, NCC
Program Officer, Research Evaluation Learning
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation