UMMC faculty, staff gather accolades

Published on Monday, October 17, 2022

UMMC Communications and Marketing honored for COVID-19 newsgathering

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Office of Communications and Marketing is winner of the 2022 Lantern Award, the top honor bestowed by the Southern Public Relations Federation.

The Office of Communications and Marketing was recognized for its news and crisis communications coverage of UMMC’s response to COVID-19’s Delta surge in summer 2021.

SPRF honored UMMC and other outstanding public relations practices during the Lantern Awards ceremony Sept. 13 in Baton Rouge. Professional and student members of the Public Relations Council of Alabama, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi earned a total 61 awards honoring the best public relations in the Gulf South.

UMMC was one of 16 projects named Lantern Award winners.

“This is deserved recognition for everyone on the UMMC Communications and Marketing staff. Regardless of professional specialty or role, every staff member played a part in keeping internal and public audiences abreast of important information that, at times, was vital to know in a timely manner,” said Marc Rolph, executive director of Communications and Marketing..

“The wealth and quality of experience our membership display in the Lanterns competition are impressive,” said SPRF President Lisa Darnell, “Each entrant’s ability to understand and utilize the strategic process provides outstanding returns to their organizations and clients while advancing the best public relations practices.”

In May 2022, the Office of Communications was named a Prism award winner by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, also for its crisis communications efforts during the summer 2021 COVID-19 Delta surge.

“The UMMC story is complex and sometimes not easy to tell, even outside of dealing with a deadly pandemic, but in our creative and dedicated hands, we did what was necessary to keep people informed and navigate through a difficult chapter in Mississippi’s history,” Rolph said. “I’m proud of this team.” 

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Goreth named Pediatric Nurse Practitioner of the Year by NAPNAP

Dr. Michelle Goreth, a certified pediatric acute care nurse practitioner in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, is the 2022 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner of the Year for the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) e-Chapter.

The honor goes to the NAPNAP e-Chapter member who is a pediatric nurse practitioner or pediatric-focused nurse practitioner who exceeds expectations as a professional advance practice registered nurse providing care to children.

The NAPNAP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner of the Year is recognized for admirable character, selfless dedication and outstanding efforts in elevating professional practice and promoting the health and welfare of children.

Goreth, a core member of Heads Up Mississippi, a population health-focused concussion awareness and education program, opened a weekly concussion clinic inside the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi to bring follow-up concussion care to patients more quickly.

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American College of Lifestyle Medicine inducts Bidwell as Fellow

Dr. Josie Bidwell, a Lifestyle Medicine nurse practitioner and associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine, has been selected a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Fellowship in ACLM is the highest level of recognition bestowed by the College, acknowledging individuals who have distinguished themselves through their contributions and service to the field. Lifestyle medicine, part of the specialty of preventive medicine, promotes lifestyle changes proven to prevent, treat, or even reverse diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Bidwell leads the Medical Center’s Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, where she takes part in in-depth discussions with patients to identify their health concerns, health risks and goals. After identifying the patient’s specific health risks, she creates a custom health plan the patient will use to achieve goals that can make a significant difference in their health.

Bidwell also is host of the weekly “Healthy and Fit” show, part of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s weekday “Southern Remedy” wellness radio program. “Healthy and Fit” airs at 11 a.m. Mondays.

“Addressing the alarming rises in lifestyle-related chronic disease trends is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It’s one to which lifestyle medicine holds the answer,” Bidwell’s congratulatory letter from ACLM said.

"We're very proud of the growth of our Lifestyle Medicine Clinic and related programs since we launched this work in 2017. Dr. Bidwell has demonstrated excellence as a clinician, and educator, and a leader, both within UMMC and nationally,” said Dr. Josh Mann, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine.

“This excellence is highlighted by her recognition as Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is one of very few if any, nurse practitioners to attain Fellow status in the ACLM. And given the chronic disease burden in Mississippi, there is no better place for a robust Lifestyle Medicine program than the University of Mississippi Medical Center."