Rachael F. Morris, MD

Rachael F. Morris, MD

Associate Professor

Department:
SOM-Obstetrics & Gynecology

Email:
rmorris@umc.edu

Work Phone:
(601) 984-5358

Biography

Rachael Morris, M.D., M.S., FACOG is an Associate Professor in Maternal Fetal Medicine. She is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal Fetal Medicine. She is a native of New Orleans, LA and received her medical degree from Louisiana State University in New Orleans. She completed an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency and Maternal Fetal Medicine fellowship both here at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Morris serves as our Obstetric Covid Director for the OBGYN Department. Dr. Morris assists in the care of high risk pregnancies (both mother and baby). Dr. Morris is also active across the state of Mississippi training first responders in the STORK program since 2022. Dr. Morris is committed to providing patients with high quality, compassionate care while effectively educating both patients and trainees on the challenges of pregnancy. She is married to Dr. Michael Morris, who is an Associate Professor in Pediatric Surgery here at UMMC. The Morris family is active in St. Joseph's Church in Gluckstadt.

Education

University of Mississippi Medical Center, MD, Fellowship2015
Chief Administrative Resident, MD, Chief Administrative Resident2012
University of Mississippi Medical Center, MD, Residency2012
Louisiana State University Health Science Center, MD, School of Medicine2008
Loyola University New Orleans, BA, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Honors Program2003

Specialty Certification Licensure

Certification, Diplomate Maternal Fetal Medicine06/2018 - Present
Licensure, Mississippi State Board Of Medical Licensure07/2016 - Present
Certification, Diplomate, American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists2014 - Present

Current Positions

Director, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology10/2022 - Present
Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology04/2020 - Present
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments

Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine07/2015 - 04/2020

Sponsored Program Funding

Extramural, STORK Stabilizing Obs/Neo patients; Training for Obs/Neo
emergencies; Outcome improvements; Resource sharing;
Kind care for vulnerable families), Bower Foundation
12/2023 - 12/2024
Extramural, S.T.O.R.K.
Stabilizing Obs/Neo patients; Training for Obs/Neo
emergencies; Outcome improvements; Resource sharing;
Kind care for vulnerable families), WK Kellogg
05/2023 - 09/2025
Extramural, Cord CHD: Clamp OR Delay among neonates with
Congenital Heart Disease, NIH/NHLBI
04/2023 - Present
Extramural, Inflammation mediated hypertension and neurovascular dysfunction during a preeclampsia (PE) phenotype of pregnancy and postpartum, NIH/NHLBI04/2023 - 03/2028
Extramural, S.T.O.R.K.
Stabilizing Obs/Neo patients; Training for Obs/Neo emergencies; Outcome improvements; Resource sharing; Kind care for vulnerable families), WK Kellogg
06/2021 - 05/2023
Extramural, Implementing the STAMPP-HTN bundle in a high-risk Mississippi population, NIH/NIGMS06/2020 - 05/2021
Extramural, Premod 2: Premature Infants Receiving Milking or Delayed Cord Clamping: Randomized Controlled Multicenter Non‐Inferiority Trial, NIH07/2019 - Present
Extramural, A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study of the Efficacy and Safety of DigiFab in Antepartum Subjects with Severe Preeclampsia, AMAG01/2019 - 06/2020

Publications

Manuscripts

Rachael F. Morris, Imran Sunesara, Marie Darby, Sarah Novotny, Luissa Kiprono, Leody Bautista, Sandip Sawardecker, James Bofill, Belinda Anderson, and James N. Martin. Impedance cardiography assessed treatment of acute severe pregnancy hypertension: a randomized trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med2014
Rachael Morris, Shuana-Kay Spencer, Patrick B. Kyle, Jan Michael Williams, Al'Shondra Harris, Michelle Y. Owens, Kedra Wallace. Hypertension in an animal model of HELLP Syndrome is associated with activation of endothelin-1. In Press Reproductive Sciences
Kedra Wallace, Sarah M. Tremble, Michelle Y. Owens, Rachael Morris, Marilyn J. Cipolla. Plasma from HELLP syndrome patients increases blood-brain barrier permeability. Reproductive Sciences: 2015:22(3):278-284.

Journal Article

Moustafa ASZ, Yimer W, Perry A, Solis L, Belk S, Morris R, Spencer SK, Rana S, Wallace K. Report from a text-based blood pressure monitoring prospective cohort trial among postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 May 3;24(1):340.2024
Katheria A, Szychowski J, Carlo WA, Subramaniam A, Reister F, Essers J, Vora F, Martin C, Schmölzer GM, Law B, Dempsey E, O'Donoghue K, Kaempf J, Tomlinson M, Fulford K, Folsom B, Karam S, Morris R, Yanowitz T, Beck S, Clark E, DuPont T, Biniwale M, Ramanathan R, Bhat S, Hoffman M, Chouthai N, Bany-Mohammed F, Mydam J, Narendran V, Wertheimer F, Gollin Y, Vaucher Y, Arnell K, Varner M, Cutter G, Wilson N, Rich W; RRT; Finer N. Umbilical Cord Milking Versus Delayed Cord Clamping in Infants 28 to 32 Weeks: A Randomized Trial. Pediatrics. 2023 Dec 1;152(6):e2023063113. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-063113.2023
Morris R, Moustafa ASZ, Kassahun-Yimer W, Novotny S, Billsby B, Abbas A, Wallace K. COVID-19 Not Hypertension or Diabetes Increases the Risk of Preeclampsia among a High-Risk Population. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 10;19(24):16631.2022
Cornelius DC, Wang X, Griffin A, Morris R, Wallace K. PMID: 35704142; PMCID: Preeclampsia and COVID-19: the Role of Inflammasome Activation. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2022 Sep;24(9):341-348. doi: 10.1007/s11906-022-01195-4. Epub 2022 Jun 15.2022
Morris R, Spencer SK, Barnes A, Bowles T, Kyle PB, Wallace K. Attenuation of oxidative stress and hypertension in an animal model of HELLP syndrome. Eur J Pharmacol2018
Gibbens J, Morris R, Bowles T, Spencer SK, Wallace K. Dysregulation of the Fas/FasL system in an experimental animal model of HELLP syndrome.2017
Morris, R., Spencer, SK., Kyle, P.B. et al. Hypertension in an Animal Model of HELLP Syndrome is Associated With Activation of Endothelin 1.2016
Teylor Bowles, Kedra Wallace, Rachael Morris, Keisa Mathis. Rats with hypertension, hemolysis elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) have increased placental and FASL. MS Acad Sci. 2015:P6.562015
Morris R, Sunesara I, Rush L, Anderson B, Blake PG, Darby M, Sawardecker S, Novotny S, Bofill JA, Martin JN Jr. Maternal hemodynamics by thoracic impedance cardiography for normal pregnancy and the postpartum period. Obset Gynecol. 2014 Feb;123(2 Pt 1):318-24.2014
Wallace K, Morris R, Kyle PB, Cornelius D, Darby M, Scott J, Moseley J, Chatman K, Lamarca B. Hypertension, inflammation and T lymphocytes are increased in a rat model of HELLP syndrome. Hypertens Pregnancy. 2014 Feb;33(1):41-54.2014
Wallace K, Tremble S, Owens MY, Morris R, Cipolla J Plasma from HELLP syndrome patients increases blood-brain barrier permeability. Journal of Reproductive Sciences. February 20142014
Morris MW Jr, Aru M, Gaugler A, Morris RF, Vandeerlan WB. Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Perineum Associated with a Bartholin Abscess. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2013 Oct.2013
Brewer J, Owens MY, Wallace K, Reeves AA, Morris R, Khan M, Lamarca B, Martin JN Jr. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in 46 of 47 patients with Eclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Jun;208(6):468.e1-6.2013
Morris R, McIntosh D, Helling T, Marti JN Jr. Solid fibrous tumor of the liver: a case in pregnancy J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2012. Jun;25(6):866-8.2012
Parrish MR, Griffin ML, Morris RF, Darby M, Owens MT, Martin JN Jr. Hyperuricemia Facilitates the Prediction of Maternal and Perinatal Adverse Outcome in Patients with Severe/Superimposed Preeclampsia. the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 2010 (23) 12:1451-1455.2010
Samir N,Patel, Stephen Rr. Ramee, Tyrone J Collins, Gary A. Daniel, J. Stephen Jenkins, JP Reilly, Rachael F Morris, Christopher J. White. Catheter-Based Treatment Approach for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2008 Jun 1;71(7):963-8.2008
Rajesh Subramanian, Stephen R. Ramee, Robert Felberg, Kevin McKinley, J.S. Jenkins, Christopher J. White. Percutaneous management of Acute Ischemic Stroke among patients not candidates for Intravenous Thrombolysis. Circulation. 2002; 106: e76,[.83.2002
Rajesh Subramanian, Stephen R. Ramee, Robert Felberg, Kevin McKinley, JS Jenkins, Tyrone J. Collins, Rachael Foley Morris, Robert Dawson, Christopher J White. Catheter-Based Treatment Approach for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke in patients Ineligible for Intravenous Thrombolysis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2002(67) A: 1197-10.
Mahesh S. Mulumudi, Stephen R. Ramee, Rachael W. Foley, Tyrone J. Collins, J. Stephen Jenkins, Christopher J. White Low-contrast angiographic technique: a safe alternative in patients with renal insufficiency. LA ACC 2002
Morris R, Sunesara I, Rush L, Anderson B, Blake PG, Darby M, Sawardecker S, Novotny S, Bofill JA, Martin JN Jr. Maternal hemodynamics by thoracic impedance cardiography for normal pregnancy and the postpartum period. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Feb;123(2 Pt 1):318.24
Shauna-Kay Spencer, Rachael Morris, Patrick Kyle, Kedra Wallace Hypertension and Endothelin-1 in an animal model of HELLP Syndrome. MS Acad Sci. 2015:P6.37.
Morris R, Moustafa ASZ, Kassahun-Yimer W, Novotny S, Billsby B, Abbas A, Wallace K. COVID-19 Not Hypertension or Diabetes Increases the Risk of Preeclampsia among a High-Risk Population. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. Dec.
Rachael Morris, Aswathi Jayaram, MD, Michelle Owens, MD; James A Bofill, MD; Sarah Novotony, MD; Emily Campbell, MD; Molly Burger, MD; Kimberly Simmons, MD; Kedra Wallace, PhD and J. Martin Tucker MD. Covid-19 and Pregnancy. The UMMC Experience: 50 cases and counting. JMSMA. Vol 61 (11/12). 2020.

Abstracts

Kedra Wallace, Sarah Tremble, Malikarjuna R Pabbidi, Rachael Morris, Shauna-Kay Spencer, Marilyn Cipolla. Hypertension during pregnancy is associated with cerebral damage in an animal model of severe preeclampsia. Hypertension 64:A416
Rachael Morris, Shauna-kay Spencer, Krystal Chatman, Patrick Kyle, Janae Moseley, Kedra Wallace. Hypertension in an animal model of HELLP syndrome proceeds via activation of the Endothelin-1 system. An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health. 2015:5(1):47
Rachael Morris, Malikarjuna Pabbidi, Shauna-Kay Spencer, Sarah Tremble, Marilyn Cipolla, Kedra Wallace. Blockade of endothelin-1 attenuates cerebral impairment in an animal model of HELLP syndrome. AJOG. 2015:212(1):S341.

Book Chapter

Preeclampsia-Spectrum Hypertensive
Disorders of Pregnancy: Gestational
Hypertension, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia,
Chronic Hypertension, and HELLP
Syndrome 121
Academic Press
2019
"When HELLP might be something else: The Differential Diagnosis of Hellp Syndrome." From Bench to Bedside. In Press2015
Kedra Wallace, Cynthia M. Bean, Rachael F. Morris Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzyme Low Platelet (HELLP) Syndrome: Clinical Diagnosis and Management. A book Critical Obstetric Medicine
James N.Martin, Jr. and Rachael F.Morris Preeclampsia and Long-Term Consequences

Presentations

Poster Presentation, Fetal diagnosis of Bohring-Opitz syndrome associated with fixed contractures, Dandy-Walker variant malformation, trigonocephaly, and fetal growth restriction., ISPD06/2024
Poster Presentation, Designing a simulation-based training program to improve obstetric readiness in maternity care deserts in the rural Deep South – The STORK Program., MS Health Disparity Conference, Biloxi05/2024
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, ACOG AIM: Obstetric Emergency Readiness Community of Learning. Knowing how and when to transfer: key considerations for patient stabilization and safe transport., ACOG AIM06/2023
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Critical Care in Obstetrics, Mississippi Critical Care Conference., Jackson04/2023
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, ACOG Labor of Love Podcast. Episode 5: Workforce Capacity., ACOG Podcast03/2023
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, It didn’t have to be this way., FEMECOG, Mexico11/2022
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Obesity in Pregnancy, FEMECOG, Mexico11/2022
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, It Didn't Have to be this way, CDC/DDNID/NCBDDD/DBDID Grand Rounds08/2022
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, It didn't Have to be this way, ACM, San Diego CA05/2022
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Pregnancy, Prescriber Controlled Substances Update 2022, Merit Health04/2022
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder, SCOGS, Biloxi MS04/2022
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Maternal Fetal Conflict, Peds Ethics, UMMC04/2022
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Ethics: Beginning of Life, Ethics, UMMC01/2022
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Covid in Pregnancy, MSMA CME, Virtual - Orlando Fl11/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Covid in Pregnancy: UMMC Experience., MS Nurses Association, Jackson10/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Covid 19 In Pregnancy: UMMC Experience

"Express yourself" -Mississippi (Kellogg Foundation and MSPQC), Express Yourself Mississippi, UMMC
10/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Covid in Pregnancy: Delta, Vaccines, Monoclonal Antibodies, Merit Health CME, River Hills09/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, UMMC Covid 19 Experience - Delta Variant, MSPQC, UMMC08/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: A Diagnosis of Prompted by “Smart” Watc, Anesthesia Grand Rounds, UMMC07/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Covid in Pregnancy: One year in Review, OBGYN, UMMC04/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, The effect on Fetus and Newborn of Maternal Immunologic Disorders, Pediatric Grand Rounds, UMMC03/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Covid 19 in Pregnancy: The UMMC Experience; What do we know? What have we learned?, Gynecic, Koestler Prime10/2020
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Postpartum Depression: Treatment Pearls, Merit Health CME Drug Series, Table 10008/2020
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Placenta Accreta Disorders, Surgery PeriOperative Learning Rounds, UMMC05/2020
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, "The effect on Fetus and Newborn of Maternal Immunologic Disorders", UMMC05/2020
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, MSPQC Covid 19 Update, MSPQC, UMMC03/2020
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders, OBGYN, UMMC10/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, LUTO: Where are we now?, Neonatology, UMMC08/2019
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, The Imitators of Preeclampsia: When its something else?, Caribe GYN, Puerto Rico08/2019
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy, Caribe GYN, Puerto Rico08/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, A Baby of your own: Pregnancy with CHD., UMMC, Jackson06/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, The effect on Fetus and Newborn of Maternal Immunolgic Disorders, UMMC, UMMC05/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Critical Care in Pregnancy, UMMC, Jackson, MS05/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, The Effects in the Fetus and Newborn of Maternal Immunological Disorders., Merit Health/Newborn Associates, Jackson, MS04/2019
Invited Symposia, A Maternal Fetal Centered Approach: Congenital Heart Disease., UMMC, Jackson, MS02/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Maternal physiology and cardiovascular adaptations to pregnancy, Neonatology, UMMC09/2018
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Beginning of Life: Maternal fetal conflict, UMMC, UMMC08/2018
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, NIPT - Is first trimester ultrasound obsolete?, Wiser Symposium, Jackson04/2016
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Zika Virus, UMMC, Grenada03/2016
Poster Presentation, Emergent therapy using either Labetalol or hydralazine for acute onset severe persistent hypertension in recommended dosages does not achieve for the patient an optimal hemodynamic profile., Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine02/2014
Poster Presentation, Pregnancy Meeting for the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine 2013.02/2013
Oral Presentation, Solid fibrous tumor of the liver: a case in pregnancy.

Oral Presentation at the ACOG Annual Clinical Meeting as a "Stump the Professor" Case., ACOG Annual Clinical Meeting
05/2010
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Presentation at the American Heart Association Outcomes Research Conference, American Heart Association, Washington, DC2002
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Scientific Session of American College of Cardiology, Washington, DC
Oral Presentation, Hypertension in an animal model of HELLP syndrome proceeds via activation of the Endothelin-1 system., ISSHP

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

STORK - First place Poster Competition Faculty Category, Mississippi Health Disparities Conference2024
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society2023
Covid Healthcare Heroes Individual Healthcare Physycian, MSMA2021
Ever Hall of Fame Award, Carl G. Evers, M.D., Society, School of Medicine2017
APGO excellence in Teaching, UMMC2017
Humanism in Excellence in Teaching Award, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation2012
Humanism in Excellence in Teaching Award, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation2010
Best PGY2 teaching Resident, University of Mississippi Medical Center Dept OBGYN2010
Teaching Resident of the Year, Carl G. Evers, M.D., Society, School of Medicine University of Mississippi Med Center2009
Teaching Resident of the Year, Carl G. Evers, M.D., Society, School of Medicine University of Mississippi Med Center2008

Professional Membership and Service

Alpha Omega Society, Member2024 - Present
MSMA, Member2023 - Present
Ballet Mississippi, President ELect of the Parent Organization2023 - Present
Neonatal/Perinatal Fellowship Program, Member, Member for the Research Task Force2020 - 2021
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC)2010 - 2011
M2 ICM Preceptor Program2010 - 2011
Member, M1 Student Mentorship Program2009 - 2010
The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, Fellow
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Fellow

Committee Service

ACOG CREOG 2025 Form Review Committee, Member2024 - Present
MSMA Editorial Advisory Board OBGYN, Editorial Advisory Board OBGYN2023 - Present
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE-RESIDENCY REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE, Member2023 - Present
ACOG CREOG Exam Writing Committee, Member2021 - Present
MEDICAL CENTER-RESEARCH ADVISORY, Member2021 - Present
MEDICAL CENTER-RESEARCH ADVISORY, Member2020 - Present
MEDICAL CENTER-RESEARCH ADVISORY, Member2020 - 2021
RISE, Member2019 - Present
Fellow Clinical Competency Committee, Chair2017 - Present
Fellow Clinical Competency Committee, Member2015 - 2017

Community Service

Ballet Mississippi, President Elect Parent Prganization03/2024 - Present

Teaching Experience

NICU Fellows, Lecture, Guest PresenterFall 2022-2023
Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Physiology of PregnancySummer 2022
Nursing, Lecture, Lecturer, PNPFall 2020-2021
Nursing, Lecture, Lecturer, NNPFall 2020-2021
Medicine, Small Group, Lecturer, EthicsSpring

Directed Student Learning

Preceptor, Advised: Chinyere Nnaji2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: Savannah Stockton2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: Kristen Stephens2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: Dennis Sanders, Jr2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: William Ross2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: Casey Stanford2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: Shannon Overholt2019 - 2019
Preceptor, Advised: Stephanie Stokes2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Abdullah Shaheen2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Jeishika Patel2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Shelby Sattler2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Alexis Griffith2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Haley Goodman2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Andrew Garz2018 - 2018
Preceptor, Advised: Adrienne Page2015 - 2015

Fellows supervised

Maternal Fetal Medicine, Program Director, 2 fellows supervised07/2024 - Present
MAternal Fetal Medicine, Program Director, 2 fellows supervised07/2023 - Present
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 2 fellows supervised07/2022 - Present
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 2 fellows supervised07/2021 - Present
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 2 fellows supervised07/2020 - Present
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised07/2019 - Present
Maternel Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 2 fellows supervised07/2018 - Present
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 2 fellows supervised07/2017 - Present
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised07/2016 - Present

Residency Training

OBGYN, Advisor2015 - Present