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70th Annual UMMC Commencement

Friday, May 22, 2026 10 a.m.
Mississippi Coliseum
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Interprofessional Education at UMMC
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Welcome to the Office of Academic Affairs

Portrait of Dr. Scott Rogers and Dr. Natalie Gaughf
Scott M. Rodgers, MD Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Natalie W. Gaughf, PhD, ABPP Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The University of Mississippi Medical Center supports six health professions schools on its main campus in Jackson and successfully graduates roughly 1000 health care professionals each year, many of whom choose to stay and practice in the state.

The Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs oversees the academic enterprise of UMMC. To support our academic mission, each member of our team plays an essential role in our continuing success as we work to identify and promote best practices in health care education, including the following: 

  • Academic planning and strategy
  • Academic policies and procedures
  • Continuing health professions education
  • Faculty development and success
  • Institutional accreditation
  • Quality improvement and innovation in education
  • Resources through the Rowland Medical Library
  • Student services and success

Our goals are to provide quality education to our students and trainees and to promote lifelong learning to our alumni, faculty, and staff.

Thank you for visiting our webpage, and please feel free to browse through our many programs.  

Six Schools. One UMMC.

  1. School of Medicine building exterior.

    1955

    School of Medicine
  2. School of Nursing building exterior.

    1958

    School of Nursing
  3. School of Health Related Professions building exterior.

    1973

    School of Health Related Professions
  4. School of Dentistry building exterior.

    1975

    School of Dentistry
  5. Guyton Research Complex building exterior.

    2001

    School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences

  6. School of Population Health exterior building.

    2016

    John D. Bower School of Population Health

Faculty Directory

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Academic Affairs News

Dr. Michael D. Roach, professor in the Department of Biomedical Materials Science, was named the inaugural Lyle D. Zardiackas, PhD, FADM, FASTM Professor in Biomedical Materials Science, which honors the legacy of the late Dr. Zardiackas, who founded the department.

Gift from pioneering researcher establishes professorship, names lab at UMMC

Monday, April 27, 2026

Decades after establishing the groundwork for biomedical materials science in Mississippi, the late Dr. Lyle Zardiackas continues to move the field forward. Gifts from one of the Medical Center’s most influential researchers established an endowed professorship and named a laboratory in his honor. Read More

UMMC dental student builds on family legacy as she looks ahead to the next chapter

Monday, April 27, 2026

Aubree Dillon has spent years learning the family trade. Now, the 2026 SOD graduate prepares to carry that legacy forward, returning home to practice alongside her father and brother. Read More

Latest Articles

Dawn Hoge is pictured with her care team, from left, Dr. Ignacio Velasco Martinez, chair of the Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology; Dr. Jesse Austin III, Dr. Randall Nutt, Dr. Sara Islam, Dr. Bryant Halsch, OMS residents; and Dr. Laura Humphries, associate professor of plastic surgery.

Advanced 3D technology and interdisciplinary care restore quality of life for Mississippi patient

Published on Monday, April 20, 2026

 Image for Medical student reflects on faith, family and purpose ahead of UMMC commencement

Medical student reflects on faith, family and purpose ahead of UMMC commencement

Published on Monday, April 20, 2026

 Melinda Warner is earning a Bachelor of Science degree in the Radiologic Sciences program and works as a student technologist while preparing for the registry exam.

Persistence pays off in school and at home for SHRP grad

Published on Monday, April 13, 2026

 With humor and energy, Dr. Nathan Tullos engages the audience during UMMC’s Last Lecture, blending personal stories with lessons on purpose and perseverance.

Tullos bridges ‘Indiana Jones,’ science career, guiding principles in ‘Last Lecture’

Published on Monday, April 6, 2026

 Dr. Billie Rhea Philllips receives a gift bag from Dr. Lesley J. Thweatt, left, assistant professor of education for the School of Nursing, during the PhD in Nursing program 25th anniversary event.

PhD in nursing program marks 25 years of skill building, research activity

Published on Monday, April 6, 2026

 Reid Fracchia and Kate Purdom announce their match in urology and internal medicine at UMMC during School of Medicine Match Day ceremony.

'Matching' students reminisce about caring doctors who shaped their career paths

Published on Monday, March 23, 2026

 Dr. Jeannette Simino, second from left, the 2026 Regions Bank TEACH Prize honoree, is congratulated by, from left, Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs; (Simino); Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; and Regions Bank vice presidents Tamicalyn Foster and Regina Fowler.

With generous gesture, Simino shores up title as UMMC’s top teacher

Published on Monday, February 16, 2026

 More than half of Mississippi adults are affected by intimate partner violence, including 700,000 women and 530,000 men, according to the Mississippi Violence Experiences Survey. UMMC researchers collaborated on the survey with Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute.

Solutions to violence in Mississippi evident in UMMC research efforts

Published on Monday, February 9, 2026

Find Us on Social Media

Get news and information you need about the Office of Academic Affairs by connecting with us through our social media community. Our office is active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Learn more about the student activities, events, programs, and services we support.

We look forward to engaging with you!

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Upcoming Academic Calendar Items

Faculty Focus EDTalks

Thursday, April 30 at 12:00 p.m

LouAnn Woodward, MD, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; Richard Summers, MD, professor emeritus; and Patrick Smith, PhD, chief faculty affairs officer, will present EDTalks, "Inspiration, Resources and Tools of the Trade for Educators: Advocacy in Action: How Sponsors Shape Individual and Institutional Success."

Read More
Portrait of Dr. Darren McGuire

CRRC Seminar Series

Thursday, April 30 at 12:00 p.m

Darren McGuire, MD, MHSC, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Jere H. Mitchell, MD, Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Science at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will present the Cardiovascular Renal Research Center Seminar, "Getting to the Heart of the Matter: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and CV Disease."
Read More

SOD Last Day of Dental Hygiene Spring Semester

Friday, May 1 at 12:00 a.m

School of Dentistry's last day of the spring semester for dental hygiene students is Friday, May 1.

Read More

SGSHS Spring Semester Grading Period

Friday, May 1 at 12:00 a.m

The School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences' Spring Semester Grading period is from Friday, May 1 - Friday, May 22.

Read More

SHRP Final Examinations and Classes End (Except DPT and OTD)

Friday, May 1

SON Honors Day

Friday, May 1

SOPH Grading Period

Friday, May. 1 to May. 19

SOPH Final Version of Dissertation Due

Friday, May 1

SHRP Final Examinations Begin (OTD and DPT only)

Monday, May 4

SHRP Final Grades Due in Workday by 5 p.m. (Except DPT and OTD)

Monday, May 4

Food Trucks for Nurses Week

Monday, May 4

SOD Dental Awards Day

Tuesday, May 5

View Full Academic Calendar