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Eight UMMC Graduates pose for a photo at Commencement

69th Annual UMMC Commencement

Friday, May 23, 2025 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

Taylor Lefler enjoyed working closely with other graduates during her School of Population Health PhD biostatistics and data science studies as seen in this 2022 photo during a student body meeting.

#2025UMMCGrad: Love of games, puzzles lead to student’s future career

Monday, May 19, 2025

Biostatistics and data science research is like running a race, solving a problem or playing games for UMMC School of Population graduate student Taylor Ward Lefler – a steady pace, an interesting challenge and a winning outcome. Read More

School of Nursing Alumna of the Year Heather Pierce, left, is joined by Dr. Chelsea Andries, 2025 School of Nursing Early Career Achievement Award winner.

Pierce, Andries win UMMC School of Nursing alumni honors

Monday, May 12, 2025

Heather Pierce, interim director of the Office of Nursing Excellence at UMMC and the School of Nursing’s Alumna of the Year, attributes her successful career to the strong foundation she received from her alma mater. She was honored along with Dr. Chelsey Andries, winner of the 2025 Early Career Achievement Award, during a luncheon Thursday. Read More

Latest Articles

TEACH Prize honoree Dr. Katie Barber, center, receives congratulations and a $10,000 facsimile check from Regions Bank officials LoRose Moore, far left, and Myer Mack, far right. Between them are, from left, Dr. Donna Strum, dean of the School of Pharmacy; Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs; and Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

With TEACH Prize win, Katie Barber reaches ‘pinnacle’ of profession

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

 Dr. Jay Garner, dean of the School of Health Related Professions, is joined, from left,  by Dr. Kristi Moore, 2025 Alumnus of the Year, Dr. Luke Bynum, Early Career Achievement Award winner, and Dr. Whitney Bondurant, SHRP Alumni Board President.

SHRP recognizes Alumnus of the Year, Early Career Achievement award winners

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

 Jordan Mallette earns a PhD from the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences this month, establishing her career in research and education.

#2025UMMCGrad: PhD student focuses on the interconnectedness of the body

Published on Monday, May 12, 2025

 Liza Owens, who is earning a master's degree in the Health Systems Administration program, is a registered respiratory therapist and works at UMMC as a tracheostomy educator.

#2025UMMCGrad: Experience leads to innovation for Liza Owens

Published on Monday, May 5, 2025

 Base Pair founder Dr. Rob Rockhold and Hattiesburg High teacher and Base Pair leader Mariah Hawkins discuss students’ research in the high school laboratory.

Base Pair expansion powers the promise of future researchers

Published on Monday, May 5, 2025

 Iesha Smith is wrapping up her first full semester as a faculty member in the doctoral degree program in occupational therapy while also working at Children’s of Mississippi.

Front and Center: Iesha Smith

Published on Monday, April 28, 2025

 Hang Nguyen of Biloxi is a 2025 graduate from the UMMC School of Dentistry.

#2025UMMCGrad: Hang Nguyen

Published on Monday, April 28, 2025

 Now 40, Chris Glasgow had one time persuaded himself that he was too old to go to medical school. On Commencement Day, he will become one of around 160 graduates from the School of Medicine and will soon begin his specialty training in anesthesiology at UMMC.

#2025UMMCGrad: Chris Glasgow embraces the life he almost lost

Published on Monday, April 21, 2025

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

SOPH Grading Period

Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 a.m

School of Population Health's grading period for the 2024-2025 spring semester is from Thursday, May 1 – Monday, May 19.

Read More

SGSHS Spring Semester Grading Period

Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 a.m

The School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences' Spring Semester Grading period is from Thursday, May 1 - Friday, May 23.

Read More
Portrait of Dr. Pawel Pomianowski

Medicine Grand Rounds

Tuesday, May 20 at 12:00 p.m

Pawel Pomianowski, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and director of medical genetics and genomics, will present the Medicine Grand Rounds, "Genetics of Syndromic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms."
Read More
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Adult Chair Yoga Classes

Tuesday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m

Join us at the Center for Integrative Health for a free, one-hour, beginner-level chair yoga class to help build strength and flexibility of the body and mind from a seated posture. Any interested participants can sign up by filling out the online form or calling the CIH at (601) 815-3424, option 1.

Read More

SOD D4 Checkout Deadline at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21

Physiology & Biophysics Seminar

Wednesday, May 21

SOPH Honors Day

Wednesday, May 21

SON 2025 Traditional BSN Pinning

Thursday, May 22

SGSHS PhD Graduate Awards Ceremony

Thursday, May 22

SOM M1 Classes End

Thursday, May 22

M3 Last Day for Clerkships and Board Exams

Thursday, May 22

SOM M4 Long Coat Ceremony

Thursday, May 22

View Full Academic Calendar