New employee spotlight: Meet Jay Thompson

What is your job title?

Program manager in the ACT Center dedicated to working on the QUILS grant.

What does your new job involve?

To lead and manage the implementation of a lung cancer screening program aimed at early detection and reducing lung cancer-related mortality, in collaboration with primary care physicians.

I will also work to establish clear targets for early lung cancer detection patient engagement and reduction in mortality rates.

What skills are you most excited to bring to your role here?

I’m most excited about my relational skills I’ll bring to the table. I look forward to coalition and relationship building with some of the most prominent primary care physicians in the state. These relationships will be critical in the dissemination of educational materials, the implementation of successful lung screening and reversing trends of lung cancer in the state of Mississippi.

I’m also excited about the fact that I’ll get to be a catalyst for change, in that we will be a part of the fabric that changes the landscape of the state regarding cancer detection, hopefully at its early stage.

What’s an achievement you are proud of?

I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been a health care advocate for over 15 years, but one achievement, in particular that I’m proud of is becoming a lifestyle coach and a community health worker. In these roles, I was able to educate and make pre-diabetics aware of their current condition and prevent them from becoming diabetics. We did this work in 56 of the state’s 82 counties.

Can you share a bit about your previous work experience and what you enjoyed most?

As previously mentioned, I enjoyed reversing trends of health disparities. Now, I get a chance to do the same thing, just with a different disease state. Awareness is critical as it serves as a catalyst for change. Improving an individual’s quality of life is what fuels my passion in health care.

What is your favorite karaoke song?

In all honesty, I’ve only done karaoke once in my life, while on a cruise, so I don’t think I have a “favorite” karaoke song.

What’s your favorite movie or television show and why do you love it?

My favorite movie is The Last Castle starring Robert Redford and James Gandolfini. It is a brutal reminder that we are to bloom wherever we are planted. It proved that leadership is not about position but the level of influence you possess. A five-star court martialed general was thrown in prison, but the bars didn’t affect his ability to influence and create change.

What is a unique talent you have that most people do not know about? 

My love for music and playing instruments.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Switzerland

What is your favorite hobby?

Traveling

What is your favorite book and why do you love it?