New faculty join UMMC academic ranks

Kala F. Burchfield

Kala F. Burchfield, recently an MRI technologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of radiologic sciences in the School of Health Related Professions.  

A state-licensed medical radiation technologist, Burchfield earned a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences in 2016 at UMMC, and then earned a Master of Science in Magnetic Resonance Imaging in 2017. 

She previously worked as an MRI technologist as Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson; St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson; St. Dominic Madison Medical Imaging in Madison; and Merit Health Central in Jackson before joining UMMC. 

The co-author of scientific publications, Burchfield has earned several clinical and academic honors. 

She is registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in radiography and magnetic resonance. 

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Candice Fugitt

Candice Fugitt, recently a clinical branch director for Enhabit Home Health and Hospice in Oxford, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an instructor in the School of Nursing.  

A certified case manager, Fugitt earned her BSN in 2013 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership in 2022 at the University of North Alabama in Florence.  

She worked previously as a medical-surgical registered nurse for North Mississippi Health Services in Tupelo; critical care RN for Memorial Healthcare System; utilization management nurse clinician and case manager for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; case manager for Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi in Tupelo; readmission coordinator for North Mississippi Health Services; and clinical consultant for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. 

Fugitt, who has earned several health care awards and honors during her career, has been a speaker at national health care conferences.