Medical Center personnel acknowledged for excellence, expertise

Published on Monday, October 21, 2024

By: Gary Pettus, gpettus@umc.edu

Medical Center faculty and staff often are recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for their academic or medical achievements. These accolades place UMMC among health science centers worldwide.

Brodell appointed to key AAMC position

Dr. Robert Brodell, professor and chair of pathology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has been named to a three-year term on the Administrative Board of the Association of American Medical Colleges' Council of Faculty and Academic Societies.

CFAS takes on issues related to faculty voice, value, well-being and career life cycle for all academic medical faculty, regardless of specialty area, discipline or specific role within their academic health centers. The goal of CFAS is to identify critical issues facing medical school faculty and academic societies and to serve as their voice.

“The Association of American Medical Colleges is THE key organization promoting medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. Our customers are medical students, faculty and administrators in the best medical schools in the world,” said Brodell, who is also a Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor and the founding chair of the UMMC Department of Dermatology.

“I have been working to elevate efforts to attract rural students to attend medical school since they are most likely to return to rural areas where we have a crisis in access to care.

“I have also promoted the central role of culture in all medical organizations.”

Before joining UMMC in 2012, Brodell held various faculty and leadership positions at Washington University, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

He has served as an officer or board member for the American Dermatological Association, American Board of Dermatology and American Academy of Dermatology.

At the CFAS Annual Meeting in 2025, Brodell will present Dr. Gustavo Grodnitzky, author of the book, “Culture Trumps Everything.”

“Gustavo was responsible for an intervention in the Department of Dermatology at UMMC that produced statistically significant improvement in the department’s AAMC StandPoint Survey, the ACGME dermatology faculty and resident surveys and the Department’s Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Surveys,” Brodell said.

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Gaughf recognized for teaching excellence

Dr. Natalie Gaughf, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has accepted the 2024 Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award from the Mississippi Psychological Association.

Gaughf received the tribute during the MPA’s 2024 Annual Convention, held Sept. 25-27 in Biloxi.

Recipients of the Teaching of Psychology Award have shown, over a period of time, outstanding performance as a university, college or internship teacher.

“I am proud to be a psychologist, and I am grateful for my peers who granted me this tremendous honor,” said Gaughf, the current Legislative Chair for MPA.

“I value teaching and learning, so, this recognition is very meaningful to me.”

Gaughf works alongside Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, supporting the academic mission for the Medical Center’s six health professions schools.

“Dr. Gaughf is one of UMMC’s greatest assets,” Rodgers said. “She is that rare individual who combines beyond-reproach administrative ability and expertise with extraordinary teaching skills. 

“When it comes to understanding the big picture surrounding academics and its importance on our campus, very few compare. She is a trusted resource, a consummate professional and an educator of the highest caliber.”

Gaughf earned a PhD in counseling psychology in 2002 at the University of Southern Mississippi and completed her residency in clinical psychology at the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System in Biloxi. She completed a health psychology postdoctoral fellowship in primary care at the Medical Center and joined the faculty in 2003.

At UMMC, she has served in a variety of other leadership and faculty roles, including professor of family medicine, professor of population health science, associate dean for student affairs for the School of Population Health, acting executive director of the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities and director of the Office of Academic Support.

She has also served as the John D. Bower School of Population Health’s interim dean. She has held other faculty or leadership positions in the School of Dentistry, ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education and Research; Department of Pediatric and Public Health Dentistry; Faculty Research Development; and School of Medicine.

Over the past 20 years, she has filled many roles with the MPA, an organization dedicated to advancing psychology as a science and as a profession by supporting the academic community, providing psychological knowledge to the general public and promoting psychological practice.

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UMMC honored for commitment to physician well-being

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s dedication to helping physicians thrive and regain joy in the practice of medicine has been acknowledged by the American Medical Association.

As part of the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program, UMMC was one of 62 health systems recognized for focusing on the causes of burnout for the 140,000-plus physicians the systems represent.

“Health organizations that have earned the AMA’s Joy in Medicine recognition are leading this movement with bold visions for redesigned clinical systems to foster professional well-being and support quality care,” Dr. Bruce A. Scott, AMA president, said in a statement.

 “Physicians are humans caring for other human beings, strained by factors beyond their control and challenged by the enormous expectations placed on them to continuously deliver high quality, compassionate care.

“There is no doubt that change is needed, but what needs to change is not the doctors. A national movement is gaining momentum to transform health care work systems and fix the root causes of physician burnout.”

The Medical Center achieved Bronze-level recognition for its achievements and efforts in six areas: assessment, commitment, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, leadership and support.

“The University of Mississippi Medical Center has received Bronze recognition for the second time from the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine program; it was previously awarded in 2022,” said Dr. Varsha Manucha, professor of pathology and chair of the UMMC Physician Well-being Committee.

“It’s gratifying to be recognized alongside Hattiesburg Clinic and peer institutions in the South, such as the University of Kentucky and UT Southwestern, as well as other esteemed institutions across the country, including Stanford, Northwestern and Johns Hopkins.

“This achievement highlights our sustained dedication to physician well-being, made possible by the crucial support of our Office of Well-being, which sponsors the Physician Well-being Committee.”

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Children’s of Mississippi scores two C-L Community’s Choice Awards

The state’s only children’s hospital and the only pediatric emergency department in the state are winners in The Clarion Ledger newspaper’s 2024 Jackson Community’s Choice Awards.

Children’s of Mississippi came in first in the Hospital/Medical Center and Hospital Emergency Room categories.

“We are deeply honored to receive these Community’s Choice Awards because they reflect the support of the community we serve,” said Dr. Guy Giesecke, Children’s of Mississippi CEO.

“Every day, our exceptional care teams work to earn the trust of our patients and their families, so, it is gratifying to see that effort recognized. These awards inspire us to continue striving for excellence in everything we do, and we remain committed to providing the highest quality care for our children and families.”

The Jackson Community’s Choice Awards invited Clarion Ledger readers to nominate and vote for their favorites in more than 120 categories.