Researcher, radiology program recognized

Published on Monday, November 4, 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.

Takeshita’s award advances pneumococcal disease research

Dr. Kenichi Takeshita, a post-doctoral research fellow in cell and molecular biology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has received a Round II 2024 Robert Austrian Research Award in Pneumococcal Vaccinology from the International Society of Pneumonia and Pneumococcal Diseases.

The $25,000 ISPPD award, announced in October and sponsored by Pfizer, will go toward Takeshita’s research project, “Studies on the molecular pathogenesis of vaccine-escape Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 strains in the lung.”

The stated research topic for the award was “preventing pneumococcal disease by affordable and effective vaccination.” Early-career scientists under 40 years of age were eligible for the prize from the ISPPD, whose mission includes the prevention and treatment of pneumococcal disease.

Takeshita received his medical degree in 2010 from Kanazawa University in Ishikawa, Japan, and his PhD from Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, in Chiba, Japan. He is a board-certified pediatrician and a board-certified specialist in infectious diseases.

“Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) is a major bacterium which can cause pneumonia and other invasive diseases such as bacteremia and meningitis in both children and adults,” Takeshita said.

“As a pediatrician in Japan, I encountered many children suffering from pneumococcal diseases. Six months ago, I moved here to investigate the molecular pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae. I am especially interested in serotype 3 S. pneumoniae because it has unique characteristics and high virulence.

“Receiving this award is a significant step forward in advancing my research on serotype 3-pneumo study.”

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UMMC Radiology, Darby finalists for Minnie Awards

The University of Mississippi Medical Center radiology residency program and Ashley Darby, director of imaging services for UMMC and Children’s of Mississippi, are finalists for Minnies, AuntMinnie.com’s annual campaign to recognize the best and brightest in medical imaging.

The Department of Radiology is a finalist for Best Radiologist Training Program, and Darby is a finalist for Most Effective Radiology Administrator/Manager. Minnie Award winners will be announced later this month.

As the only academic medical center in the state, UMMC offers students the highest level of training, said Dr. Charlotte Taylor, assistant professor of radiology and diagnostic radiology residency program director.

“Our catchment area is the entire state, and we serve the sickest patients, so our residents are exposed to complex cases,” Taylor said.

As part of the diagnostic radiology residency, the university’s radiology department offers a number of tracks, including an Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR), combined radiology residency/PhD, and molecular imaging; a clinical educator track is in the works. Residents also benefit from the department’s contrast reaction simulation laboratory.

“Our training environment well prepares our graduating residents and fellows for any academic or private practice environment,” Taylor said.

With more than two decades of experience in the field of radiology, Darby has developed a comprehensive clinical background that includes diagnostic radiology, CT, general ultrasound and vascular ultrasound. Darby’s journey has taken her through various health care settings, from small critical access hospitals in rural Mississippi and Alabama to UMMC, a Level I trauma center, and Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only children’s hospital.

Darby’s role allows her to engage in research, education and clinical care. UMMC Health System, which includes multiple hospitals and campuses, maintains an overall bed capacity of 864 and an annual radiology procedure volume of more than 330,000, she said.

A certified Six Sigma Green Belt, Darby is affiliated with the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She holds a master’s degree in business administration specializing in project management, and a master’s degree in health administration, both from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Darby is also an active member of several organizational committees, including the UMMC Human Resources Advisory Council, Healthcare Workplace Violence Committee, Healthcare Compliance Management Committee, Children’s Information Technology Committee and Children’s Ambulatory Safety Team.

She participates in the Epic Clinical Oversight Committee, co-chairs the Procedural Value Analysis Committee and serves on advisory committees for the radiologic sciences bachelor and nuclear medicine technology master programs in the UMMC School of Health-Related Professions. Darby is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Health Administration program in SHRP.