The Journey

The educational program for medical students

The School of Medicine (SOM) is currently one of the two professional programs at UMMC that only accepts residents of the state of Mississippi as applicants for the educational program. This is in line with the school’s primary mission to produce physicians to care for all citizens of the state. Dr. Jackson explains the programs the medical school uses to recruit these applicants.

Student Mistreatment in Medical Education: Recognizing, Addressing, and Preventing Harm

Medical education is often described as a transformative journey, shaping students into skilled and compassionate physicians. However, for many, this journey is also marked by experiences of mistreatment that can significantly undermine their learning, well-being, and professional development. Dr. Mike McMullan details the tools that UMMC and other institutions are usings to address these issues.

Lecture Logistics: Putting the Pieces Together

There are many moving parts that must come together to prepare schedules for the M1 and M2 preclinical courses. The integrated curriculum spans 14 courses, includes over 1,100 sessions, and is taught by approximately 400 different faculty members. Now in our third year of the integrated curriculum, we remain focused on improving the process each year. Leah Stanford explains what to expect and how to prepare.

Rowland Medical Library Spotlights: BMJ Best Practice

BMJ Best Practice is an evidence-based resource designed to assist clinicians in making informed decisions at the point of care. This resource is organized around the patient encounter and provides step-by-step guidance on diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Dr. Sarah Adcock explains more about this resource.

School of Medicine Curriculum Committee Update

The School of Medicine (SOM) Curriculum Committee resumes meeting for the 2025-26 academic year in August with a new chair, Dr. Austin Harrison. Her term as chair is four-years with the chair-elect assuming the role of chair afterwards.

Congratulations!

The Office of Medical Education congratulates Dr. Dakota Bibbs. On May 9, 2025, Dr. Bibbs graduated with the Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. His dissertation, entitled Underrepresented Medical Students: Perceptions of Academic Persistence and Successful Completion of Medical School, examined the facilitators and barriers that students who are traditionally underrepresented in medicine face on their journey through medical education. Dr. Bibbs is the director of Medical Student Advising for the School of Medicine.

Fall SOM Faculty Development Sessions

The School of Medicine and the Department of Advanced Biomedical Education have collaborated again this year to develop the 2025 School of Medicine (SOM) Annual Faculty Development Series. This series provides one-hour sessions throughout the year on topics that aim to enhance teaching and learning and the academic environment.

August 2025