Faculty spotlight - Dr. Emily Tarver

Dr. Emily Tarver is an Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine and currently works as a nocturnist in the ED.  She serves as the Co-Medical Director of UMMC’s Simulation Center and as the Director of Virtual Simulation. Originally from Jackson, Emily studied Studio Art at Millsaps as an undergraduate, with a long-term interest in teaching. While she loved her area of study, she realized it would not be financially sustainable long term, and her path led her to UMMC where she completed medical school and her residency in Emergency Medicine.

Post-residency, Emily moved around – working in Pensacola, FL and Albuquerque, NM – due to her husband being an active duty officer in the Air Force. She worked in hospitals of varying sizes, all community based. In 2018, Emily and her family returned to Jackson, and she began working as a nocturnist in the ED at UMMC. Shortly after returning to UMMC, she began imagining a case-study based simulation software – now known as SimGym – which is in the final stages of creation. SimGym provides a blueprint to create case-based learning for all specialties. The software, which is where Emily focuses her creativity these days, holds great promise for both learners and experienced clinicians. The software is schedule for release in the near future.   

When asked about her transition from community-based practice to academic medicine, Emily shared that it’s been very fulfilling as there is learning happening at all times. Emily and her husband Nathan stay busy with their four sons ages five to 15.