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Sarah E. Allison Research Lab for Self-Care and Wellness

History

The Sarah E. Allison Research Lab for Self-Care and Wellness at UMMC was established in 2021 through a philanthropic gift from the Sarah Elizabeth Allison Foundation to promote self-care education as a strategy to combat burnout among Mississippi’s nurses and to equip them with resilience-building skills they can share with their patients. Named in honor of Dr. Sarah E. Allison, a dedicated nurse leader with a deep commitment to Mississippi, the lab reflects her passion for advancing nursing leadership and supporting the profession’s well-being. The initiative was championed by Dr. James Hughes, President of the Sarah E Allison Foundation, former chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at UMMC, and a longtime friend and colleague of Dr. Allison, along with his daughter, Kathryn Long, a UMMC nurse and fellow foundation board member. Together, they emphasized Dr. Allison’s vision to empower nurses through self-care, resilience, and continuing education.

Mission

The mission of the Sarah E. Allison Research Lab for Self-Care and Wellness is to advance interdisciplinary research and education that strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of healthcare professionals, while promoting evidence-based strategies to improve health outcomes for the individuals and communities they serve.

Vision

To be a leading institutional hub for self-care research that advances interdisciplinary wellness practices and transforms healthcare environments in ways that benefit providers, patients, and the communities they serve.

Core Goals

1. Research Excellence:
Generate rigorous, theory-informed self-care research that informs the design, implementation, and transformation of healthcare environments.
2.  Education and Training:
Integrate evidence-based wellness practices into educational, clinical, and organizational contexts to support sustainable and effective care.
3.  Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together partners across disciplines to co-develop and scale wellness innovations.
4.  Knowledge Translation:
Translate research into systems-level practice and policy change that foster compassionate care and enduring cultures of wellness.

Leadership

Director: 
Xiaoshan “Judy” Gordy, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
University of Mississippi Medical Center

The lab is directed by Dr. Xiaoshan “Judy” Gordy. She provides leadership across study design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination, while fostering collaborative partnerships across academic and clinical disciplines.

Research Facilities (Under Construction)

The lab is under construction. New facilities will be equipped with a state-of-the-art multisensory system named Color Light Aroma and Sound (CLAS) Therapy.
Planned features include:

• Immersive lighting and sound environments
• Aroma delivery systems
• Guided imagery and visualization spaces
• Participant briefing and session monitoring areas
• Images and additional details will be added as construction milestones are completed

Research Initiatives

The Sarah E. Allison Research Lab supports a phased portfolio of research initiatives, including:
Phase 1: Workforce and Academic Stress Reduction

• Self-care and resilience interventions for School of Nursing faculty, staff, and students
• Stress reduction strategies for UMMC clinicians (e.g., nurses) 

Phase 2: Pilot Clinical Studies

• Pilot studies focusing on atrial fibrillation (in collaboration with Cardiology)
• Pilot studies addressing generalized anxiety disorder (in collaboration with Psychology)

Phase 3: Expansion Areas

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Smoking cessation
• Addiction and substance use recovery support
• Sleep and eating disorders
• Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Collaboration and Engagement

The Sarah E. Allison Research Lab welcomes collaboration with faculty, clinicians, students, and community partners interested in advancing evidence-based self-care and wellness research.
For inquiries regarding partnerships or ongoing projects, please contact the lab director at xgordy@umc.edu or at (601) 984-4914.