Faculty and staff achievements

The School of Nursing is proud to highlight faculty and staff achievements since the last Vital Signs issue. 

Zhang achieves Gold level for excellence in research

Congratulations to Dr. Lei Zhang, associate dean for research and scholarship, on achieving Gold Medallion level status for Excellence in Research Awards at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The Gold Medallion Award level recognizes investigators who reach the $1,000,000 mark in qualifying extramural research funding from January 1, 1997 to June 30, 2023. The professor will be honored with other members during an on-campus ceremony in December. Thank you so much for all of your research accomplishments and all that you are doing for scholarship school-wide!

School clinics honored by Ole Miss award

Note: This article was previously published by UMMC Office of Communications and Marketing in the October 2, 2023 eCV issue by Patrice Guilfoyle.

The overall recipient of the University of Mississippi’s Excellence in Community Engagement Award is the Educating the Next Generation of Health Care Professionals project, organized by Dr. Anne Norwood and Dr. Lisa Haynie of the School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  

Norwood, associate dean of practice and partnerships, and Haynie, professor of nursing and director of the Mercy Delta Express Project, work with the South Delta School District and Jackson Public Schools to help address health inequality and food insecurity for children in underserved communities.  

The effort involves UMMC students from multiple disciplines, including nursing, medicine, occupational therapy and social work. The project provides service-learning experiences for the next generation of health care professionals on social determinants of health, specifically related to issues of health inequity and food insecurity in Mississippi.  

The award from the Ole Miss Division of Diversity and Community Engagement includes $5,000 to further the team’s community engagement efforts. 

IPE simulation team publish in Journal of Nursing Education and Practice

Faculty publish in ABNFF Journal

Congratulations to two faculty groups for having their articles published in the latest issue of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty Foundation (ABNFF) Journal. Dr. Joseph Tacy, Dr. Marilyn Harrington, Dr. Sharon McElwain and Dr. Audwin Fletcher were selected for their article "Diversifying a School of Nursing in Mississippi to Represent the Communities Served." The article details initiatives that the SON is implementing to recruit more underrepresented, rural and otherwise disadvantaged students to help address the 19.4% underrepresented backgrounds in nursing workforce. By diversifying the workforce, we can deliver better quality of care to diverse populations.

Another faculty group led by Dr. Derek Holt penned their article "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Team Approach." Co-authored by Dr. Marilyn Harrington, Jennifer Laub, Dr. Farrah Evans, Dr. Tiffany Griffin, Dr. Keyshawnna Lee, Dr. Audwin Fletcher and Anitra Blake, focuses on giving guidance and criteria to help other school's form a successful DEI committee to help address racial and gender inequality first at a school level to impact the health equity for all patients. The goal is to have our student body resemble the communities and populations we serve as they will become future health care providers. Thank you all for your scholarship and efforts to guide our school to a more inclusive environment for all!

Faculty achieve Quality Matters credential

Kudos to Dr. Kimberly Douglas and Dr. Linda Upchurch for successfully meeting all requirements for Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) course requirements. The two associate professors join Dr. Driscoll DeVaul (SHRP) and Dr. Lori Ward (SOPH) in completing this highly rigorous, nationally recognized course that was offered through UMMC Office of eCampus. According to the Quality Matters (QM) website, this workshop helps faculty "learn the underlying principles behind the QM Rubric and the critical elements of the QM quality assurance process." Thank you both for continuing your work with QM to help us deliver higher quality online and hybrid instruction!

Quality Matters has released the new edition of the QM Rubric. The rubric, released this past July, is updated periodically in the spirit of continuous improvement and to align with research, best practices and insights from QM Official Course Reviews. The new edition offers more relevant examples, clearer instructions and the inclusion of diversity, accessibility and academic integrity. Changes include increased number of Specific Review Standards, increased point value scheme and clarification of synchronous and continuous education. For a deeper understanding of the new Rubric, please consider registering for the Rubric Update.

Project Search at the SON

Project SEARCH Mississippi is a program that prepares young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive integrated employment. It began in 1996 when Erin Riehle believed that since the Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department served individuals with developmental disabilities, it made sense that they should commit to hiring people in this group. She believed it would be possible to train people with developmental disabilities to fill some high-turnout, entry-level positions within the hospital. Together Erin Riehle and Susie Rutkowski formed a partnership and launched Project SEARCH.

Project SEARCH is partnered with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Rankin County School District and the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Project SEARCH was first located at UMMC in 2018. Since then, they have worked with numerous students to help them find competitive, integrated employment. Many interns who have completed this program have received job opportunities here at UMMC.

This academic school year Project SEARCH has nine eager interns ready to find jobs within their community. You may recognize them throughout the hospital by their purple Project SEARCH polos. The UMMC School of Nursing is proud to share that we are now participating in hosting a Project SEARCH intern during their three 8-week rotations.

Kimberly Mariano is part of the 2023-2024 Project SEARCH class and is our current intern. She attended Richland High School and is eager to find a job within her community. Kimberly works with the faculty and staff in the SON Clinical Skills and Simulation Labs and has also helped in the Office of Student Affairs.

Recently, Kimberly was announced as UMMC’s Project SEARCH’s first intern of the month for her hard work, enthusiasm and dedication, which have set a high standard for all of the Project SEARCH interns. We are so proud of Kimberly’s accomplishments, and we look forward to seeing what she achieves over the next two rotations.

Fall recruitment events

The SON has several events throughout the year that offer opportunity for service, recruitment and outreach. The Exploring Healthcare Pathways events are career focused events for high school students, and faculty are needed to offer in depth conversation and insight into the field of nursing. The Discovery Day events have taken the place of High School Visit Days and offer a great opportunity to involve simulation, as it is an interactive/fun exposure event. We have added a subgroup in GivePulse that will allow faculty and staff to view and sign up for upcoming recruitment events. Visit GivePulse to view upcoming events.

Special thanks to Dr. Harrington for attending Jackson Public Schools and Hinds County high school events throughout September and to Drs. Derek Holt and Jorri Davis for attending the Jackson State University Pre-Health Society event on September 29!

Mississippi State University Grad/Professional School and Major Exploration Day — Starkville
10/24/2023 — Colvard Student Union Ballroom — 12:00 to 3:00 PM

Rankin County HOSA Fair — Pearl
10/31/2023 — TBD — Clyde Muse Center

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Nursing and Health Professions Fair — Biloxi
10/31/2023 — The Bryant Center — 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Outdoor event that requires tables, chairs and tent

Itawamba Community College AND Career Day — Tupelo
11/1/2023 — Health Science Education Center — 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Door prize required

Marion County College Fair — Columbia
11/2/2023 — Marion County Expo Center — 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

UMMC Discovery Day — On campus
11/10/2023 — Student Union — 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM

Hinds Community College Transfer College Fair — Pearl
11/16/2023 — George Wynne Mezzanine — 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Exploring Healthcare Pathways — On Campus
01/27/2024 — Student Union — TBD

UMMC Discovery Day — On campus
02/09/2024 — Student Union — 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM

Exploring Healthcare Pathways — On Campus
02/24/2024 — Student Union — TBD

UMMC Discovery Day — On campus
03/22/2024 — Student Union — 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM

UMMC Discovery Day – On campus
04/12/2024 — Student Union — 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM