UMC | Centers of Excellence in Women's Health

The National Center of Excellence (CoE) in Women's Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is proud to be one of only nineteen such centers across the nation. The designation is awarded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Learn more about the Office on Women's Health at www.4woman.gov

Our CoE follows the national model in its organization, and is comprised of five key core components: clinical care, research, community outreach, professional education, and leadership. Our mission is:

To provide exemplary, comprehensive medical care for women, with special emphasis in preventive health care services;
To foster and promote gender-based research, as well as research in women's health;
To develop sustaining partnerships within the community to provide outreach programs tailored for the community;
To promote women's health curricula in professional training;
To support leadership development of women in academic medicine;
To address the need for professional development in women in the health sciences;
To advance the knowledge of women's health issues throughout the state.

Our primary goal is to improve the health and lives of women in Mississippi. We firmly believe that by doing so, the health and lives of the families in our state will improve. Truly - healthy women will build a strong Mississippi.

We welcome your interest, and participation in our programs.

Who's in the CoE at UMMC? Over 50+ faculty members representing the Schools of Dentistry, Health Related Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, along with representation from the University Hospitals and Clinics, are actively involved in the CoE at UMMC.

Our Leadership and Administrative Staff

Bryan Cowan, MD, CoE Deputy Director and Chairman of Department of Ob-gyn
Caryl Sumrall, CFNP, CoE Deputy Director and Instructor of Medicine

Our CoE contact number is 601-815-3280

CoE Cores

Clinical Care Core:

Jinna Shepherd, MD, Co-Director and Associate Professor of Medicine
Sheila Bouldin, MD, Co-Director and Assistant Professor of Ob-gyn
John Kitchings, MD, Clinic Director and Assistant Professor of Ob-gyn
Caryl Sumrall, CFNP, Clinic Coordinator and Instructor of Medicine

Research Core:

Jane Reckelhoff, Ph.D., Co-Director and Professor of Physiology

Outreach Core:

Ruby Denson, CFNP, Co-Director and Instructor of Medicine
Kathy Travis-Gregg, MD, Co-Director and Assistant Professor of Medicine

Professional Education:

Lori Russell, MD, Co-Director and Assistant Professor Medicine
Shirley Schlessinger, MD, Co-Director and Associate Dean Grad-Med Education

Leadership Core:

Karen Crews, DMD, Director - Professor, School of Denstry

For more information please call us at the central CoE office number: 601-815-3280 Email address: mswoman@umsmed.edu

updated August 6, 2008