News
Mississippi’s Second Annual Healthy Aging Summit May 2, 2024
Join the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Public Health Association, and the MS Chapter of AARP for this exciting event!
The JPHDS Releases Final Call for Submissions on Healthy Aging Issue
The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA), in partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU), initiated the Journal of Public Health in the Deep South (JPHDS) in 2018. The JPHDS is a peer-reviewed, open-access, online journal focused on disseminating high-quality research and/or effective applied techniques to academicians, educators, and practitioners. The JPHDS is the first publication to specifically focus on public health issues in this geographical space and with an appeal to both research and applied public health professionals and educators with emphases on research, practice, and teaching. The JPHDS is the official journal of MPHA and is hosted by MSU.
MPHA is issuing a call for submissions for a special issue focused on healthy aging.
MPHA Elects New President-Elect
MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT- DANIELLE FASTRING, PhD, MS, MPH
Released December 14, 2023
Jackson, Mississippi
The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA), at its November 8, 2023, annual business meeting, elected Danielle Fastring, PhD, MS, MPH, as our new President-Elect. Dr. Fastring is the Director of Student Research and Associate Professor of Preclinical Sciences in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS.
Dr. Fastring served on the MPHA Executive Board as the Southern Regional Representative from 2018 – 2023, co-chaired the Partnership and Membership Committee from 2021 -2023, was a member of the Curriculum Committee, and is a current member of the Health and Racial Equity Committee and the Education Committee. She is also a member of the Epidemiology Section and the Public Health Education, Policy, and Research (PHEPR) Section.
Dr. Fastring graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Biology and an MPH with an emphasis in epidemiology and biostatistics. In 2012, she completed a PhD in Epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Her research interests include health disparities that impact vulnerable populations in the state of Mississippi and the Gulf South Region. Prior to working at WCU, she taught in the MPH program at the University of Southern Mississippi in the School of Health Professions for more than 15 years. She also works as an independent evaluator with entities across the state who make it their daily mission to improve the quality of life of all Mississippians.
As President-Elect, Dr. Fastring says her first priority would be to continue to strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, state agencies, and other entities that work to promote health in our state. “I know that Mississippi experiences a greater disease burden than most states, but we have an amazing public health workforce that is working tirelessly to reduce long-standing health inequities and improve health disparities, and those successes need to be celebrated. I would also like to further support and engage student members and young professionals so that they can benefit from the great work that MPHA is doing through their platform of education, advocacy, and leadership. Together, we can champion the health of all Mississippians and build a brighter future for our state”, stated Dr. Fastring.
MPHA is excited to welcome Dr. Fastring to her new role. She will be serving as President-Elect until the Fall MPHA Annual Conference when she will become President. The current MPHA President is Karin Thurman, and the current immediate Past-President is Dr. Tanya Funchess.
Since 1937, the Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) has strived to strengthen public health in Mississippi through leadership, advocacy, and education. We provide our members with professional development and networking opportunities while also serving as the voice of public health in Mississippi. MPHA is an active affiliate of the American Public Health Association. For more information, see www.mspha.org
MPHA Re-Elects Martin as Secretary
MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION RE-ELECTS
BRAD MARTIN AS SECRETARY FOR THE ASSOCIATION
Released December 14, 2023
Jackson, Mississippi
The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA), at its November 8, 2023, annual business meeting, re-elected Brad Martin, MS, CHES, to another term as Secretary of the association.
He began his first term as the MPHA Secretary in January 2022 and is looking forward to continuing to serve as the MPHA Secretary for another two-year term beginning January 2024. He graduated from Oxford High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and a Master’s Degree in Health Promotion from the University of Mississippi. He has also been a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing since 2012.
Brad has served as a state of Mississippi government employee for almost 18 years in various capacities with the Mississippi State Department of Mental Health via the North Mississippi Regional Center (Recreation Therapist; Vocational Training Instructor; Support Coordinator) and the Mississippi State Department of Health (Office of Tobacco Control; Office of Preventive Health and Health Equity; Office Against Interpersonal Violence). He began serving as a Program Administrator in the Office Against Interpersonal Violence in October 2021.
Brad served as a 2020 American Cancer Society Real Men Wear Pink of Central Mississippi Ambassador to help raise Breast Cancer Research/Awareness funds, as a 2021-2023 Wish Hero for Make-A-Wish Mississippi to raise funds for children that have a critical illness and as a Goodwill Industries of Mississippi Ambassador starting in 2023.
Brad enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, serving as a deacon, and singing in the choir at First Baptist Church Jackson, attending Ole Miss sporting events, serving as a Younglife Capernaum leader, and eating tasty cuisine across the South. About his new term, he stated “ I am honored to have been serving MPHA in this role, and I am looking forward to continuing to serve you as the MPHA Secretary and excited about what MPHA can accomplish over the next two-years.”
MPHA has appreciated the dedication that Brad has brought to the Board of Directors and to the overall work of the association. We are excited that he has committed his time and expertise for another term.
Since 1937, the Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) has strived to strengthen public health in Mississippi through leadership, advocacy, and education. We provide our members with professional development and networking opportunities while also serving as the voice of public health in Mississippi. MPHA is an active affiliate of the American Public Health Association. For more information, see www.mspha.org
MPHA Appoints New Board Members at Large and Student Position
MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE AND STUDENT TO THE BOARD
Released December 14, 2023
Jackson, Mississippi
The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members-at-large to the MPHA Board of Directors. Each of these new members will begin their terms in January 2024. The members-at-large represent four different areas of the state and serve on the MPHA Board of Directors to bring various perspectives from their area of the state as well as their professional expertise to the work of the association. The student member is a first for MPHA and will advise MPHA on strategies to enhance student engagement.
Member-At- Large, North Mississippi
Allison Ford-Wade, PhD
Gillespie Distinguished Scholar
Associate Dean of Community Engagement-School of Applied Sciences
Interim Chair and Professor of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management
The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Member-at-Large, Central Mississippi
Robyn B. Breland, MBA
Director of Health Initiatives
Special Olympics Mississippi
Jackson, MS
Member-at-Large, East Mississippi
Brittney G. Mosley, MS
Public Health Program Specialist Team Lead-District 6
Office of Community Outreach and Education
Office of Preventive Health & Health Equity
Mississippi State Department of Health
Meridian, MS
Member-at-Large, South Mississippi
Jude Haney PhD, MPH, RHIA
Associate Professor of Health Information Management
Program Director of Health Information Management
William Carey University
Hattiesburg, MS
MPHA Student Member
Kaylin Winters, BS (MPH Candidate)
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS
MPHA appreciates the willingness of these individuals to serve in this capacity, and we look forward to collaborating with them to further the work of MPHA.
Since 1937, the Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) has strived to strengthen public health in Mississippi through leadership, advocacy, and education. We provide our members with professional development and networking opportunities while also serving as the voice of public health in Mississippi. MPHA is an active affiliate of the American Public Health Association. For more information, see www.mspha.org
Virtual HRE Training #3 Webinar Stories from the Field Now Available
JPHDS announces call for submissions on Healthy Aging special issue
Journal of Public Health in the Deep South
Early Notice of Call for Submissions for a Special Issue
Healthy Aging
December 14, 2023
The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA), in partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU), initiated the Journal of Public Health in the Deep South (JPHDS) in 2018. The JPHDS is a peer-reviewed, open-access, online journal focused on disseminating high-quality research and/or effective applied techniques to academicians, educators, and practitioners. The JPHDS is the first publication to specifically focus on public health issues in this geographical space and with an appeal to both research and applied public health professionals and educators with emphases on research, practice, and teaching. The JPHDS is the official journal of MPHA and is hosted by MSU.
This document is an early call for submissions for a special issue focused on healthy aging. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi’s older adult population is growing, and special health considerations come with this increase. An age-friendly eco-system, including public health, employers, universities, health systems, and communities, is needed for the best health, dignity, and social connections of Mississippians as they grow older. Healthy aging is influenced by more than our genetics or access to health care. Non-medical factors influence the health of everyone, and they affect older adults even more. The conditions in which people grow, work, live and age shape their daily life. As a result, where we live and how influences our health as much as care, services or personal characteristics https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/search/index.cfm?criteria=Healthy%20Aging.
MSDH has been recognized as an Age-Friendly Public Health System (AFPHS) by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). The 6 C’s framework developed by TFAH and the Age-Friendly Ecosystem can be found at https://afphs.org/age-friendly-ecosystem/.
This issue of the JPHDS will focus on research papers, case studies; and invited commentaries that further elucidate the healthy aging for MS and for the Deep South.
A more formal call for submissions will be released in early 2024, with an expected issue release in early May 2024. Articles for this special issue can include:
- Research or scientific manuscripts in full or brief reports
- Case studies
- Commentaries and editorials
The Politics of Health Inequity Webinar Available
Call for applications for four Member-at-Large position on the Board of Directors
MPHA has opened a call for applications for four member-at-large positions on the Board of Directors and for one student board member. Please check your MPHA email for the application details. Applicants must be a current MPHA member.