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Philip J. Blount,
M.D., Assistant Professor
Physical Medicine
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
Dr.
Blount earned his B.A. from Baylor University and his M.D. from
the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He completed an
internship in the Department of General Surgery at Wake Forest University
Baptist Medical Center and a residency in Physical Medicine &
Rehabilitation at the Carolinas Medical Center / Charlotte Institute
of Rehabilitation. Following four years in North Carolina.
He received fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic's Department
of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in the area of Musculoskeletal
Medicine. Dr. Blount is Board Certified in Physical Medicine &
Rehabilitation and joined the department in 2004. He currently
sees patients in the University Pavilion, the Madison Specialty
Clinics and the University Rehabilitation Center.

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Jason A. Craft, M.D.,
Assistant Professor
Sports Medicine
Arthroscopic Surgery
Shoulder Surgery
Dr.
Craft graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1997, from Mississippi
State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology.
In 2001, he received his M.D. from the University of Mississippi
School of Medicine where he was valedictorian. He subsequently completed
his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Mississippi
Medical Center - Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
in June of 2006. During his residency, he completed
an AO-ASIF fellowship with Dr. Norbert P. Suedkamp at the University
Clinics in Freiburg, Germany. Following his residency, Dr. Craft
completed an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Baylor
College of Medicine in Houston , Texas. During his fellowship
he was actively involved in the care of Houston area high school
athletes, University of Houston athletes, and Houston's professional
teams - NFL's Houston Texans and MLB's Houston Astros. Active in
orthopaedic research, he has co-authored published articles and
book chapters covering upper and lower extremity injuries.
Dr. Craft is a team physician of numerous community high schools
and Belhaven College. Dr. Craft joined the department in 2007
as assistant professor, specializing in sports medicine injuries
and arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder and elbow.

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Alan E. Freeland, M.D.,
Professor Emeritus
Research
Dr.
Freeland received his BA from Johns Hopkins University in 1961 and
his M.D. from George Washington University in 1965. He completed
his internship and one year of general surgery residency at Church
Home and Hospital in Baltimore from 1965-1967. He was a Fellow in
Neurosurgery and a Fellow and Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery at
Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1967-1971. He entered the United States
Army in 1971. After spending a year on the Orthopaedic Surgery Service
at the 121 st Evacuation Hospital in Soule, Korea , he completed
orthopaedic training at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco
. He later became Chief of Orthpaedic Surgery at the U.S. Army Hospital
at Fort Campbell , KY from 1976-1977. He completed a Hand
Surgery Fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
in Miami , FL. He came to the University of Mississippi Medical
Center in 1978 and achieved the rank of Professor in 1986. He served
as Chief of the Medical Staff at UMC from 1986-1987 and in the same
capacity at The Mississippi Methodist Medical Center from 1994 through
1995. He established the Hand Fellowship Program in the Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1991 and served as Director from 1991-2004.
He is a Past President of the Jackson Orthopaedic Society, the Mississippi
Orthopaedic Society, the Southeastern Hand Club, and the American
Association for Hand Surgery. He was chosen American Association
for Hand Surgery National Clinician-Teacher of the Year in 1998.
He was the Vargus International Traveling Physician for the American
Association for Hand Surgery in 1998.
Dr
Freeland has published numerous articles and chapters and has lectured
extensively on topics within his specialty both nationally and abroad.
He authored Stable Fixation of the Hand and Wrist in 1986,
The 25 Year History of The American Association for Hand Surgery
in 1995, and Hand Fractures: Repair, Reconstruction, and
Rehabilitation in 2000. He served as the Section Editor for
the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma from 1993-2002.
He has been on the Editorial Board of Orthopedics since
1986 and has been the Editor of the Trauma Update Section of that
periodical since 1989. He has also served on the Editorial
Board of the Yearbook of Hand Surgery, Microsurgery,
as a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
and an International Editor for Revista de la Sociedad Venezolana
de Cirugia de la Mano. He is an Honorary Member of The Romanian
Society for Surgery of the Hand, The Venezuelan Society for Surgery
of the Hand, and The Venezuelan Society for Hand Therapy, along
with being a Corresponding Member of The Argentina Society for Surgery
of the Hand and The Colombian Society for Surgery of the Hand. Dr.
Freeland is also listed among "Guide to America's Top Surgeons"
and "Castle Connolly's Guide to America's Top Doctors."
Dr. Freeland retired from his clinical practice June 30, 2005 to
focus his efforts in the area of research with the department.
He was named Physician and Professor Emeritus - Consultant/Researcher
for the department in the fall of 2005 and works closely with residents
and fellows in regard to research projects. |
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William
B. Geissler, M.D., Professor, Fellowship Director
Sports Medicine
Arthroscopic Surgery
Hand Surgery
Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Dr. Geissler received his M.D. degree from Tulane University Medical
School in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1985. He completed his internship
and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi
Medical Center and then completed an AO orthopaedic trauma fellowship
in Aarau, Switzerland. Dr. Geissler then completed a
one-year fellowship in Advanced Arthroscopy in Sports Medicine in
Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Geissler returned to UMC and
completed a second fellowship in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
under Dr. Alan E. Freeland. Dr. Geissler has served as faculty,
moderator, and chairman in multiple arthroscopic and upper extremity
courses both throughout the country as well as internationally.
He has presented numerous talks both nationally and internationally
including Canada and Mexico, Equador, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina,
Japan, France, the Netherlands, and Finland. He recently published
a textbook on wrist arthroscopy with both national and international
contributors. Dr. Geissler serves as Chief
of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Programs. He
joined the department in 1992 specializing in shoulder and elbow
surgery, hand surgery, and advanced arthroscopic surgery.
Dr. Geissler's particular interests include upper extremity joint
replacement, upper extremity trauma reconstruction, and arthroscopic
surgery. Dr. Geissler is head team physician of numerous community
high schools, Belhaven College, and the Mississippi
Braves. He also serves as team consultant for the Ole Miss Athletic
Program. Dr. Geissler is the Program
Director for the Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship for the Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery. |
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Matthew
L. Graves, M.D., Assistant Professor
Traumatology, Pelvic / Acetabular Surgery
Surgery
of Malunions and Nonunions
Dr. Graves graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1996, from Vanderbilt University
with a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Biology. He then received
his M.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in
May of 2000. He subsequently completed his orthopedic surgery
residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center - Department
of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation in June of 2005.
During his residency, he completed an AO-ASIF fellowship with Dr.
Jeffrey Mast in bioregenerative hip surgery and post-traumatic deformity
correction. Following his residency, Dr. Graves completed
an Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship at the University of Washington
/ Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. He is
active in orthopedic research and has authored or co-authored many
published articles. He presents both nationally and internationally
on his specialty of orthopedic trauma. Dr. Graves is assistant
professor in our department and sees patients for trauma related
injuries.

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Lawrence L. Haber,
M.D., Associate Professor
Pediatric Orthopedics
Dr. Haber received his M.D. from Texas Tech University School
of Medicine and then completed a residency in orthopedic surgery
at the Medical College of Virginia. After residency he went on
to complete a pediatric orthopedic fellowship at Vanderbilt University.
Following his fellowship, Dr. Haber served as director of pediatric
orthopedics at Tod Childrens Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, and
as a physician on the staff of University Orthopaedic Associates
and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland,
Ohio. In addition he held assistant faculty positions at Case
Western Reserve University and Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine.
Dr. Haber has made numerous
presentations and published a number of articles related to children’s
orthopedics. His current research interests include scoliosis and
pediatric trauma.
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James
L. Hughes, M.D., M. Beckett Howorth Professor
Fractures/ Traumatology
Joint Replacement
General Orthopedics
Dr. Hughes graduated from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1963.
After completing two years of residency at Roosevelt Hospital in
New York, he completed three years of orthopedic residency at Johns
Hopkins. Dr. Hughes completed two fellowships in Orthopedic Surgery
in Bern and Basel, Switzerland, and one fellowship in Experimental
Chirurgie, in Davos, Switzerland. Dr. Hughes has published numerous
articles in addition to co-authoring chapters such as "Fractures
of the Ankle" in Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults and
the "The Elbow" in Atlas of Orthopedic Surgical Approaches.
He co-authored the text "Stabilization of the Hand and Wrist".
Hughes is a member of numerous organizations including the Christian
Medical Foundation - International, Inc.; AO International - one
of the three original U.S. Corresponding members; Trustee - AO/ASIF
Foundation; Executive Committee of AO/ASIF Foundation, Chairman
- Socio-Economic Committee, Member of Education Committee, and Past
Chairman AO North America Educational Committee. He served as Chief
of Staff at UMC from July 1984 to June 1985, and he is presently
on the Medical Staff at Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center
and serves as both Medical Director of UMC's Physical Therapy Division
and the Medical Director of the University Rehabilitation Center.
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Stephen H. Keiser,
M.D., Assistant Professor
Sports
Medicine, Nonsurgical Orthopedics, Family Practice
Dr. Stephen
Keiser earned the Bachelor of Science, with honors in Biology,
from the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO in 1991.
After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Medicine
in 1995, he completed the Family Medicine Residency and Primary
Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Wake Forest University School
of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC. He was in private practice
for six years in Greenville, South Carolina. During that time
he served as Team Physician for Furman University Athletic Department,
Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine at Furman University and
Staff Physician at Doctor’s Care, P.A.-UCI Medical Affiliates,
Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine and has
a CAQ in sports medicine. Dr. Keiser joins Doctors
Geissler and Watts in the Department’s Sports Medicine area
and is a team physician for local teams at all levels in the Jackson
area. |
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Sheila G. Lindley,
M.D., Associate Professor
Hand Surgery/Microsurgery
Dr. Lindley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry at
Hendrix College in 1980 and then her M.D. at the University of
Arkansas for the Medical Sciences in 1984. She subsequently completed
her general surgery residency at Creighton University in Omaha,
Nebraska in 1990. After this, she then finished a plastic surgery
residency at the University of Utah in 1992. She served as the
Senior Registrar in Paediatric Plastic Surgery in London, U.K.
She then finished an A.O. fellowship in Hand and Upper Extremity
in Bern, Switzerland. She spent one year as Hand and MicroSurgery
Fellow with Kleinert, Kutz and Associates in Louisville, Kentucky,
ending in 1994. While in private practice, Lindley served as Clinical
Professor to the department. She now holds the academic positions
of Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Associate Professor
of Surgery at the medical center. She specializes in microvascular
and hand surgery.
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Brad Martin, RN, MSN,
FNP, Instructor
Brad
Martin received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University
of Southern Mississippi in 1995 and the Master of Science in Nursing
from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2004. Brad
served as President of the graduate students at UMC and is a member
of Sigma Theta Tau a National Honor Society for Nursing. He has
worked as a staff RN in the Jackson area since 1995 and has worked
in rehabilitation, operating room, and intensive care areas of nursing.
Brad is a member of The American Academy of Nurse Practitioner's
(AANP) and the Mississippi Nurses Association. He is certified
through AANP. Brad will working in our clinics, at University
Rehabilitation Center, Belhaven College and on our patient floor
5-North.
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William
P. McCluskey, M.D., Associate Professor
Pediatric Orthopedics
Dr. McCluskey received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine in 1981 and completed his residency training
at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a fellowship in
pediatric orthopedics at the A.I. DuPont Institute of the Nemours
Foundation in 1987. He joined the department following seven years
as staff physician at the Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville,
Florida. Dr. McCluskey has had several articles published, has co-authored
a chapter in "The Clubfoot: The Present and a View of the Future",
and authored a chapter in "Complications in Pediatric Orthopedics".
McCluskey's specialty is pediatric orthopedics, with particular
interest in cerebral palsy and congenital upper extremity deformities.
He is a member of numerous orthopedic societies and organizations
including the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America. |
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Robert A. McGuire,
Jr., M.D., Professor and Chairman
Traumatic and Reconstructive Spinal Surgery
Dr. McGuire received his M.D. from the University of Alabama
School of Medicine in 1979. After completing an internship and
residency in orthopedics at Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia,
he completed a fellowship at the Spinal Cord Injury Unit / Adult
Spine Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He
also completed a fellowship in pediatric reconstruction and scoliosis
at Miami Children's Hospital. Dr. McGuire served as co-director
of spine surgery service in the orthopedic department at Naval
Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia until joining our faculty in
1990. McGuire is well known for his numerous articles and presentations
concerning spinal surgery, instrumentation, orthosis, and research
related to new procedures and products. In addition to faculty
appointments in the departments of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery,
he is also on the medical staffs of the Mississippi Methodist
Rehabilitation Center and the Veterans Administration Medical
Center.
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Robert Kerk Mehrle,
Jr., M.D., Assistant Professor
Joint Replacement
General Orthopedics
Dr. Mehrle
graduated Magna Cum Laude from Millsaps College with a Bachelor
of Science degree in biology. He then received his M.D. from
the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1999.
He subsequently completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the
University of Mississippi Medical Center - Department of Orthopedic
Surgery in June of 2004. Following this he completed a Total
Joint Fellowship with Dr. Anthony K. Hedley at the Institute for
Bone and Joint Disorders in Phoenix, Arizona in July of 2005.
Dr. Mehrle is assistant professor in our department and sees patients
for both general orthopedics and total joint replacement. |

Vicky
Minninger, RN, MSN, FNP, Instructor
Vicky Minninger received her Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing
in 1983 and her Masters of Science in Nursing in 1989 from the
University of Mississippi School of Nursing. Her specialties included
Emergency nursing and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She served
on the faculty of Hinds Community College School of Nursing for
8 years. Vicky joined the department upon completion of the Family
Nurse Practitioner program at the Mississippi University for Women.
Since that time she has presented numerous lectures on orthopedic
assessment, evaluation and treatment at the nurse practitioner
level. She also serves as instructor in the School of Nursing
in both didactic and preceptor roles. She currently sees patients
in both the Pavilion and Medical Mall clinics.
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Douglas Eric Parsell,
Ph.D., Associate Professor
Biomaterial Research
Dr. Parsell earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
from the University of Florida in 1994. His post-doctoral work
was performed at Baylor Medical School, then in 1995 he came to
the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Parsell has
served as the local chapter president for the AADR and as the
vice president for the Society for Biomaterials, Dental Biomaterials
Division. Dr. Parsell's research interests focus on development
of bulk amorphous materials for orthopedics and dentistry and
on development of novel ionomeric cements. Dr. Parsell has authored
numerous pre-reviewed articles and two utility patents. He is
currently an Associate Professor in the School of Dentistry and
adjunct appointed to the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
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Scott E. Porter, Assistant
Professor
Orthopedic
Oncology
Dr. Porter earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Morehouse
College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1993. He graduated from Yale
University School of Medicine in 1998 and completed his orthopedic
surgery residency at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte,
North Carolina. Dr. Porter then completed a fellowship in
orthopaedic oncology at the University of Chicago in 2005.
He has been involved in numerous committees and organizations including
the AAMC as resident member of the Advisory Panel on the Mission
and Organization of Medical Schools 2000-2002. He also served
as a resident member on the Acreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education's Residency Review Committee for Orthopaedic Surgery from
2002-2004. He was inducted into the AOA Emerging Leadership
Program in March, 2004. Dr. Porter specializes in orthopedic
oncology - treatment of tumors and cancers that occur in the bones
and soft tissue. |
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Rick Psonak, MS,
Assistant Professor
Mr. Psonak earned the MS at the University of Connecticut in 1989.
He completed an orthotics and prosthetics fellowship in 2002 from
the American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Before joining
the Medical Center faculty, Psonak worked as a staff prosthetist
at Capital Prosthetics and Orthotics in Raleigh, North Carolina,
from 1985-1987; as a clinical coordinator for the Newington Children’s
Hospital in Newington, Connecticut, from 1987-1990; as manager
of Central Prosthetics and Orthotics in Greensboro, North Carolina,
from 1990-1991; as vice president of Control Prosthetics and Orthotics
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 1991-1993; as a program
director for Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center from
1993-2002; and as president and owner of Synergy Prosthetic Research.
In addition, he successfully fit the first bilateral transfemoral
amputee with computerized knees and has performed orthotics and
prosthetics mission work in France and the Ukraine. Mr. Psonak
joined our faculty in April of 2003 and brings his knowledge of
prosthetics and orthotics to the University.
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Cynthia A. Pulliam
RN, MN, FNP., Instructor
Ms. Pulliam earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at
the University of Southern Mississippi in 1975 and then a Master's
in Nursing degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
in 1978. She subsequently completed two Post-Master's programs
at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1994 and 1997.
She currently holds certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner
with the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Her previous nursing
experience includes Emergency Care, Oncology, and Nursing Education.
Ms. Pulliam is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association
and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She currently
sees patients in both the Pavilion and the Medical Mall Clinics.
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Aaron D. Puckett
Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor
Biomaterial Research
Dr. Puckett graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi
with a Ph.D. in Polymer Science in 1986. He joined the Biomaterials
Group in the Departments of Restorative Dentistry and Orthopedic
Surgery in 1984. Dr. Puckett has received several million dollars
in external funding for research in biodegradable polymers and
novel adhesive materials for dental and medical applications.
He was recently awarded the Silver and Gold Medallions for Excellence
in Research in 2000 and 2001 respectively. Dr. Puckett has published
over 35 peer reviewed articles, numerous book chapters, over 100
scientific abstracts and has been invited to present his research
at local regional, national and international meetings. He holds
a patent for an assist device for quadriplegics and several patents
for bone cement compositions have recently been filed. Dr. Puckett
serves as a Graduate Faculty at the University of Mississippi
Medical Center, The University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi
State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
He is also an adjunct professor of Chemistry at the University
of Alabama at Birmingham and an adjunct professor in the Department
of Agriculture and Bioengineering at Mississippi State University.
Dr. Puckett has been elected to Sigma Xi Research Society and
is an honorary member of Omicro Kappa Epsilon. He is active in
the Society for Biomaterials the International Association of
Dental Research and The American Chemical Society and he serves
on the Board of Directors to the Southern Biomedical Engineering
Conference. Dr. Puckett also currently holds the rank of Professor
in the Division of Biomaterials in the Department of Restorative
Dentistry.
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Hollis
L. Purviance, RN,C, MSN, FNP-C, Instructor
Hollis
Purviance received his Associate Degree in Nursing in 1999 from
Hinds
Community
College,
his Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing in 2004 and his Master of
Science in Nursing in 2006 from the University of Mississippi School
of Nursing. Hollis has served as the nurse manager of the inpatient
orthopedic unit since June 2003. Prior to this time, he was a staff
nurse specializing in post-operative orthopedic care. He is a member
of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society for Nursing, the American
Academy
of Nurse Practitioners, the National Association of Orthopaedic
Nurses, and the Mississippi Nurses Association. Hollis currently
holds certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center
(ANCC) as a medical surgical nurse and also holds certification
through the American
Academy
of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Hollis will be working with patients both at the University
Rehabilitation
Center
and at the Pavilion.
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Ashraf A. Ragab,
M.D., Associate Professor
Traumatic and Reconstructive Spinal Surgery
Dr. Ragab received his M.D. from Alexandria University School
of Medicine, Egypt in 1987. While in medical school he did an
externship with the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool,
England, then completed his internship and orthopedic surgery
residency at the Alexandria University Hospitals in Egypt. He
then completed another internship at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
in Boston - Tuft's University in 1994. Dr. Ragab went on to be
the orthopedic research fellow with the University hospitals of
Cleveland - Case Western Reserve University from 1994-95. After
completing his orthopedic surgery residency in 2001 at the University
Hospitals of Cleveland - Case Western Reserve University, he completed
a spine fellowship with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals
and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin in 2002. Dr. Ragab has received
numerous awards, grants and scholarships, including the Orthopedic
Research Society William Harris Hip Award, for his research and
academic work in the area of orthopedic surgery. He has published
more than 17 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and has
presented both abstracts and posters to numerous organizations
including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Orthopedic
Research Society, North American Spine Society, International
Hip Society, Bone and Mineral Research Society, as well as others.
Dr. Ragab joined our practice in 2002. He is Board Certified
and sees patients in his area of subspecialty - traumatic and
reconstructive spinal surgery.
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George V. Russell,
M.D., Associate Professor
Traumatology, Pelvic/Acetabular Surgery
Surgery of Malunions and Nonunions
Dr. Russell earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology at
Denison University in 1988 and his M.D. at the University of Cincinnati
College of Medicine in 1992. He subsequently completed his general
surgery internship and orthopedic residency at the University
of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. He then completed an orthopedic
trauma fellowship at the University of Washington/Harborview Medical
Center in Seattle Washington. Dr. Russell was formerly Assistant
Professor in both the Orthopedic Trauma and Physician Assistant
Studies at the University of South Alabama in Mobile before joining
our department in October of 2000. He has authored or co-authored
many published articles and presents both nationally and internationally
on his specialty of orthopedic trauma.
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Shannon J. Smith,
M.D., Assistant Professor
Physical Medicine
Adult and Pediatric
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
Dr. Shannon Smith is a native of Clementon , New Jersey. She graduated
with honors from Spelman College in Atlanta with a BS degree in
biology in 1999. She completed her medical school training in
2003 from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr.
Smith finished her intern year at the University of Tennessee
in 2004 and her Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency
at Emory University in 2007.
During her residency,
she was the musculoskeletal anatomy tutor at Emory. She also gave
many lectures to medical students and residents including topics
on brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, occupational medicine,
prosthetics and orthotics, complementary medicine and musculoskeletal
medicine. Dr. Smith was also involved in the medical management
of high school athletes, Emory athletes, the US ParaOlympic Team,
and runners in the Peachtree Road race.
She has mentored dozens
of high school students who have successfully entered medical
school. She currently is an AAPMR mentor, mentoring medical students
interested in physiatry.
Dr. Smith is married to
Dr. Eric Hamilton, an anesthesiology resident at the University
of Mississippi Medical Center. Her interests include pediatric
rehabilitation, musculoskeletal medicine, brain injury and spinal
cord injury.
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Kenneth R. St. John,
Ph.D., Associate Professor
Biomaterial Research
Dr. St. John received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from
Mississippi State University in 2001. He received his M.S. in
Bioengineering from Clemson University in 1977 and his B.S. in
Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
1975. Before joining the faculty in 1989, he served as a Research
Project Leader in advanced composites, ligament replacement devices
and bioresorbable polymers for Osteonics Biomaterials (formerly
Hexcel Medical) in Livermore, California. Dr. St. John serves
as the Chairman of the Subcommittee for Biocompatibility Test
Methods of ASTM Committee F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials
and Devices. In 1992, he chaired an ASTM symposium and edited
the resultant Special Technical Publication entitled "Particulate
Debris from Medical Implants: Mechanisms of Formation and Biological
Consequences" and is also co-author (with Dr. Tsao) of a
chapter on implant wear in "Encyclopedic Handbook of Biomaterials
and Bioengineering". He currently serves as Associate Professor
in the department specializing in wear of total joint bearing
materials, undecalcified bone histology, biocompatibility of device
materials and analysis of retrieved medical devices. He is coordinator
of the Scanning Electron Microscopy in the School of Dentistry
and has served on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
and the Animal Facilities Liaison Committee for the University
Medical Center. He is a member of the Orthopedic Research Society,
the Society for Biomaterials, and ASTM International.
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Thom A. Tarquinio,
M.D., Associate Professor
Foot and Ankle Surgery
General Orthopedics
Dr. Tarquinio received his M.D. from Ohio State University College
of Medicine in 1973. He then completed his internship and residency
in orthopedic surgery at the Naval Regional Medical Center in
San Diego, California, in 1978. From 1978 to 1980, Tarquinio served
as staff in the Pediatric and General Orthopedic Services of the
Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego, California and then
in the same capacity from 1980 to 1982 in the Naval Regional Medical
Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. From 1982 until joining us, he
has served as Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at the University
of Massachusetts Medical Center and as Assistant Director of Orthopedic
Education at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester. Dr. Tarquinio
has published several articles and is author of the chapter "The
Foot" in the book Orthopedics for the Primary Care Physician.
In addition, Tarquinio has served as faculty on several foot and
ankle review courses with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle
Society. Dr. Tarquinio is an Associate Professor with special
interest in foot and ankle surgery.
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Michelle A. Tucci,
Ph.D, Associate Professor and Coordinator
Biological Research
Dr. Tucci received her bachelor's degree from Seton Hill University
in Greensburg, PA in 1984. She completed a Master's Degree at
the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH in 1987. Dr. Tucci worked
as a research assistant in the Division of Infectious Diseases
at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center from 1987-1989.
She worked for Marion Merrell Dow as a biochemist II from 1989-1991
and as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Michigan
in the division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases before coming
to Jackson in 1994. Dr. Tucci joined the department as a Senior
Research Associate, and was promoted to assistant professor after
earning a Ph.D in Pharmacology from the University of Mississippi
Medical Center in 2000. She was awarded both the Douglas M. Walker
award from the Mississippi Academy of Sciences and the Dean's
Graduate Award in 2000 for her doctoral research. She has received
funding from the American Cancer Society as well as the University
of Mississippi Biomedical Review Committee. Her research interest
and publication include works in macrophage cellular signaling,
immunocytochemistry, wear particle debris and carpal tunnel syndrome.
She is a member of numerous scientific societies and currently
serves as the secretary/treasurer for the Implant Pathology Special
Interest Group in the Society for Biomaterials.
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Steve A. Watts, M.D.,
Associate Professor
Sports
Medicine, Nonsurgical Orthopedics, Family Practice
Implant
Pathology Special Interest Group in the Society for Biomaterials.
Dr. Watts completed undergraduate education at the University
of Houston, where he graduated cum laude with Bachelor of Science
degrees in Biology and Chemistry. He has a lifetime certification
in secondary education in the state of Texas. From 1979-1983
he attended the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.
He then completed a three-year family practice residency at the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Forth Worth.
While there, he received the Resident Teaching Award in 1986.
Dr. Watts has published numerous perr-reviewed articles in medical
journals. He has made over 35 regional and national professional
presentations on a wide variety of sports medicine subjects.
Dr.
Watts holds a joint appointment in the Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery and Family Medicine in the medical school. He is
actively involved in teaching responsibilities in sports medicine
for medical students and resident physicians. Dr. Watts
is also the director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Dr.
Watts holds professional memberships in numerous associations
and is a board certified Family Medicine Physician with CAQ in
Sports Medicine. He is a member of the American College
of Sports Medicine and serves on the Education Committee for the
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Watts
currently services University Sports Medicine as a staff physician
and is a team physician for the Mississippi Braves, Belhaven College,
and area high school teams. Dr. Watts provides sports medicine
physician coverage for a variety of athletic events in the Jackson
area.
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Lyle D. Zardiackas,
Ph.D., FADM, Professor and Coordinator
Biomaterial Research
Dr. Zardiackas received his B.S. in Materials Sciences from California
State University at San Jose in 1972, his M.S. in Materials Sciences
from the University of Virginia in 1974 and his Ph.D. in 1977.
He was director of Dental Biomaterials at Ohio State University
from 1977 until 1979. Zardiackas joined the faculty in 1979. He
has in excess of 150 abstracts and publications, a text on biomaterials,
as well as several book chapters on failure analysis and properties
of biocompatible alloys. He has received extensive research funding
in dental and orthopedic biomaterials, and biomechanics. He is
past president of the Academy of Dental Materials, has served
on a number of national and international committees, is the only
recipient of the UMMC School of Dentistry Achievement Award and
is one of only six non-dentist members of the Mississippi Dental
Honor Society (OKU). In addition to his duties at UMMC, he is
currently an adjunct professor and member of the graduate faculty
in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at
Mississippi State University where he serves as an advisor to
M.S. and Ph.D. students.
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