Overview
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) has been a leader in telehealth for more than two decades and is designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a national Telehealth Center of Excellence [since 2017; redesignated in 2026]. Mississippi’s large rural and minority populations face high chronic disease burden, persistent poverty, and widespread provider shortages, and telehealth is central to closing those gaps in access.
The Center for Telehealth and Emerging Technologies delivers and evaluates telehealth services nationally. Its programs include remote patient monitoring for chronic disease, TeleEmergency and tele-critical care support for rural hospitals, 24/7 Tele Urgent Care, tele-behavioral health, eConsults, telehealth-supported treatment for opioid use disorder, and AI-enhanced virtual nursing. Through partnerships with critical access hospitals, community health centers, and other community sites, the Center connects UMMC specialists to patients with limited access to care.
As a Telehealth Center of Excellence, UMMC implements and evaluates innovative telehealth solutions for rural communities and populations with limited access to care. The Center tests new care models and develops proven, replicable approaches that expand access and improve health outcomes, serving as a national model for telehealth programs across the country.
Core Team Introductions
The UMMC Team is led by Project Directors, Dr. Saurabh Chandra and Dr. Tearsanee Davis. Leadership Team: Kyle Brewer, Jennifer Bryant, and Greg Hall. Core team: Hollie Thomas, Dr. La’Kitha Hughes, and Dr. Lindsey Kuiper. Project Managers: Joy Green, DeAngela Ivory, and Vanessa Trammell. Our team supports programs locally, state, regionally, and nationally through project implementation, publications, presentations, and collaborations.
Our Team
Saurabh Chandra, MD, PhD, MBA
Tearsanee Davis, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Hollie Thomas, MHA
Kyle Brewer, MBA, FACHE
Jennifer Bryant
Greg Hall
La’Kitha Hughes, PhD
Alice Lee, MHA
