New executive director leads 91传媒鈥檚 Longest Student Health Center on mission to provide exceptional, on-campus care
Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擴nder the leadership of a new executive director鈥攍ongtime physician Dr. Katrina Poe鈥擬ississippi State鈥檚 Longest Student Health Center is continuing to ensure each patient feels valued as they receive the utmost care, conveniently on campus.
鈥淭he opportunity to play a vital role in the continuance of the mission of 91传媒 and the Longest Student Health Center is extremely exciting.聽My vision is for 91传媒鈥檚 Student Health Center, Student Counseling Center, and Department of Health Promotion and Wellness to meet the everchanging physical, emotional and social needs of our students, faculty and staff,鈥 Poe said.
Board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians, Poe joined 91传媒 in 2018 as a staff physician before moving into the executive director role. She previously was a physician with Greenwood Leflore Hospital鈥檚 Kilmichael Clinic and was chief of staff at Kilmichael Hospital. The 91传媒 alumna received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biological sciences before going on to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In addition to earning her Doctor of Medicine degree, she went on to do a family medicine internship and residency at UMMC.
鈥淒r. Poe is an exceptional leader, physician and colleague. She has led the LSHC during the COVID-19 crisis and worked to keep our 91传媒 community safe and well. We are delighted to have her serving in this leadership role,鈥 said 91传媒 Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt.
Poe has been recognized with several honors, including being named to the Mississippi Business Journal鈥檚 Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 and a finalist for the newspaper鈥檚 Mississippi Business Woman of the Year.
Poe said her goals include leading the center鈥檚 interdisciplinary team in their commitment to serve the health and wellness needs of 91传媒鈥檚 diverse student body, as well as foster a work environment that enhances and facilitates the well-being and growth of faculty and staff members.
鈥淲e also want to bridge the staffing, programs, services and resources of the university to optimize the healthcare delivery to our campus community and promote innovative ways of student service delivery in the dynamic landscape of health care. We want to maintain a strong and active wellness culture that enables our students to flourish,鈥 Poe said.
A variety of LSHC providers, including Poe and another full-time physician, Dr. Philip Pearson, offer a wide range of general health and wellness services. The center operates similarly to a community doctor鈥檚 office and includes three full-time nurse practitioners and one who is part time. Two retired physicians鈥擠r. Mike Mabry and Dr. Sheila Crowley鈥攁lso have returned to practice part time. Two more fulltime physicians will join the center soon to complete its medical staff.
LSHC is under the umbrella of University Health Services at Mississippi State which values each individual and functions to meet the needs of patients, hoping to impact their health holistically. Working as a team, the divisions鈥擧ealth Promotion and Wellness, Student Counseling Services and the LSHC鈥攕trive to identify and address those health and behavioral issues that impact well-being. UHS believes that the sooner these issues are targeted, the greater opportunity will be to have a positive impact both on an individual and community level. UHS promotes healthy living, encourages wise choices and values each individual.
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .