Hello! My name is Michael L. Jones, PhD, MBA/HCM, RN (Dr. Mike). I created this blog to educate, encourage, inspire, and motivate my readers through the written word. Allow me to tell you about myself.
I am a Registered Nurse by training and have been so for 22 years. I began my career in health care as an Orthopedic Nurse at the sole Academic Medical Center in the state of Mississippi, the University of Mississippi Medical Center. I later served as a Spinal Cord Injury Nurse at a major rehabilitation center in the state of Mississippi. After caring for many underserved patients for several years, I developed a passion for ensuring these populations not only have access to care, but also positive health outcomes. As such, I have dedicated myself to improving the health of populations. I have served in various capacities throughout my career in health care and nursing, including as Chief Community Health Officer for the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where I developed programs and led many projects aimed at addressing health disparities in the state of Mississippi. During my tenure as the Chief Community Health Officer, I oversaw a partnership between the sole Academic Medical Center and the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in the state of Mississippi. I have served on various local, state, and regional boards and committees and have been recognized for my efforts. As an example, I was the recipient of the Mississippi State Medical Association Award for Excellence in Wellness Promotion in 2013.
I currently serve as Richards Endowed Graduate Nursing Chair, Assistant Professor of Nursing, and Research Development Coordinator in the Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing at Brenau University (Gainesville, Georgia). In this role, I am the administrative lead for our school's graduate nursing programs (Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Doctor of Nursing Practice) as well as lead for our research activities.
Additionally, I am a Independent Healthcare, Nursing, and Research Content Writer. I contract with various organizations, including schools and private entities to develop various courses and other training materials.
I previously served as Visiting Assistant Professor in the Jackson State University School of Public Health (Jackson, Mississippi), where I served faithfully and with passion to educate the state's future healthcare administrators. I have also served as an Adjunct Nursing Faculty member in various schools of nursing over my 20-year career. I have given a number of presentations and lectures on a local, state, and national level related to public health and the elimination of health disparities.
I serve on various local, state, and national committees, boards, and taskforces, including the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials, where, since 2020, I am honored to have served as a member, co-chair, and now chair. My term ends in August of 2023.
I received my formal education from Meridian Community College (Meridian, Mississippi) and the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing (Jackson, Mississippi). In March of 2020, I successfully defended my dissertation titled "Perceptions of Rural Community-Based Nurses and Perceived Family Stigma Related to HIV/AIDS: A Mixed Methods Study" at Hampton University School of Nursing, which is an HBCU (Hampton, Virginia). I became the first African-American male and only the third male to successfully defend a dissertation in the PhD Nursing Program at Hampton University. I am also the first African-American male to earn a PhD in Nursing from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). On April 8, 2020, I had the opportunity to interview during the Positive Vibes Only segment of "Beyond the Headlines with Renee Washington" of Fox Radio. During this interview, I discussed the historic significance of earning my PhD in Nursing at Hampton University, my career track, and COVID-19.
I am an active member of the Eta Eta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
I am a native of Leake County, Mississippi! My interests are gardening, writing, and collecting African artwork and antique model cars.
You are welcome to keep coming back here to see new content. I will be uploading new content on at least a weekly basis. Please feel free to subscribe to my page below! I look forward to sharing with you!
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