Leadership

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The Jackson Heart Study is led by project officers and investigators who provide scientific leadership, operational guidance, community engagement, and subject-area expertise across JHS centers and research activities.


Project Officers

Sharon Smith, Ph.D.
Program Director

Sharon Smith, Ph.D.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892

Melissa Garcia, MPH
Program Director

Melissa Garcia, MPH

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892

Investigators

April P. Carson, PhD
Investigator

April P. Carson, PhD

Director, Jackson Heart Study
Field Center PI
Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS 39216

Stacee B. Naylor, PhD, RN, MSN, CCRP
Investigator

Stacee B. Naylor, PhD, RN, MSN, CCRP

Deputy Director, Jackson Heart Study Field Center Research Operations
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS 39216

D. Leann Long, PhD
Investigator

D. Leann Long, PhD

PI, Coordinating Center
Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science
Division of Public Health Sciences
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Clemontina Davenport
Investigator

Clemontina Davenport, PhD

Title / role to be added
Department / organization to be added
Institution to be added
City, State ZIP

Wendy White, MPH, PhD
Investigator

Wendy White, MPH, PhD

MPI, Undergraduate Training and Education Center
Tougaloo College
Jackson, MS 39174

Kisa Harris, MPH, PhD
Investigator

Kisa Harris, MPH, PhD

MPI, Undergraduate Training and Education Center
Tougaloo College
Jackson, MS 39174

Marinelle Payton, MD, PhD, MS, MPH
Investigator

Marinelle Payton, MD, PhD, MS, MPH

MPI, Graduate Training and Education Center
Professor and Chair
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS 39213

Alain Bertoni, MD, MPH
Investigator

Alain Bertoni, MD, MPH

MPI, Graduate Training and Education Center
Professor, Public Health Sciences
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Jennifer Lemacks, PhD, RD, LD
Investigator

Jennifer Lemacks, PhD, RD, LD

MPI, Graduate Training and Education Center
Associate Dean for Research
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Professor, School of Health Professions
University of Southern Mississippi

Felix Twum, DrPH
Investigator

Felix Twum, DrPH

MPI, Graduate Training and Education Center
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
University of Southern Mississippi

James L. Coleman, Jr., Ed.D.
Investigator

James L. Coleman, Jr., Ed.D.

MPI, Community Engagement Center
Chief Executive Officer
G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center
Canton, MS 39046

Victor Sutton, PhD
Investigator

Victor Sutton, PhD

MPI, Community Engagement Center
G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center
Canton, MS 39046