USM Nursing Professor Receives Grant to Help Hattiesburg Communities
Fri, 10/07/2016 - 09:06am | By: Van Arnold
Dr. Marcus Gaut, assistant professor in the College of Nursing at The University of Southern Mississippi, has been awarded a $2,500 grant to help establish a coalition of residents in the Irene Chapel and Palmer's Crossing areas of Hattiesburg that will assess and address needs of those respective communities.
The “Irene Chapel/Palmer's Crossing – Creating Relevant Fellowship and Transition” grant was awarded by the Gulf States Health Policy Center to a group of five Fellows completing the Community Research Fellowship Training program facilitated by the Mississippi Department of Health.
“The grant will support efforts to engage members of the community regarding available resources, how to access the resources, and how to utilize the resources to support improvements in individual and community health,” said Gaut. “Additionally, and importantly, the grant will accommodate opportunities for members of the Irene Chapel and Palmer's Crossing communities to identify, celebrate, and build upon their strengths.”
Gaut notes that residents in need of particular services, and those who might provide services, should seize opportunities to listen to one another and discern how to work together effectively. He points out that as a Registered Nurse, with additional preparation as a Faith Community Nurse, he has been trained to aid people in developing holistic responses to illness.
“It is important to me that I have opportunities to listen to members of the designated communities to determine how they define illness, and how we may work together to respond,” he said.
Dr. Lachel Story, Assistant Dean for Research and Evaluation in the USM College of Nursing, said that grants of this nature help advance the College's mission and reputation as a leader in nursing education and community engagement.
“Dr. Gaut and his team receiving this funding helps the College of Nursing meet our goal to improve the health of our community,” said Story.
To learn more about the USM College of Nursing, call 601.266.5454 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/nursing