Mississippi Health Disparities Conference Set for June 17–18 in Biloxi

Tue, 05/26/2026 - 01:30pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie

The Mississippi Health Disparities Conference will take place June 17-18 at the Hospitality Resort Management Center in Biloxi, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, educators and community leaders focused on improving health outcomes across Mississippi and the Gulf South.

The annual conference is coordinated by The University of Southern Mississippi through the Gulf South Center for Community-Engaged Health Research and Innovation and supported by Mississippi INBRE Community Engagement and Training Core. The conference supports statewide partnerships among academic, healthcare and community organizations working to improve health outcomes. The event is free and open to the public.

The conference is designed to strengthen collaboration among community, academic, healthcare and government organizations working to address persistent health disparities throughout the region.

Registration is now open for pre-conference workshops scheduled for June 17 and for the main conference on June 18. The deadline to register for both days is June 5.

This year’s pre-conference workshops include:

• “Side-by-Side Learning in R and Python Programming,” which will provide participants with hands-on experience using open-source tools for data management, analysis, visualization and predictive modeling.
• “STORK: Obstetric and Neonatal Emergency Training,” a hands-on session designed for rural hospitals and first responders to strengthen emergency obstetric and neonatal care skills.
• “Early Intervention: Where Workforce, Healthcare and Education Intersect in Mississippi,” which will explore collaborative approaches to supporting children with developmental disorders through coordinated care and early intervention strategies.

The conference will also feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities and exhibitors aimed at advancing solutions to health challenges affecting Mississippi communities.

The event is supported by longtime partners including Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, My Brother’s Keeper Inc. and the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research. Current sponsors include TrueCare, the American Heart Association, StandUp Mississippi, Memorial Health Systems and JMIR Publications.

Exhibitors to date include Senior Medicare Patrol; The Center for Behavioral Health at The University of Southern Mississippi; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi; Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses; William Carey University; Coastal Family Health Center; Premier Professional Counseling Services; Mississippi State University-Meridian; the John D. Bower School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Hotel accommodations are available for attendees at Hyatt Place Biloxi and Margaritaville Resort Biloxi, both located near the conference venue. Organizers encourage early booking.

For registration and conference information, visit the conference website.

For more information, email%C2%A0or call 601.266.5309.