The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) is a collaborative effort involving Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, the Mississippi State Department of Health, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The Jackson Heart Study receives support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Minority Health (ORMH) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Within the Jackson Heart Study, Tougaloo College serves as the Undergraduate Training and Education Center (UTEC).  UTEC’s role in the JHS is to prepare students for careers in the biomedical and health sciences. The UTEC sponsors two programs: the Scholars Program for undergraduate students and the SLAM Program for high school students.Jackson Heart Study Scholars application

Learn more about the Jackson Heart Study

Our Mission

The purpose of the Jackson Heart Study Training and Education Center is to train minority students, especially African Americans to carry out medical research studies like the Jackson Heart Study.

Our Goals

The specific goals of the Undergraduate Training and Education Center are to:

Create a pool of well-trained high school students who, upon entering college, can successfully complete undergraduate, and graduate or professional degrees in the health professions and public health

Introduce a program of college courses to prepare the students to pursue advanced studies toward public health and epidemiology

Involve the students in hands-on experiences to create interest in public health careers

Provide basic epidemiology backgrounds for health care professionals

Our Programs

SLAM Program

The SLAM program’s goal is to provide a large pool of well-trained high school students who, upon entering college, can successfully complete the curriculum requirements at an undergraduate college and have the necessary background and interest to pursue careers related to cardiovascular disease. Tougaloo College’s summer workshops are designed to provide excellent preparation for success in higher studies and to pursue advanced degrees in health professions.

To learn more about SLAM or to apply for the SLAM Program, please visit our SLAM webpage: https://www.tougaloo.edu/academics/programs/slam-workshops

Scholars Program

Add the following paragraph: The Scholars Program provides undergraduate students at Tougaloo College with opportunities to learn about careers in public health and other health disciplines. The Scholars Program provides students with intensive reading and math prep so that they are more prepared for graduate and professional school entrance exams, such as the MCAT and GRE. Scholars also conduct research and participate in hands-on training under the mentorship of experienced researchers. Students who meet the requirements of the Scholars Program also earn a monthly stipend. Jackson Heart Study Scholars application

Contact Information

We are here to help you. Feel free to call, email, visit, or write the Jackson Heart Study.

Wendy White, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
  601-977-7831
  wwhite@tougaloo.edu

Asoka Srinivasan, Ph.D.
Budget Advisor
  601-977-7820
  asrinivasan@tougaloo.edu

Beverly Kelly
Senior Office Manager
  601-977-7820
  bkelly@tougaloo.edu

Beverly Thomas
Senior Tracking Manager
  601-977-7816
  bthomas@tougaloo.edu

Kisa Harris, MPH
Biostatistics/Epidemiology Instructor-Researcher
  601-977-7754
  kkharris1@tougaloo.edu

Amel Mohamed, MPH
Student Coordinator/Epidemiologist
  601-977-7781
  aemohamed@tougaloo.edu

Mailing Address:
Tougaloo College
Jackson Heart Study
500 West County Line Road
Tougaloo, MS 39174