Get to know Dr. Savannah Duckworth, Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Duckworth works closely with medical students as a course director in the School of Medicine and teaches them alongside residents in the clinic and the hospital. She is also a devout servant of the Jackson Free Clinic, where there is a student award named in her honor. Here, she shares a little bit about how she came to UMMC and what has kept her here.
What is your professional background?
I’m originally from New Albany, MS and then went to Mississippi State University. For medical school, I came to UMMC and never left! I enjoyed my time at UMMC so much I stayed for residency and joined faculty!
Tell us what you do at UMMC.
My job is the best! I get to see patients in the clinic and in the hospital, and work with students and residents — to me there is nothing better! For medical student education, I direct the Introduction to the Medical Profession-1 course required for all first-year medical students. A few years ago I started the Internal Medicine Scholars Observership for rising M2 students to have a summer experience with us in Internal Medicine. I work with M3 students in the Clinical Skills Center and grade their standardized-patient exams throughout the year. When M3 students do an elective in Internal Medicine clinics, I make their schedules and pair them with residents and attendings. For resident education, I serve as preceptor in clinic and attend on the inpatient wards every couple of months.
What advice would you give to someone pursuing medicine today?
I would tell someone pursuing medicine today that it is all worth it. Sometimes we hear more about administrative burdens and insurance hurdles and barriers to care…but good things about being a physician outweigh those challenges. There’s nothing like having personal connections with patients and seeing them consistently. It is an incredible honor to be trusted by someone to care for their health (or their family member’s health). Even after being a physician for a while, sometimes I am still in awe of how incredible our job is. If I could do it all over again, I would do the same thing.
What do you like most about UMMC?
The people! UMMC truly is like a family. I don’t think that is common to all academic medical centers. UMMC is more than a place to work; it is a community of people who care about each other and care about the patients we serve.
What is something about you that people may not know?
I was in 4H growing up and went to Entomology Camp (“Bug Camp”) for years! I even worked in the Entomology Department during college at MSU.
Progress Notes 