Dr. Pegah Hosseini-Carroll, Assistant Professor of Digestive Diseases, has been on faculty for 4 years and serves as the Associate Program Director of the Fellowship Program. Here, she shares about her career, family, and advice for those pursuing the field of medicine.

What is your professional background?

I attended Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Neuroscience. After my time in New Orleans, I moved back home to north Louisiana to attend medical school at LSU. An exposure to gastroenterology early in my intern year changed my career course. I originally matched into an anesthesia residency in Boston but I later realized that GI was my calling. With the encouragement of wonderful mentors and my family, I completed my internal medicine residency and GI fellowship at LSU Shreveport. 

Tell us about what you do at UMMC.

I specialize in inflammatory bowel disease but see all types of patients with gastrointestinal issues at UMMC. I am also passionate about colon cancer screening and prevention. Both of my parents are educators and instilled a love of learning and teaching within me. The best parts of being in an academic medical center for me are the continuous learning and passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. I am fortunate to serve as the associate program director for our gastroenterology fellowship program and as the M4 procedural course director. 

What advice would you give to someone pursuing medicine today?

There is so much advice I could give someone pursuing medicine! I have learned so much about medicine but also about people and life in general along my journey. There are many things to consider and the healthcare landscape is rapidly changing. My work as a physician fulfills me in many ways and is an incredible privilege. If I had to choose one piece of advice it would be to maintain an identity outside of medicine and your professional career. Medicine can be all encompassing. It is easy to become so focused on studying and training that you put your hobbies or other aspects of your life on hold. Nurture your relationships, cultivate your other interests, and try to find the joy in everything you do.

What do you like most about UMMC?

The best part of being at UMMC is serving alongside my work family. I am incredibly fortunate to have such supportive people surrounding me.

Tell us something about yourself that people may not know.

Outside of work, I mainly focus on my young family. My husband is also a physician at UMMC and we have a 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son. I have a deep love for animals and our family includes 2 dogs and a cat. Our last 2 cats have been rescues and it is such a fulfilling experience. Lastly, I enjoy volunteering through the Junior League of Jackson. I have learned so much about my new community through the organization and it has given me the opportunity to build new friendships.