UMMC Department of Medicine Alumna Dr. Christina Wallace has made history twice, most recently with her appointment as Chief Medical Officer of Choctaw Health Center in Philadelphia, Mississippi. She is the first Choctaw to serve in this role. On March 19, 2026, the Choctaw Health Center hosted a special reception to honor her appointment. Dr. Wallace served as interim Chief Medical Officer since 2025, and spent her time focused on expanding services for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Wallace previously made history as the first Mississippi Choctaw tribal member to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree, which she received in 2019 from UMMC, where she also completed her internal medicine residency. During her residency, she was selected for the Primary Care Track, with a clear goal of returning home to serve her community. While at UMMC, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

Her appointment represents a significant milestone for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and for Native health leadership nationwide. Congratulations Dr. Wallace!