MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Barnett, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), McDaniel, Stone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO UMMC DENTISTRY INSTRUCTOR DR. FANASY DEMING-JEFCOAT UPON BEING NAMED THE "2017 DENTAL ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR."
WHEREAS, as part of the 35th Annual Dental Alumni and Friends held February 10, 2017, at The Fairview Inn in Jackson, Dr. Fanasy Deming-Jefcoat was honored as the 2017 Dental Alumnus of the Year; and
WHEREAS, in spite of running her own periodontics practice as well as teaching part time at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, and dedicating time to several professional boards, Deming-Jefcoat said that she was surprised and honored to be chosen for this honor; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Deming-Jefcoat knew from age five that she wanted to do something in the medical field. She grew up in Southern Louisiana, and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Mississippi College before attending Dental School at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Following graduation at UMMC, Deming-Jefcoat went on to earn her masters and a Certificate of Periodontics at Baylor College of Dentistry, later earning board certification in periodontology. Her next endeavor was starting her own practice in Madison; and
WHEREAS, while she was building her practice, she reached out to one of her favorite professors, Dr. Frank Serio, former UMMC Dental School Chair of Periodontics and Preventive Science, to see how she could get involved with UMMC again. She began as a volunteer, and then in 2007 she officially joined as part-time faculty. She teaches students every Monday afternoon, and has some lectureship responsibilities as well. Since she started teaching at UMMC, she's been named "Best Part-Time Professor" three times by her students; and
WHEREAS, as a dental student, Deming-Jefcoat was a member of the American Student Dental Association, and through that she learned about what students in other dental programs were experiencing. It made her appreciate UMMC even more, especially because she and her classmates had so much hands-on experience, and she wanted to help other students receive the same training. She also liked that the smaller class size allowed the students to really get to know each other. Several of her classmates are now not only friends, but colleagues. This helpful spirit has carried over into her teaching, and her students clearly appreciate her, having voted her Best Part-Time Professor at UMMC three times. Deming-Jefcoat has had her own periodontics practice for 10 years. Her number-one focus is giving her patients excellent attention; and
WHEREAS, the love that drives her daily practice has also led Deming-Jefcoat to mission work. Her first mission trip was to Honduras in college. Since that first trip, she has continued to volunteer on mission trips, most recently to Haiti, through her church, Pinelake in Madison. In addition to all of this, she also serves as an Officer for the Mississippi Dental Association and the Mississippi Association of Women Dentists (MAWD). She recently started a three-year term serving as the Speaker for MDA, and has been on the Executive Committee for the past five years. She serves as the Budget Chair of the Finance Committee for MAWD; and
WHEREAS, as a mom, wife, business owner, professor, and more, Deming-Jefcoat knows a thing or two about balance. With that in mind, her number-one piece of advice to current students would be, "Keep pursuing your goals and following your dreams. Don't give up. And also have a healthy work-life balance." "She's an outstanding part-time faculty for us, and is incredibly well-liked and respected by our students and other faculty," said Dr. David Felton, Dean of the School of Dentistry. "She's a great asset to our clinical teaching efforts in her specialty area, and a terrific role model for all students, and in particular, for our female students":
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby join the dental community in congratulating UMMC Dentistry Instructor Dr. Fanasy Deming-Jefcoat upon being named the "2017 Dental Alumnus of the Year," and extend our best wishes for future success and public service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Deming-Jefcoat, forwarded to the Dean of the UMMC School of Dentistry, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.