Dr. Dan Jones received the COSEHQ Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the Sanderson Chair in Obesity, Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition and Director of Clinical and Population Science in the Mississippi Center for Obesity Research at The University of Mississippi Medical Center where he also serves as Professor of Medicine and Physiology. He has a 25 year association with The University of Mississippi serving in a number of capacities including Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine from 2003-2009 and as Chancellor of the University from 2009 until September 2015.
Dr. Jones’s research activities have focused on prevention of cardiovascular disease and racial and economic disparities in health outcomes. He was the first principle investigator for the landmark Jackson Heart Study, an NIH sponsored population study focused on identifying causes of disparate rates of heart disease in African Americans. Dr. Jones’s work in racial reconciliation has been recognized with the Mississippi Center for Justice 2015 Champions of Justice Award and as one of two honorees at the 2016 Jackson Friendship Ball.