Stokes receives prestigious UMMC award

Philadelphia High School graduate Stephanie Stokes has completed her studies to receive her medical degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Central in Jackson.

Stokes will officially receive her degree in May. And earlier this month, she received a prestigious award at UMMC.

She was the winner of the Joey Purvis Memorial Fund Award, which goes to the most compassionate student studying Obstetrics and Gynecology. It was given in memory of a past student who was tragically killed in a car accident.

"I was very, I won't say shocked," Stokes said, "There are 140 in my class and quite a few of us are going into OGYN. I was very honored to get that award.

"That (compassion) is one of the reasons I wanted to go into something that was essentially primary care. I chose OGYN because you get to build lasting relations with patients, I think at the end of the day, the most important thing to me, even with the outcomes, is to make their day better. And make sure they get good care."

Next up for Stokes is to do her four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at The Medical College of Georgia, located in Augusta.

She liked what she saw there. One thing that attracted her to The Medical College is that they make international medical trips. Her third year, they will be going to Peru.

"Doing global work is important to me," Stokes said.

Stokes lived in Hawaii until she was 10 or 11 and her family moved to Philadelphia. She started in the fifth grade at Philadelphia Elementary School. She graduated at Philadelphia High School and went on to earn hear undergraduate degree at the University of Southern Mississippi where she was majoring in biological science.

She finished at USM in 2014. She paused a year and then was accepted at UMMC in 2016.

When she finishes her residency, she will decide whether to start her practice or do a fellowship. She is weighing her options.

Her husband, Kelsie, is finishing a Masters degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics.

When she is not studying or working, she likes to go to the gym and work out or ride her bike. She likes to cook. She has always been into athletics. Stokes ran cross-country at Philadelphia and was a member of the first Lady Tornadoes soccer team.

She and her husband have three cats and one dog.

She is the daughter of Elizabeth and Wally Stokes.