​​Empowering safety net health organizations to harness AI for better patient outcomes, improved care provider experience and operational excellence

​​“AI in Action: Practical Applications for Safety Net Providers” is a monthly Zoom series, co-hosted by Center for Care Innovations the Health AI Partnership, and AllianceChicago, dedicated to exploring research and implementation of AI-based solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities within Federally Qualified Health Centers and safety net healthcare organizations, promoting equitable access and improved patient outcomes.

​This panel highlights AI in action through a real-world implementation of an AI-enabled virtual nursing program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and a small rural critical access hospital, Copiah County Medical Center. Designed to address workforce shortages, patient safety risks, and operational strain, the program integrates artificial intelligence with virtual nursing and remote observation to enhance inpatient care delivery.

​Speakers

​Saurabh Chandra, MD

​Dr. Saurabh Chandra is the Chief Telehealth Officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Project Director of the National Center of Excellence for Telehealth, one of only two federally designated centers nationwide. Trained in medicine in India, he holds a PhD in Life Sciences and completed clinical training in Internal Medicine and Critical Care. Formerly, as Enterprise Medical Director of Telehealth at Northwell Health, he led telecritical care during COVID-19. He recently earned an MBA from Millsaps College. 

​Greg Hall

​​Greg Hall is currently the Director of Information Technology with the Center for Telehealth at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he has worked for the past 26 years. His main responsibilities are around the technology that is utilized by the University in any of its Telehealth programs. He helped to establish TelEmergency, a telehealth program that supports rural Emergency Departments across the state of Mississippi, which just celebrated 22 years of seeing patients in rural Emergency Departments across Mississippi. He also serves as the technical lead for the HRSA Telehealth Center of Excellence designation.

​Briana Petty, MSN, RN

​Briana Petty is a dedicated and experienced nurse with 17 years of service in healthcare, having spent over 14 years in management and leadership roles. She began her career at Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Mississippi, where she spent 8 years in various positions within the organization. During her time at Anderson's, Briana honed her clinical skills and leadership abilities, dedicating 5 of those years to nursing leadership roles. In 2017, Briana transitioned to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), where she now acts as the Director of Adult Nursing Services and leads a team dedicated to delivering high-quality care to adult patients at the state's largest and only academic medical center.

​ Throughout her career, Briana has been a passionate advocate for patient care, consistently striving to improve patient outcomes and elevate the quality of care provided in the hospital she serves. Her deep commitment to patient advocacy is matched only by her love of taking on new challenges in healthcare leadership, making her a dynamic force in the nursing field. Outside of her professional life, Briana is a devoted wife and mother to two children. Briana is also passionate about travel, seeking new adventures with her family during her free time.

​Bethany Smith, RN

​Bethany Smith is a registered nurse with 10 years of nursing experience and a strong background in both clinical practice and healthcare leadership. She began her career at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in 2018, working in the adult medical-surgical float pool, where she developed broad clinical expertise across multiple acute care settings.

​Over the past five years, Bethany has served in progressive leadership roles and is currently a Nurse Manager in Adult Acute Care. In this role, she provides operational and clinical oversight while supporting bedside teams and advancing innovative care delivery models. Bethany played a key role in the development of virtual nursing at UMMC in 2023 and has continued to support its growth, including the expansion to a dedicated virtual care team in 2025. She is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance patient safety, improve outcomes, and strengthen support for frontline staff.

​Outside of her professional responsibilities, Bethany is a devoted wife and mother of four, bringing empathy, balance, and a strong sense of purpose to her leadership in nursing.

​Teresa Harvey, RN, BSN

​Teresa Harvey joined the staff of Copiah County Medical Center as Quality Director in October 2016. She served as the hospital's Interim Chief Nursing Officer from June 2017 to April 2018 when she was named Chief Nursing Officer. Teresa - who has a nursing degree from Southwest Community College and a bachelor's degree in nursing from South University - has over 30 years of experience in the nursing profession and has dedicated her career to providing quality healthcare to the patients she serves. While Teresa's primary clinical background is in medical-surgical nursing, she has extensive professional experience in the following healthcare areas: Quality, Risk Management, Healthcare Compliance and Health Education.