• Stephanie McLeod, left, asks Lula Gatlin questions about the Mississippi Breast and Cervical Cancer Program at MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Informational booths are in place for MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Pharmacy student Shelby Cole left, and physician assistant student Riley DiMaggio, center, work to check Shirley Naugles’ blood sugar levels during MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • State employees visit health informational booths during MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Wellness professional Qula Madkin gives a presentation about nutrition strategies for work-life balance at MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • A state employee takes a photo of nutritional information provided in a presentation about wellness and nutrition at MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • State employees listen as Wellness professional Qula Madkin gives a presentation about nutrition strategies for work-life balance at MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Dr. Justin Turner chief medical officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health gives the keynote address during MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • State employees listen to Dr. Justin Turner, chief medical officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, as he gives the keynote address during MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Dr. Justin Turner chief medical officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health gives the keynote address during MSDH’s inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

The Mississippi State Department of Health hosted its inaugural State Employee Wellness Expo on Thursday at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. The expo provided state employees with free health screenings, cooking and fitness demonstrations, stress management exercises, CPR certification training, chair massages, and a keynote address by the health department’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Justin Turner on prioritizing health and wellness. The event aimed to promote a healthier workforce statewide.

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Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.