Thursday, April 9, 2026

7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration & Information Desks Open​​​​​​ 

7:30 AM – 7:45 AM ​ Faith Based Claims Association Breakfast  

Go through the buffet and join the session. 

7:45 AM – 8:15 ​AM ​ Faith Based Program  

Luke Spencer (Word of Life Church, Jackson, MS) starts the second dayof the conference with an inspirational message. ​ 

7:45 AM – 5:15 PM ​ Exhibit Hall Open  

7:45 AM – 8:15 AM  ​Continental Breakfast​ 

Served in the Exhibit Hall  

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM ​ The State of the MWCC  

Chairman Mark Formby (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission) welcomes all to the Conference and provides the State of the Union of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission.  

8:45 AM – 10:00 AM ​ What Doctors Really Think  

Moderated by orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Gandy (Medical Legal Consulting), neurosurgeon Dr. John Davis (NewSouth Neurospine), orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Chad Hoseman (Capital Ortho), pain management specialist Dr. Alan Torrey (Total Pain Care) and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Eric Graham(Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists) answer questions about and provide their perspective on the workers’ compensation system.  

10:00 AM –10:15 AM  ​Break  

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM​ Presentation of the Sam Cox Spirit and Kenney G. Perry Professionalism Awards  

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM​ Docket Management, Motion Hearings and Hearings on the Merits 

Moderated by Judge Megan Garrott (Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, MWCC judges Trey Arnold, AlanGoodman, Stewart Lee, Jennifer Nicaud, and Linda Thompson explain how they handle the business of managing their docket and what they expect from the parties and their counsel.  

11:30 AM –12:30 PM​ Conference Lunch 

Enjoy a satisfying lunch and networking opportunity right outside the Exhibit Hall and classrooms with other attendees. Musical entertainment provided.  

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ​ Student-Athlete or Employee or Independent Contractor?   

Frank McKay, Appellate Judge and Director for the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation, presents a hot topic discussion about the impact of NIL money, federal class action lawsuits, the House v. NCAA court approved settlement, and whether student-athletes are or should be considered employees of their colleges and universities and covered under workers’ compensation. 

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM ​ Break 

1:40 PM – 2:40 PM  ​Break Out Sessions 

A.​ Employer Spotlight - Staffing Agencies  
This year, our employer spotlight is given to staffing agencies. Employer representative Sherry Reynolds (Wise Staffing Group), senior claims adjusterChristy Puckett (StoneTrust), andattorney Daniel Culpepper (Anderson, Crawley, & Burke, PLLC) discuss the staffing industry’s approach to workers’ compensation.  

B. ​Alabama and Louisiana Case Law Update  
Louisiana licensed attorney Chris Landry (Hickcox, Robertson & Stunda, LLC) and Alabama licensed attorney Tara Lockett (Carr Allison) provide an update on recent workers’ compensation decisions in Alabama and Louisiana.   

C.​ Subrogation – Case Study, Settling Claims 
Attorney and MWCEA Board Director Andre Ducote (Morgan & Morgan) facilitates a discussion between attorneys Ginger Robey (MCC Law), Nathan Burrow (Galloway Law Firm), and Rocky Wilkins (Morgan & Morgan) concerning the strategies and considerations for the settlement of third-party claims.  

3:50 PM – 4:50 PM  ​Break Out Sessions 

A. Mississippi Case Law Update  
Mississippi Court of Appeals Judges David McCarty, John D. Weddle, and Amy Lassiter St. Pe’ provide a breakdown of the recent Mississippi workers’ compensation decisions. Facilitated by attorney and MWCEA Board Director Steve Funderburg (Funderburg, Sessums & Peterson, PLLC).  

B. NCM Guide to Workers’ Comp 
Nurse case managers Sherry Boyd (Eastern Alliance Insurance Group), Sylvia Rollison (CaseExperts), and Beau Rhinewalt (RTW Medical, LLC) provide guidance to nurse case managers working in the workers’ compensation field as well as tips to adjusters and attorneys on how to work most effectively with a nurse case manager.  

C.​ Physical Therapy Session – Hands and feet              ​ 
Physical therapists Joe Jacobson (Methodist Rehabilitation Center), Christopher Loftin (Capital Ortho) and Amy King (Mississippi Burn, Hand & Reconstruction Center) discuss effective therapies for injuries to the hands and feet.  

5:30 PM – 6:45 PM​ Reception Honoring MS Court of Appeals Judges ​ 

6:45 PM ​​ Dinner on your own