Katrina Poe
Katrina Poe
B.A. Biological Sciences, 1992
College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Executive Advisory Board
Katrina Poe’s path to Mississippi State University began with family and a clear sense of purpose. Introduced to MSU by her aunt, an alumna she admired, Poe arrived on campus already knowing she wanted to pursue medicine and that science was where she belonged.
“I knew before attending that I eventually wanted to go on to medical school after graduation, and I loved the sciences,” said Poe, now executive director of MSU’s Longest Student Health Center and a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Executive Advisory Board.
During her time at MSU, Poe fully immersed herself in campus life. She credits her involvement outside the classroom as some of the most formative experiences of her college years.
“Being involved in intramural sports and organizations like Bulldog Hostesses and State Striders, along with working as an RA in Cresswell and Hathorn Halls, had the biggest impact on me,” she said.
After graduating from MSU in 1992, Poe earned her medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where she also completed a residency in family medicine. She then returned home to Kilmichael, Miss., serving as the town’s only physician for 17 years.
“I’m most proud of the opportunity to return home and provide needed care in my small hometown of Kilmichael for so many years,” Poe said.
In 2018, her journey brought her back to campus. Poe joined MSU as a staff physician at the Longest Student Health Center and was later promoted to medical director, continuing her commitment to service in a new way by caring for the university community.
Poe believes her education in the College of Arts and Sciences laid the foundation for both her career and her approach to medicine.
“It strengthened my ability to think critically, communicate with empathy, and understand people as whole individuals,” she said. “It gave me a strong scientific foundation while also developing cultural awareness and ethical judgment. That broad education equipped me with the adaptability, compassion, and problem-solving skills essential to patient-centered care.”
Today, Poe lives in French Camp with her husband of 26 years, Calvin Johnson, and their two sons, Calvin Johnson II and James Johnson. She enjoys spending time with family and traveling.
Her advice to current MSU students is simple and heartfelt: “Enjoy and value your time at MSU. It will be some of the best and most memorable times of your life. It goes so fast.”