Dr. Myrna Alexander Nickens is the oldest of three children.  Her parents Woodrow and Mary Alexander have one son and two daughters, both daughters are physicians.  Dr. Alexander Nickens attended high school at Biloxi High school in Biloxi, Mississippi. She completed her undergraduate studies at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi where she was president of the Pre-Health Club.  She graduated Cum Laude with B.S. degree in Chemistry.

Dr. Alexander Nickens received her Medical Doctorate Degree in 1982 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.  She was accepted to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan where she completed her Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine.  Dr. Alexander Nickens completed her Cardiology Fellowship and Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital.

After completing her Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology, she accepted a position in education with the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.  From 1993-1995 she served as Associate Director of the Cardiac Inpatient Unit, Instructor of Medical Student Clinical Cardiology, Instructor of Residents and Interns in Clinical Cardiology and  Interventional/Clinical Cardiologist Academic Instructor.

Dr. Alexander Nickens has an extensive list of accomplishments as a clinician, medical educator, clinical researcher, lecturer and published author.  She is active in a number of professional societies and organizations including the American Board of Internal Medicine, Mississippi Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, American Medical Association, American College of Cardiology, Jackson Heart Study, Association of Black Cardiologists, and the National Medical Association where she served as president of the Mississippi State Chapter.  Presently, Dr. Alexander Nickens is the Chairperson of Cardiovascular Services at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.  She is the only African American female cardiologist in the state of Mississippi and she recently received an honor from the American Heart Association for being the first female interventional cardiologist in Mississippi.  She has received numerous awards including a proclamation from Mayor Frank Melton of the city of Jackson.

Dr. Alexander Nickens joined Jackson Cardiology Associates in Jackson, Mississippi in 1995 where she is currently in private practice with four other Cardiologists.  She is an active staff physician at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital and Central Mississippi Medical Center.  Dr. Alexander Nickens’ special interests in medicine are cardiovascular disease in women and adult congenital heart disease.  She speaks boldly and frequently about the correlation of obesity and heart disease.  She is a humanitarian and has spoken to lawmakers at the Capitol of Jackson, Mississippi.

Dr. Alexander Nickens is married to Jerry Nickens and they have one son.  They are active members of New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi.  She enjoys horse back riding, jogging and tennis and spending time with her family.