Kristen J. Alston, PhD
Specialties: Family Medicine, Health Psychology
Gender: Female
Biography: Kristen J. Alston, Ph.D. is a Clinical Health Psychologist, the Assistant Dean for Society and Medicine at the UMMC School of Medicine, and a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UMMC. In her clinical role, she works collaboratively with residents, physicians, and other healthcare providers as a part of an integrated care team providing behavioral health clinical services to patients with comorbid behavioral concerns and acute/chronic health conditions. In her administrative role, she works to help guide the creation of a learning environment that facilitates the training of skilled and compassionate physicians to provide the highest quality of healthcare to all patients. She earned her B.S in psychology from Howard University and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from East Carolina University. She completed internship training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, M.I., and fellowship training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In addition to her clinical interests, which include primary care health psychology and working as a part of an integrated health care team, Dr. Alston’s teaching interests include physician wellness, assessment and management of behavioral health concerns in a primary care setting, and patient/provider communication skills. Her research interests include examining treatment adherence and the management of behavioral and acute/chronic health conditions. Dr. Alston also has interest in mental health advocacy as it relates to eradicating mental health stigma. In 2020, Dr. Alston served as the first African American President of the Mississippi Psychological Association.
My Approach to Healthcare
As a health psychologist within the Department of Family Medicine, my practice involves working as part of an interdisciplinary care team to provide collaborative, quality care to meet the behavioral, physical, and psychosocial needs for the overall health and well-being of patients. In doing so, I focus on a whole person approach, helping patients to change thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to distress and engage in lifestyle and behavioral changes to improve overall health. Helping patients to build the skillset and confidence to utilize tools to improve their mental and overall health is an important focus of my practice.
Practice Locations
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Flowood Family Medicine - UMMC
2466 Flowood Drive, Flowood, MS 39232 View Location |
Accepted Insurance Plans
The University of Mississippi Medical Center accepts all plans, but may not be an in-network provider with your plan. We encourage you to contact your insurer and ask if the plan is in network with UMMC. Always contact your insurance carrier for specific coverage information.
Network Participation - 2026
MississippiCAN and CHIP [Managed Care programs promulgated by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid]
- Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
- Magnolia Health (Centene)
- TrueCare
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace [Individual plans offered on healthcare.gov]
- Ambetter from Magnolia Health (Centene)
- Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
- UHC Marketplace (Madison only)
Medicare Advantage
- Devoted Health Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP
- HealthSpring Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
- Humana: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- WellCare (Centene) Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
Commercial - Group and Individual
- Aetna Plans: PPO, HMO [Includes all facilities except UMMC Madison]
- BCBSMS Plans: BlueCardPPO, State Health Plan (AHS), Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
- Cigna Plans: PPO, HMO
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO (Includes plans administered by UMR, UnitedHealth Group's wholly owned third-party administrator (TPA) subsidiary)
Transplant Only Networks
- Optum Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, VAD
- Emerging Therapy Solutions (ETS) Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD
- Interlink Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T
- Celtic Plans: Ambetter, WellCare, Magnolia Health MississippiCAN, Magnolia Health CHIP • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT
- Cigna Lifesource Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD
Dental
- Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
- Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial
Vision
- Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
- Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial
Rental Networks (Utilized by self-funded employer group plans and third-party administrators (TPAs))
- Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN) [If MPCN is present on a Member/Subscriber ID, all UMMC facilities and providers are in-network regardless of TPA.]
- First Choice Health Plan
- Claritev (formerly Multiplan)
- Zelis
Government Programs
- Humana Military Plan: Tricare
- United Healthcare Plan: Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks
Plans and Payors UMMC is not in-network with as of April 1, 2026
- Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
- Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
- American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage
Education
| Fellowship: | University of Mississippi Medical Center |
| Internship: | Henry Ford Hospital |
| Medical Education: | East Carolina University |
Experience
Current Positions
| Assistant Dean, School of Medicine, Department of Office Of The Dean Medical School, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216 | 07/2023 - Present |
| Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS | 07/2021 - Present |
| Adjunct Graduate Faculty, Department of Psychology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS | 12/2019 - Present |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Licensure, Psychology, Mississippi Board of Psychology | 08/2016 - Present |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| The Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, UMMC Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs | 2026 |
| Pre-Clinical Professor of the Year, The University of Mississippi School of Medicine | 2025 |
| The Carl G. Evers, MD Society M2 All-Star Professor, The University of Mississippi School of Medicine Carl G. Evers, MD Society | 2025 |
| 2024 Mid Career Minority Faculty Leadership Seminar Participant, Association of American Medical Colleges | 2024 |
| Certificate of Achievement for completing the AAMC Restorative Justice in Academic Medicine Facilitator Training, University of Sand Diego Center for Restorative Justice | 2024 |
| Selected for induction into the Academy for Excellence in Education, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2023 |
| Trailblazer Teaching Award, University of Mississippi School of Medicine Office of Medical Education | 2023 |
| Journal of Pediatric Psychology Most Cited Paper Award (Co-Author). Awarded for paper titled "Investigating the Sleep–Pain Relationship in Youth with Sickle Cell Using mhealth Technology", published in April 2019, Journal of Pediatric Psychology | 2021 |
| Selected to attended APA's Practice Leadership Conference as a fully-funded Early Career Representative, American Psychological Association | 2018 |
| UNC Campus Scholarship, East Carolina University | 2013 |
| UNC Campus Scholarship Recipient, East Carolina University Clinical Psychology Faculty | 2013 |
| The Miller-Moore Graduate Scholarship in Psycholocy, East Carolina University | 2013 |
| Association Scholarship Recipient, Rocky Mount Engine Recreation Association | 2010 |
| Trustee Tuition Scholarship Recipient, Howard University | 2006 |