Abhay J. Bhatt, MD

Abhay J. Bhatt, MD

Specialties: Newborn Services, Neonatal Medicine

Gender: Male

Biography: Dr. Abhay Bhatt is a Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Research in the division of newborn medicine and the department of Pediatrics at UMMC. His primary research interests are hypoxic-ischemic (HI), oxygen, inflammation, and steroid-induced injury to the developing brain. His long-term research goals are to understand how to target molecular mechanisms causing ongoing brain damage following these insults in order to develop improved strategies for the prevention and treatment of brain injury in newborn infants and to develop corticosteroids regimens for the treatment of chronic lung disease of prematurity and vasopressor-resistant hypotension without any major toxicity, particularly neurotoxicity. As director of Research, Dr. Bhatt looks forward to continuing to sustain and expand discovery in the division and thus achieving the vision of Children’s Mississippi to touch the life of every child in Mississippi and help them reach their full potential. As a neonatologist, Dr. Bhatt supports the mission of the newborn division to achieve the highest standards of performance to provide support for critically ill and preterm newborn infants and their families through compassionate clinical care. He also supervises quality improvement projects in the NICU. Dr. Bhatt has a keen interest in educational activities to develop outstanding health care professionals.

Practice Locations

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.

*Note: Grenada and Holmes County locations have different payor contracts. Oral Surgeons are considered in-network to the medical health plans listed below NOT dental.

Jackson and Madison

Medicare health insurance plans

  • Devoted Health
  • Humana Medicare Advantage
  • Medicare - Fee for Service
  • Railroad Medicare - Fee for Service
  • Shared Health Mississippi
  • United Healthcare (except HMO)
  • Vantage Health Plan - Medicare Advantage
  • Wellcare - Medicare Advantage

Medicaid health plans

  • Mississippi Medicaid Fee for Service
  • MS CAN Plans: Magnolia, Molina, TrueCare
  • MS CHIP: Magnolia, Molina, TrueCare

Dental plans

  • Always Care
  • Avesis
  • Medicaid Fee for Service
  • MS CAN: Magnolia Health Plan, Molina HealthCare, TrueCare
  • Ambetter
  • Unum

Vision plans

  • EyeMed
  • First Look
  • March Vision

Commercial, Marketplace and other health plans

  • Aetna Health Management (excludes UMMC Madison)
  • Ambetter
  • American Life Care - PHCS/Multiplan
  • Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
  • BCBS Federal
  • Celtic (Transplants)
  • Cigna PPO (excludes transplants; excludes UMMC Madison)
  • Corvel Healthcare Corp (Workers Comp.)
  • First Choice Health Plan - includes Humana PPO Commercial, but not Humana Medicare Advantage
  • First Health Network/Coventry - Aetna
  • Government Employees Health Insurance Association (GEHA) - United Healthcare
  • Interlink Health Services (Transplant)
  • LifeTrac (Transplant)
  • Mississippi Department of Rehab Services (MDRS)
  • Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN)
  • Mississippi State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan (AHS Network administered by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi)
  • Multiplan - PHCS/American Life Care
  • North Mississippi Health Link
  • OptumHealth Care Solutions, Inc. (Transplant)
  • OptumHealth VA CCN 
  • PPO Plus, LLC/Zelis/Stratose
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Tricare
  • United Healthcare: PPO Commercial (excludes HMO)
  • Vantage Health Plan: Commercial, PPACA Plan
  • Veterans Administration

Behavioral health plans

  • United Behavioral Health
  • Cigna Behavioral Health

Education

Board Certification: Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Fellowship:Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester
Medical Education:NHL Municipal Medical College
Residency:Children's Medical Center of Brooklyn
Residency:Sheth K.M. School of P.G. Medicine and Research

Experience

Current Positions

Physician Liaison/Medical Director, NICU at MHG, School of Medicine, UMMC01/2018 - Present
Director of Research, Newborn Division, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UMMC11/2016 - Present
Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Of Mississippi Medical Center07/2015 - Present
Team Leader VON Database, School of Medicine, UMMC2012 - Present

Specialty Certification Licensure

Certification, Diplomate in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The American Board of Pediatrics10/1999 - Present
Certification, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Provider06/2015
Licensure, Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure07/2012 - 06/2015
Certification, Diplomate of The American Board of Pediatrics, The American Board of Pediatrics10/1996 - 12/2013
Licensure, Mississippi State Medical Board03/2000 - 06/2012

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

UMMC GWIMS Trailbazer Award, UMMC Group on Woman in Medicine and Science2018
Intramural Funding- Hyperoxia, inflammation and cerebral white matter injury. Role: consultant, IRSP2014