Josie H. Bidwell, DNP, FNP-C
Specialties: Preventive Medicine
Gender: Female
Biography: Josie Bidwell serves as a Professor at The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine with a secondary appointment in the School of Population Health. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2004 and Master of Science in Nursing from the same institution in 2006. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from UMMC SON in 2013. She is currently practicing as a Lifestyle Medicine Clinician with the department of Preventive Medicine where she also serves as the Clinical Director for the department. She is a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. In 2022, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is the first nurse to receive this designation. She is the host of Southern Remedy Health and Fit on Mississippi Public Broadcasting Think Radio. Dr. Bidwell was inducted into the UMMC Nursing Hall of Fame in May 2021. She was appointed as the Director of the Office of Well-being at UMMC in July 2024.
My Approach to Healthcare
Service is at the heart of my healthcare philosophy. I believe that in order to take excellent care of people, we have to learn their stories. There is no better way to learn that story than to serve within the communities in which they live, work, and play. I also believe that they best way to teach students is to immerse them in service. By seeing and serving, students develop real-world understanding of the health challenges impacting our patients. The majority of factors that impact health outcomes occur outside the 4 walls of an exam room, operating room, or hospital. The culmination of this strategy builds trust among patients and providers and allows us to “ask better questions”. When we ask better questions, we better understand the health needs of patients, communities and populations. This leads to stronger more innovative projects and grants to better serve our patients.
Practice Locations
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1
Office Annex I
2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 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
| Board Certification: | Nurse Practitioner, Family |
| Graduate School: | University of Mississippi School of Nursing |
| Graduate School: | University of Mississippi School of Nursing |
Experience
Current Positions
| Director, UMMC Office of Well-being | 07/2024 - Present |
| Director, School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, UMMC | 07/2020 - Present |
| Associate Professor, School of School of Health Related Professions, Department of Preventive Medicine, UMMC | 01/2019 - Present |
| Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State St, MS 39216 | 10/2018 - Present |
| Lifestyle Medicine Nurse Practitioner, School of Medicine, UMMC | 09/2017 - Present |
| Southern Remedy Host, School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine | 2017 - Present |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, Health Coach, CDC | 02/2019 - Present |
| Certification, Lifestyle Medicine, American College of Lifestyle Medicine and International Board of Lifestyle Medicine | 10/2018 - Present |
| Licensure, Fitness | |
| Certification, ServSafe Food Manager | 08/2015 - 08/2020 |
| Certification, Basic Life Support | |
| Certification, Pediatric Advanced Life Support | 06/2016 |
| Licensure, APRN | 06/2006 - 12/2024 |
| Licensure, Registered Nurse | 06/2004 - 12/2024 |
| Certification, FNP | 06/2006 - 05/2026 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Fellow, American College of Lifestyle Medicine | 2022 |
| Academy for Excellence in Education (Inaugural Member), UMMC | 2022 |
| DAISY Nurse Leader, Nominee, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2021 |
| Nursing Hall of Fame, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2021 |
| DAISY Faculty Award Nominee, UMMC | 2018 |
| Excellence in Advanced Practice Award, Society of Pediatric Nurses | 2018 |
| Magnolia Award, Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | 2018 |
| 2017 Best of Jackson, Best Nurse Practitioner Nominee, Jackson Free Press | 2017 |
| Outstanding Community Achievement Award, Mississippi Nightingale Awards | 2017 |
| UMMC SON Alumnus of the Year, UMMC SON | 2016 |
| 2004 Summa cum laude, UMMC SON | |
| 2018 Community Partnership Award, 3rd place, National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences | |
| UMMC Southern Remedy Community Health Advocate Master Trainer | |
| 2004 Phi Kappa Phi | |
| 2003 and 2013 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges | |
| 2003 Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society Nursing, Theta Beta Chapter | |
| 2014 MS Nightingale Awards Nurse Innovator of the Year, Nominee, MNA/MNF | |
| 2013 MS Baptist Hospital/Gilfoy School of Nursing Scholarship, UMMC SON | |
| 2013 Regions Bank TEACH Prize Nominee, UMMC | |
| 2013 Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, UMMC |