Thomas E. Dobbs, MD
Gender: Male
Biography: Thomas Dobbs assumed the role of Dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health on August 1, 2022. In addition to his role as Dean, Dr. Dobbs teaches Epidemiology for the School of Population Health and the School of Health-Related Professions. He has a clinical position within the Division of Infectious Disease, working specifically in the fields of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections with a focus on the intersection of disease and the social determinants of health.
Dr. Dobbs has a long career working at the crossroads of clinical medicine and public health as a physician, researcher and public health leader. He has held numerous leadership roles within the Mississippi State Department of Health including State Epidemiologist and State Health Officer (a role through which he directed the state's response to the COVID pandemic). In his role as State Health Officer, Dr. Dobbs focused the agency on addressing the numerous health inequities that plague our state. Additionally, he has worked in leadership roles nationally and internationally in the fight against diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.
Practice Locations
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1
Office Annex I
2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 View Location |
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2
Jackson Medical Mall - UMMC Clinics
350 Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, MS 39213 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 - 2026MississippiCAN 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)
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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: | Infectious Disease; Internal Medicine |
| Fellowship: | Wake Forest University Medical Center |
| Fellowship: | The University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Graduate School: | The University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Internship: | The University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Medical Education: | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Residency: | The University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Experience
Current Positions
| Dean, School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216 | 08/2022 - Present |
| Medical Director Crossroads STD Clinic, School of Population Health, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson 39216 | 08/2022 - Present |
| Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216 | 08/2022 - Present |
| Clinical Consultant, Southeastern National TB Center | 11/2010 - Present |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, Infectious Diseases, American Board of Internal Medicine | 08/2005 - 12/2025 |
| Certification, Board Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine | 08/2000 - 12/2031 |
| NPI | |
| Licensure, Medical | 06/2000 - 06/2026 |
| DEA, DEA | 06/2021 - 06/2022 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Gold Research Award, UMMC | 2025 |
| UMMC Endowed Chair in Health Disparities, UMMC | 2024 |
| Golden Champion Award, My Brother's Keeper | 2023 |
| Governor's Executive Commendation, Governor Tate Reeves | 2022 |
| Alfio Rausa Public Health Leadership Award, Mississippi Public Health Association | 2022 |
| SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 60 Commendation, Mississippi Senate | 2022 |
| HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 122 Commendation, Mississippi State House of Representatives | 2022 |
| Mississippi Top 50 Influential Leaders, MSTop50 | 2022 |
| Rural Health Award, Mississippi Rural Health Association | 2021 |
| Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award, Mississippi Rural Health Association | 2021 |
| PREPS Partner Award, Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools | 2021 |
| Presidential Award, Mississippi Academy of Sciences | 2021 |
| President Circle Award, Mississippi Public Health Association | 2020 |
| Alfio Rausa Medical Section Award, Mississippi Public Health Association | 2020 |
| 2020 Regions TEACH Prize Finalists/Nelson Order Finalist, UMMC | 2020 |
| Aaron Shirley, MD Distinguished Indigent Care Award, Community Health Center Association of Mississippi | 2020 |