JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) appointed Dr. Renia Dotson as the new State Epidemiologist.

As director of the Center for Public Health Transformation, Dotson was already responsible for all clinical and field services throughout the state. Before coming to MSDH in 2024, she practiced as a colon and rectal surgeon for 23 years, mainly at Delta Regional Medical Center. 

Dotson currently serves on the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure, the Mississippi Board of Nursing, the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce Advisory Board, and the Mississippi State Medical Association Board of Trustees.

Theresa Kittle, a MSDH epidemiologist of 14 years, is the new Deputy State Epidemiologist. She has also served as Director of the Office of Epidemiology, where she administered the disease surveillance and electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) systems.

“I’m very grateful that Dr. Dotson has agreed to brush off her MPH and take on this task,” said Dr. Dan Edney, MSDH executive director and State Health Officer. “I have tremendous confidence in our new epidemiology team. They recently quickly contained a salmonella outbreak and norovirus outbreak, which showed tremendous teamwork. They’re doing an amazing job safeguarding the health of Mississippians.” 

According to MSDH, the Office of Epidemiology watches occurrences and trends of reportable and chronic diseases, investigates outbreaks of diseases, helps interrupt outbreaks or disease problems, and reports morbidity incidence and trends to the medical community and other target groups.