Dr. Dobbs, who leads Mississippi through deadly COVID pandemic, will resign this summer
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs will resign at the end of July, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced Tuesday.
Dobbs has led the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and has been a vocal advocate for vaccines.
“I feel like the time is right for me to return to the clinical side of medicine particularly the communicable disease treatment of patients,” Dobbs said in the press announcement. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at MSDH, particularly working with this dedicated health staff and advancing the field of health equity in Mississippi.”
During his time in medicine, Dobbs served as the medical director for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, clinical consultant for the Southeastern National TB center and infection disease consultant for different hospitals throughout Mississippi.
Dobbs intends to go back into the academic world, according to the press release. Prior to joining the health department, Dobbs held various positions in academia, including roles at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
The press release says Dobbs “would love to teach and train health care professionals about public health and infection disease.”
In addition to two intense years of leading Mississippi through the coronavirus pandemic, Dobbs also represented the state in Dobbs vs Jackson Womens Health. The court case recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the federal Roe vs. Wade abortion ruling and let states decide when a woman can have an abortion.
Oral arguments were held in December and the Supreme Court could rule in the next weeks or months.
The demands of being a leader at MSDH have increased well beyond COVID-19, vaccinations, shortage of ICU beds and the nursing shortage that Dobbs and his agency had to face since March 2020.
The health department was given the task of taking oversight of the new medical marijuana program in the state.
“The MSDH is currently working to establish the licensing and patient registry structures and plans to begin accepting online license applications for patients, medical practitioners, cannabis cultivation facilities, and others by June 2022,” the health department said in a press release on Feb. 4.
State Board of Health Chairman Dr. Thad Waites says Dobbs has the full support of the board, and they understand his desire to go back to teaching.
“I speak for all of us when I say we have truly appreciated his professionalism, sterling personality and stellar leadership throughout his tenure but especially during COVID,” Waites said. “He has been a wonderful asset to Mississippi.”
Dr. Daniel P. Edney has been named Deputy State Health Officer.
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 12:57 PM.