Jackson, Miss. – The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) has named Dr. Robert Besinger, a pediatrician from Brandon, to serve as the agency’s new Medical Director, effective April 1, 2026.
Before joining DOM, Besinger worked in outpatient pediatrics at St. Dominic Family Health in Flowood, as well as Rankin Children’s Group in Flowood. He has been a board-certified pediatrician for the past 12 years.
In his new role, Besinger will help inform the clinical strategy of the agency and find innovative ways to achieve better outcomes for the 700,000 Mississippians served by the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Besinger will be charged with providing clinical expertise and guidance to daily operations and administration, including activities such as care management oversight, quality improvement, appropriate utilization of healthcare services, delivery system transformation, and ensuring clinical initiatives are successfully implemented. He will report to Executive Director Cindy Bradshaw.
“With a sincere commitment to the children and families of Mississippi, Dr. Besinger brings not only exceptional expertise but a heartfelt passion for service to our agency,” Bradshaw said. “His leadership will be instrumental as we continue striving to enhance the quality of care and strengthen the way we serve our communities, and I am truly delighted to welcome him to our team.”
A native of Southaven, Miss., Besinger earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis, followed by his medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in 2010. He completed a pediatric residency at UMMC in 2014.
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Mississippi in this role. My hope is to make a meaningful and lasting impact on families across our state, drawing on my background in pediatrics to help advance Mississippi as a gold standard for compassionate, high-quality care. This appointment is truly an answered prayer, and I am excited to step into this new chapter of service.”
Besinger lives in Brandon with his wife and their son and three daughters.
Published April 17, 2026
