The Mississippi State Medical Association has a new doctor in charge with Katherine Pannel being sworn in as the organization’s new president.
“The Mississippi State Medical Association is proud to introduce Dr. Katherine Pannel as our 158th President,” a social media announcement by MSMA reads. “Dr. Pannel makes history as the first Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine to lead the organization.”
The Mississippi State Medical Association is proud to introduce Dr. Katherine Pannel as our 158th President. Dr. Pannel makes MSMA history as the first Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine to lead our organization. #msma #msmamatters #physicianleadership #msdoctors #msphysicians pic.twitter.com/0lPCBehwho
— MS State Med Assn (@MSMA1) August 9, 2025
Pannel serves as a psychiatrist and medical director for Right Track Medical Group in Oxford. Considered one of the state’s leading voices for mental health, she has won numerous awards for her work with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, among other groups facing mental health challenges.
A native of Inverness, Pannel received her undergraduate degree in biology from Delta State University and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She previously served as president of the Northeast Medical Society and as chair of the MSMA Board of Trustees.
As noted in the announcement, Pannel is the first osteopathic physician to take on the role of president of MSMA, which is Mississippi’s largest physician advocacy program. She succeeds Dr. John Mitchell, who recently completed his one-year term. The position was once held by now-State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney, as well.
MSMA represents nearly 5,000 physicians and medical students across Mississippi. It also provides professional development resources to physicians and works to alter healthcare-related policy on the state level when needed.
