Kelsey E. Koch, MD
Specialties: Thoracic Surgery
Gender: Female
Biography: Originally from the upper Midwest, Dr. Koch earned her medical degree at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. She completed her residency in General Surgery at the University of Iowa and spent 2 years of dedicated research time focusing on oncology research. During this time, she also completed the Association for Surgical Education’s Surgical Education Research Fellowship.
After her General Surgery training, Dr. Koch attended Yale and completed her fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery in New Haven, CT, with a clinical focus in the Thoracic Oncology.
Dr. Koch sees patients with primary lung cancer, cancers metastatic to the lung, mediastinal masses, tracheal abnormalities, esophageal cancer, thoracic outlet syndrome, and chest wall deformities.
Practice Locations
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1
UMMC Medical Pavilion
2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216 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 - 2026
MississippiCAN 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)
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
Education
| Board Certification: | General Surgery |
| Fellowship: | Yale University School of Medicine |
| Medical Education: | University Of South Dakota School Of Medicine |
Experience
Current Positions
| Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 09/2025 - Present |
| Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, St. Dominic Hospital, 969 Lakeland Dr | 09/2025 - Present |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, Thoracic Surgical Robotics Fellowship, American Association of Thoracic Surgery | |
| Certification, Da Vinci Robotic Surgery Certification | |
| Licensure, Medical License, Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure | 06/2025 - 06/2026 |
| Certification, General Surgery Board Certification, American Board of Surgery | 03/2024 - 01/2027 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Clinical Excellence Award, Yale Medicine, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery | 2025 |
| Surgical Education Leadership Fellowship, Association of Surgical Education | 2023 |
| Surgical Education Research Fellow, Association of Surgical Education | 2022 |
| Medical Student Surgery Clerkship Teaching Award, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine | 2022 |
| Clinical Teaching Award Nominee, University of Iowa, Graduate Medical Education | 2022 |
| Resident Educator of the Year Nominee, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine | 2021 |
| First Place, Regional Trauma Resident Paper Competition, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma | 2020 |
| T32 Surgical Oncology Research Fellow, University of Iowa, Department of Surgical Oncology | 2020 |
| Quality Leadership Academy, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics | 2020 |
| Make a Difference Award, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics | 2018 |
| Resident Educator of the Year Nominee, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine | 2018 |
| Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation | 2016 |
| Karl Wegner Highest Honors Pathology Award, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine | 2015 |
| Clinical Research Assistant, Sanford Health, Department of Pediatric Surgery | 2013 |
| Leadership Hall of Fame Inductee, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 2012 |