John Cross, MD

John L. Cross, MD, FACP is serving as the 155th President of the Mississippi State Medical Association. A native of Brandon, Mississippi, he is currently Vice President and Medical Director at Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. He is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and remains on the medical staff at Baptist Hospital and Baptist Nutrition and Bariatric Center. He also serves as a volunteer physician at Mission First Medical and Dental Clinic. He is a member of the Academy of Insurance Medicine, Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and member of the American Medical Association.

Prior to election as President, Dr. Cross served in many roles in MSMA. He currently serves as the MSMA representative on the Board of Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi (MACM). He served as President of Central Medical Society. He served as President of the Young Physicians section. He served as Chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws committee. He served on the Board of Trustees as Vice Chairman and the Young Physicians Trustee. He has also served as Doctor of the Day for many years. He completed the inaugural class of the MSMA Physician Leadership Academy.

Dr. Cross received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Mississippi State University.  He completed medical school and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He started his Internal Medicine career at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and was later promoted to Associate Professor. He served on numerous committees at UMMC including At Large Faculty member on the Medical Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Ambulatory Operations Council, and Advisory Council.

Dr. Cross later practiced Internal Medicine with Baptist Premier Medical Group. He became Medical Director and served on the Premier Leadership Council.

Dr. Cross was then named Vice President and Medical Director for Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company where he oversees medical underwriting decisions, employee health and wellness, and project innovations.

Dr. Cross lives in Flowood with his wife, Catherine. He has three children, Thomas, Caroline, and Andrew.