Josie Bidwell, DNP, RN, FNP-C, DipACLM, FACLM
Dr. Josie Bidwell serves as an associate professor in the School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine at University of Mississippi Medical Center. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Mississippi School of Nursing in 2004, 2006 and 2013, respectively. She is board certified as a family nurse practitioner (FNP-C) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Additionally, she is a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional and Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She was inducted into the University of Mississippi Medical Center Nursing Hall of Fame in 2021. Additionally, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in 2022. She is the first nurse to ever receive the distinction.
Dr. Bidwell is a currently practicing nurse practitioner at UMMC’s Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, addressing nutrition, fitness, sleep, tobacco cessation, stress, and resiliency with clients 18 and older. She was named the Clinical Director of Preventive Medicine in 2020 which includes Lifestyle Medicine Clinic as well as the Student and Employee Health Clinic.
Bidwell has worked with Southern Remedy since 2012. In response to Mississippi's obesity problem, the Southern Remedy team compiled the Healthy Living Curriculum which is composed of an adult and child nutrition and physical activity program. She served as the lead author for both the adult and children's physical activity curriculum. She serves as a Community Health Advocate (CHA) Master Trainer to provide nutrition, physical activity and healthy living training to laypersons and health-professional students. Bidwell, together with Dr. Alan Penman in the UMMC School of Medicine, received grant funding from The Bower Foundation to establish a healthy cooking teaching kitchen in the midtown community of Jackson. This kitchen taught healthy food selection and preparation for people with high blood pressure and diabetes.
She is also a licensed fitness instructor who regularly teaches both Zumba Fitness and Zumba Kids Jr. classes. In January 2017, Bidwell became the permanent host of Southern Remedy Healthy and Fit on Mississippi Public Broadcasting Think Radio. Southern Remedy Healthy and Fit is a weekly, live, call-in show that provides residents of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Louisiana with fact-based information about healthy lifestyles.
Her main focus is improving health outcomes for the people of Mississippi through research, education and practice related to healthy lifestyles.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Josie Bidwell has employment relationships with the Office of Well-Being, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, University Nursing Associates, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine. She has a family member that has a relationship with Leflore Technologies. Josie Bidwell receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Josie Bidwell is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the Diabetes Coalition of Mississippi.
