Tanya J. Fitts, M.D.
MD, University of Mississippi Medical Center
BA, Spanish Language and Literature, Vanderbilt University
Pediatrician Dr. Tanya Fitts has been caring for children and teens in Mississippi for nearly 20 years. As the physician owner of Lafayette Pediatric Clinic, she leads a staff of professionals dedicated to serving young people and their families from across all backgrounds.
A native of Pontotoc County, Dr. Fitts was among the first graduates of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus. She went on to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where she earned an undergraduate degree in Spanish Language and Literature.
She returned to her home state to launch her career in medicine, completing her medical degree at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She was drawn to pediatrics because of the opportunity to work with families as they grow and develop over time. The teaching and preventive-care aspects of pediatric practice also continue to hold appeal for her.
Dr. Fitts began her practice in pediatric medicine in 2003 and opened Lafayette Pediatric Clinic four years later.
“I love what I do. I love kids — and when they’re sick, I love helping them get better.”
Dr. Fitts is certified in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in which she is a member of the Sections on Practice Management, Breastfeeding, and Obesity. She is also a member of the Mississippi Chapter of the AAP, including its committee on Continuing Education meetings. She serves as the chapter’s coordinator for CATCH (Community Access to Child Health) grants. Through this program, physicians and pediatric residents can launch projects designed to help children in underserved communities access care for better well-being.
Her work on behalf of the community’s health has included serving as Chair of Pediatrics from 2015-19 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, where she was physician leader for the hospital’s Baby Friendly Initiative. She has also served as a medical expert for the Lafayette County Child Abuse Task Force, and has testified in criminal cases as an expert in child abuse and neglect.
Dr. Fitts is fluent in Spanish. Her practice includes a focus on providing culturally competent care, including to Latin American families who have experienced trauma in their home countries and their immigration journey. She incorporates screening and care for mental-health concerns including depression and suicide risk into her care for all patients.
A literacy advocate, Dr. Fitts incorporates the national nonprofit program “Reach Out and Read” into her practice. Through the program, she uses books as a tool to assess children’s developmental milestones at checkups through age 5, and gives families a free book to take home. She also serves on the board of the Lafayette County Literacy Council.
She and her husband, David, are supporters of the arts as members of the Friends of the Ford Center at the University of Mississippi. They are the parents of twins, James and Ann Claire.