A Mississippi pediatric doctor charged with sexual battery of a minor has surrendered his medical license.

Dr. Neelesh Ajit Tipnis, a pediatric gastroenterology specialist, voluntarily surrendered his license to the Mississippi Medical License Board on Thursday, The Clarion-Ledger reported. The surrender was effective immediately.

Tipnis, 49, was arrested and charged Jan. 17. The Madison Police Department said parents of a 14-year-old girl contacted the department stating their child was having an inappropriate electronic conversation with an adult.

Authorities said Tipnis made “inappropriate contact” with the girl between late December and early January. They found evidence of a recent encounter between the two.

Tipnis received his practice license in August 2013. He worked as a professor and director of a gastrointestinal program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the newspaper said.

Tipnis worked for the Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine as a pediatric gastroenterology specialist at the time of his arrest. The health care organization said they “relieved” Tipnis of his duties.

It’s unclear whether Tipnis had an attorney who can comment on his behalf.