Georgia Regents Health System Board of Directors

• 
  Ricardo Azziz, MD, MPH, MBA
  Georgia Health Sciences University President

  Assuming the dual roles of President of Georgia Health Sciences University and Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Georgia Health Sciences Health System, Azziz has rapidly advanced the university’s mission of better health since beginning his tenure in July 2010. His administration’s vision is for the institution to become a leading academic health center and top-50 research university while transforming the institution and the region into a health care and biomedical research destination. Azziz—a recognized clinician, biomedical researcher and health care executive—continues his clinical practice at GHSU, as well as his androgen excess-related translational research. He came to GHSU from the Cedars-Sinai Health System, where he held the Helping Hand of Los Angeles Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology, directed the Center for Androgen-Related Research and Discovery and chaired the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. In addition, he served as Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Medicine, Deputy Director of the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and Assistant Dean for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and master’s degrees in public health and business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed an internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Georgetown University Hospital and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He served on the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for several years prior to his move to Los Angeles.

• 
  David L. Bogorad, MD
  Director of Refractive Surgery
  Medical College of Georgia

  Dr. Bogorad received his Doctor of Medicine in 1974 from New York University School of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine Residency from New York University, Bellevue Ophthalmology and his Residency from New York University. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Previously, he was director of refractive surgery in the Henry Ford Health System Department of Ophthalmology, one of the nation’s largest eye departments, and pioneered LASIK surgery in that institution. He was responsible for the credentialing of other Henry Ford eye surgeons in LASIK surgery. Dr. Bogorad has served as a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University Of Michigan School Of Medicine. He is associate professor of Ophthalmology at MCG, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

• 
  Peter F. Buckley, MD
  Dean, Medical College of Georgia

  Buckley, Chairman of the Physicians Practice Group Board of Trustees, served as Chairman of the GHSU Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior before being named Dean of the Medical College of Georgia in 2011. He also serves as a Professor of Radiology, Psychiatry/Health Behavior, Pharmacology/Toxicology and Graduate Studies. He has extensively researched and treated schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. He earned his medical degree from the University College of Dublin.

• 
  Nadia Butler
  President and CEO, ESi

  Butler’s company develops crisis information management software and systems. She previously served in executive and management positions in nuclear engineering and technology development industries. She was named Georgia’s Woman of the Year in Technology in 2008. Butler is a Director of Augusta Tomorrow and President of the Augusta Ballet Board of Trustees.

• 
  Ben Cheek, MD

  Ben Cheek graduated from the Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine in 1982 and completed his residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at the Emory School of Medicine in 1986. He is board certified and in private practice in Columbus, Georgia. He is past president of the MCG School of Medicine Alumni Association.

• 
  Larry R. Ellis
  University System of Georgia Regent

  Ellis, Chief Executive Officer of Ellis Services and Solutions Enterprises, serves on the boards of directors of SRA International and the Armed Forces Benefit Association. He served in the U.S. Army for more than 35 years before retiring as a Four-Star General.

• 
  David S. Hefner, MPA
  GHSU Executive Vice President for Clinical Affairs
  Chief Executive Officer of GHS Medical Center
  and Chief Executive Officer of GHS Medical Associates

  Mr. Hefner aligns GHSU’s clinical initiatives with university-wide priorities to optimize strategic growth. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Physicians Practice Group and as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, working with the Provost to integrate research, teaching and patient care activities. Formerly Senior Advisor at the Association of American Medical Colleges, Hefner has also served as President of the University of Chicago Medical Center and Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for Penn State’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

• 
  C. Thomas Hopkins, Jr., MD
  University System of Georgia Regent

  Hopkins, who is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, has a private practice in Griffin, Ga. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon and orthopaedic surgeon. Hopkins is a Past President of the Georgia Orthopaedic Society, Spalding Regional Hospital medical staff and Griffin Rotary Club. He is a member of the United Bank Board of Directors and has served on the Georgia Health Strategies Council and Governor’s Physician Partnership.

• 
  Henry "Hank" M. Huckaby
  Chancellor, Board of Regents

  Huckaby, Georgia’s House District 113 representative, is a longtime educator who has held administrative positions at Georgia State University, Georgia State University, Gordon College and the University of Georgia. He served as Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget from 1991-95 and as Interim Chief Financial Officer for former Gov. Sonny Perdue. A resident of Oconee County, he is a member of the Oconee County Rotary Club, the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and the Management Committee of the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir. He is a Trustee of the Ty Cobb Educational Foundation and was named Douglas County’s 1995 Man of the Year. Huckaby earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and an M.B.A. in international business from Georgia State University.

• 
  W. Mansfield Jennings, Jr.
  University System of Georgia Regent

  Jennings, Chairman of ComSouth Corp. and SunMark Community Bank/SunMark Bankshares, is a longtime member of the Middle Georgia College Foundation Board of Trustees. He is very active in the community.

• 
  Neil L. Pruitt, Jr.
  Chairman and Chief Executive officer of UHS-Pruitt Corporation

  UHS-Pruitt Corporation is an integrated health care company offering independent and assisted living, skilled nursing services, rehabilitation services, home health and hospice care as well as pharmacy services, community-based services, medical supplies and care management. Regent Pruitt also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the American Health Care Association. He is a recognized leader in the health care profession and is a member of The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, a board member of the United Hospice Foundation and past Chairman of the Georgia Health Care Association. Regent Pruitt graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of the South. He was awarded a Master’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Health Administration from Georgia State University in 2000. He and his wife, Mebane, have three children.

• 
  Patrick G. Robinson
  Private practice dentist in Athens, GA
  Dr. Robinson is originally from Augusta, GA. After high school, he did his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2002. Dr. Robinson then attended the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in Augusta from 2004 to 2008 and graduated in May. He was the recipient of the Augusta Area Dental Society Award in 2007, which recognizes students for being in the top half of his/her class and displaying kindness to patients. Dr. Robinson worked at the Good Samaritan Dental Clinic in downtown Atlanta serving the working poor and homeless of downtown Atlanta to complete his externship. Dr. Robinson is a member of the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Clarke County Dental Association.

• 
  J. Roy Rowland, MD
  Director of Utilization Management, Middle Georgia Community Mental Health Center

  Rowland, a 1952 GHSU graduate, practiced family medicine in Dublin, Ga., for 22 years. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years and the Georgia House of Representatives for six years. He is a member of the Medical College of Georgia Alumni Association and a recipient of the association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is an honorary member of the Dublin Rotary Club and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

• 
  Rebecca N. Sullivan
  Member of the Political Law Group, A Chalmers LLC

  Rebeccas N. Sullivan is a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission and the State Bar of Georgia, and recently served on the Georgia Board of Nursing. She volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Grace Fellowship Church in Snellville. She is a Vice President of the Gwin Oaks Elementary School PTA.

• 
  Janet B. Tankersley PT, DPT, PCS
  Assistant Professor/Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
  College of Allied Health Sciences, Georgia Health Sciences University

  Dr. Tankersley received her associate and bachelor degrees in physical therapy from Medical College of Georgia (currently Georgia Health Sciences University) in Augusta, Ga. and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from A. T. Still University of Health Sciences in Mesa, Arizona. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Pediatric Science at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. Dr. Tankersley is a board certified clinical specialist in pediatrics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and has over 20 years of experience in pediatric physical therapy practice. She is also a credentialed clinical instructor through the American Physical Therapy Association. Prior to joining the faculty at GHSU in 1999, Dr. Tankersley maintained a private pediatric practice in Martinez, Ga. She currently teaches the clinical education curriculum, pediatric content and critical care content for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Her clinical research interests include gait analysis and quality of life measures in the pediatric population. Her educational research interests include assessment of student readiness for clinical rotations and curricular models for improved clinical performance. Dr. Tankersley is also committed to community and international service and advancement of global health.

• 
  Steve W. Wrigley, MD
  Chancellor Designee

  Chancellor Hank Huckaby named Dr. Steve W. Wrigley executive vice chancellor for administration for the University System of Georgia (USG), effective July 1, 2011.

  Wrigley is responsible for a number of departments as defined by Chancellor Huckaby. Wrigley was the interim vice president for Public Service and Outreach as well as vice president for government relations for the University of Georgia (UGA) and a longtime UGA senior staff member. He is a veteran of state government under former Gov. Zell Miller.

  “I have had the opportunity to watch Steve for many years and have witnessed his high level of ability in a wide variety of key positions and important assignments,” Huckaby said. “Steve knows and understands both state government and public higher education and will bring great strengths to his new role. I am delighted he will be joining our senior team at the University System Office.”

« previous | next »