Georgia Regents Medical Center 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.

• 
  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.

• 
  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.

• 
  Lewis C. Horne, Jr.
  Partner, Schiff Hardin LLP

  Horne, at Attorney-at-Law in Atlanta, is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the Council of Development Finance Agencies. He is Secretary of the Junior Golf Association, Chairman of the LPGA Foundation and a Past President of the National Minority Golf Foundation.

• 
  Kurt Huntzinger, CPA
  Partner, Habif, Arogeti & Wayne, LLP

  Kurt is an Audit Partner and the chair of the firm’s Public Company (SEC) Practice Group. Kurt has over 29 years of experience in the accounting industry. Prior to joining HA&W, Kurt was with BDO Seidman where he served as the managing partner of the firm’s assurance and accounting practice. He specializes in providing accounting and auditing services to publicly-traded and privately owned businesses in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, technology (hardware and software), medical equipment, healthcare and life sciences, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, distribution, real estate and aviation/airline clients.

• 
  Robert E. Knox, Jr.
  Attorney-at-Law and Partner at Knox and Swan

  He was Mayor of the city of Thomson from 1979 to 2007. An active member of the American Cancer Society, he has been the Co-chair of the McDuffie County Relay for Life since 1998. He serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan College, the Board of Directors of the CSRA Community Foundation, the McDuffie Museum Board and the Camellia Partners for Economic and Historic Preservation.

• 
  Cynthia “Cindy” Mercer, M.D.
  President of the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society

  Dr. Mercer received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed her residency in OB/GYN at Emory University School of Medicine. She is a member of the Planning and Development Committee for the Medical College of Georgia in Athens, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Athens Specialty Group.

• 
  Cobbs G. Nixon
  Vice President of Blanchard and Calhoun Insurance Agency, Inc. in Augusta

  Mr. Nixon is a Past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Augusta and of Georgia. He has held leadership positions with the Georgia-Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Augusta Museum of History, Augusta Rowing Club, Augusta Opera and Porter Fleming Foundation. He is a Trustee of the Academy of Richmond County and is Co-founder of the Westobou Festival, LLC.

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