Georgia Regents Medical Center Senior Leadership

• 
  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 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.

• 
  Susan G. James, Esq.
  Vice President and General Counsel
  Susan G. James is Vice President and General Counsel of Georgia Health Sciences Health System.
  
  As General Counsel, she is responsible for providing advice to and representing Georgia Health Sciences' various health care entities, including Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center and Georgia Health Sciences Medical Associates. She is also corporate secretary for Georgia Health Sciences Health System and Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center.
  
  Previously, James served as attorney General Counsel. Prior to joining MCG Health, Inc., she served as Vice President and General Counsel at Regency Hospital Company, a long-term acute care health system headquartered in Atlanta. Previously, she served as an Associate in the technology and corporate practice groups at Atlanta law firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge, after having held a number of progressively responsible positions at Atlanta law firms.
  
  James earned a bachelor’s degree in Music at the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in Music at the Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and a Juris Doctorate degree at the University of Louisville School of Law.
  
  She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Association of Corporate Counsel and American Health Lawyers Association.

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