OXFORD, Miss. – Dr. Wayne Gray, a University of Mississippi instructor of biology, has been named director of the university’s Health Professions Advising Office.
The office, in Martindale Student Services Center, provides students with information to guide them as they consider careers in the health profession. Gray, who joined the UM faculty in August 2014, said he is honored to help with the important job of guiding the next generation of his field.
“Our state and nation face health care challenges, including providing affordable health care for our diverse population and attacking problems like obesity, diabetes, cancer and infectious diseases,” Gray said. “It is exciting for the UM Health Professions Advising Office, along with the Ole Miss faculty and staff, to play an important role in preparing the next generation of health care providers to address these critical medical issues.”
Gray holds a bachelor’s degree from UM and a Ph.D. in medical sciences from the University of South Alabama Medical School. Before returning to Ole Miss, Gray spent 27 years at the University of Arkansas Medical School teaching medical and graduate students and conducting research in medical virology.
Gray is well suited for his new role, said Rich Forgette, interim dean of the UM College of Liberal Arts.
“We welcome Dr. Wayne Gray as our next director of the Health Professions Advising Office,” Forgette said. “Dr. Gray is a scientist who has an extensive medical background. His research is in medical microbiology and virology. This background makes him a great selection for the director position.”