New Founding Dean Named for MCG’s Four-Year Campus in Savannah

Dr. Elizabeth Gray, associate dean at the Southeast Campus of the Medical College of Georgia, based in Savannah and Brunswick, has been named founding campus dean of the Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia-Georgia Southern Partnership campus.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia recently approved spending $1.7 million for renovations to Georgia Southern University's Armstrong Campus in Savannah to create the new campus, which is slated to open in the fall of 2024.

This will become the third four-year campus of the state's only public medical school. MCG will be able to increase its enrollment from 264 students per class to 304. This will help produce even more physicians for the state.

Gray has led the Savannah location of the Southeast Campus since 2020.

"Dr. Gray has a long history of leadership in medical education.  Not only has she worked diligently to strengthen and grow relationships with our clinical partners, St. Joseph's/Candler Health System, and many other community stakeholders in Savannah, she has also built a community research program for students at that campus. While at the same time, expertly guiding them through the clinical phase of their medical education," said MCG Dean, David Hess, MD.

Hess said Gray will be in charge of developing a long-term vision and setting goals for the Savannah campus; developing a leadership team; and working with hospital partners to develop clinical education opportunities for students.

Carl L. Reiber, PhD, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Southern said, "Dr. Gray will be an important piece in ensuring that we all meet the need of providing greater access to education and training for medical students and ease the state's ongoing shortage of physicians."