Newman Named Chair of Community Health Sciences at Southern Miss

Dr. Ray Newman, a longtime health care executive and higher education scholar, has been named chair of the Department of Community Health Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Newman has served as a visiting professor at Southern Miss for the past three years in health policy and administration. Dr. Emmanuel Ahua had served as interim chair of the department since Dr. James McGuire stepped down in May, 2011.

“My primary objective in this new role is to provide leadership and strategic management for the department in planning for the future and creating an environment for faculty to be successful in supporting the mission of the university,” said Newman, a former Naval officer who completed two tours during the Vietnam War.

Newman's impressive career includes serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Parkland Hospital System in Dallas and executive vice president and chief financial officer of St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. His 20-year academic career includes full-time appointments as professor at New York University and Tulane University.

“Ray Newman brings unparalleled experience and skills to the position of department chair,” said Dr. Mike Forster, dean of the College of Health at Southern Miss. “His demonstrated leadership skills will be especially valuable as Community Health Sciences steps up to a new level of responsibility in the College of Health.”

Forster explains that he looking for “more” from Community Health Sciences – “more students, especially on the Gulf Coast; more research productivity; and more engagement with external agencies, such as the Department of Health.”

“I have no doubt that Dr. Newman will succeed in leading an excellent and committed faculty in the direction they need to grow,” said Forster.

For more information about the Department of Community Health Sciences, call 601.266.5437 or visit: http://www.usm.edu/community-public-health-sciences