David R. Buys (PhD 2011) is a state health specialist and Associate Professor at Mississippi State University

Dr. Buys graduated from Mississippi College’s Department of Sociology and Social Work in 2004. After that he earned a Master’s degree in sociology from Auburn University and the PhD in Medical Sociology, a graduate certificate in gerontology, a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Services and Outcomes Research, and the Master of Science in Public Health all from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He served on faculty in the UAB School of Medicine and is now a member of the faculty at Mississippi State University where he is State Health Specialist for the MSU Extension Service. He credits his comprehensive liberal arts education and the rigorous coursework in sociology with equipping him to address the complex challenges of graduate school and the multi-faceted public health needs he is now addressing in his role Mississippi State University.

Life Highlights:

• Meeting and marrying the former Katie Crawford, DNP, MPH, CRNP, of Louisville, Mississippi. Katie is on faculty in the School of Nursing at UAB.
• Having two wonderful boys, Peter and Caleb, and expecting a third child in January.
• Completing 5 post-graduate training programs and degrees, including the PhD in Medical Sociology.
• Moving back home (to Mississippi) to assume a position at Mississippi State University where he can make a real difference in the lives of his fellow Mississippians, promoting healthy lifestyles through the Extension Service.
• Currently chairing a national committee (Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Action Team of the Extension and Experiment Station Committee on Policy) to set the guidelines for how University Extension Services throughout the US should provide chronic disease prevention and management programming.
• Engaging in applied research that addresses the unique food access and nutritional needs of older adults and publishing more than 15 journal articles on the issue.