Dr. William F. Bina III Appointed Dean for the School of Medicine

1336
Statue of Jesse Mercer on the Mercer campus.

Mercer University President William D. Underwood today announced the appointment of Dr. William F. Bina III as dean of the Mercer University School of Medicine, effective immediately.
The appointment of Dr. Bina, who has served as interim dean of the School since July 1, 2008, and chair of the Department of Community Medicine since 2003, follows an 11-month-long national search.

“Dr. Bina has a deep commitment to the mission of the medical school, which reflects Mercer’s identity and purpose,” said Provost Wallace L. Daniel. “That mission sets Mercer’s School of Medicine apart as the leader in serving the state of Georgia’s medical needs in its small towns and rural areas. As the interim dean, he demonstrated strong leadership during a challenging period, including the opening of a new four-year campus in Savannah. His grasp of the complex issues facing the medical school along with his skills and understanding of the school’s programs, students, faculty, staff, strengths and challenges will ensure the School’s continued success.”

Dr. Bina has spent much of his academic career at the Mercer School of Medicine. He first joined the University in 1991 as a professor and practicing physician in the Department of Family Medicine and Mercer Health Systems. In 2003, he was named chair of the Department of Community Medicine and director of the Master’s of Public Health program. He was named executive associate dean at the Medical School in 2007 before being named interim dean in 2008. He earned an undergraduate degree in nuclear science from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., the Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nebraska and the Master of Public Health degree in International Health from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

He received  post-graduate medical training at the Family Practice Residency, Naval Regional Medical Center, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., from 1975-1978, and his general preventive medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University from 1982-1984. Navy duties included assignments in Hawaii, California, Southern Maryland, Nigeria, Italy, and finally in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Bina has provided significant professional leadership in the community. Since 2002, he has served as the project and medical director for the Central Georgia Cancer Coalition, a Regional Cancer Coalition of Excellence . From 2004-2007, he served on the steering committee to establish a primary health care center in Macon and Bibb County. He served as president and chair of the board of directors of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians from 1998-2000. Since 1996, he has served as chair of the board of directors of Secure Health Plans of Georgia, a 23-county regional network. He also served as a member of the board of directors for the Central Georgia Health Network from 1996-1999 and the director of the Family Practice Residency Program at the Medical Center of Central Georgia from 1992-97.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve as the dean of Mercer University School of Medicine,” Dr. Bina said.  “In the past 25 years, our school has successfully prepared physicians and health care professionals to meet the heath care needs of all Georgians.  I eagerly look forward to continuing that success by working with an outstanding team of faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders to ensure that our students receive top-quality training to launch their careers into 21st century medicine.”

Dr. Bina and his wife, Gayle, have four children: Elizabeth Heather, William Frank IV, Robert Wagner and Jonathan Park.

Mercer’s School of Medicine was established in 1982 to educate physicians and health professionals to meet the primary care and health care needs of rural and medically underserved areas of Georgia. The School only accepts Georgia residents into its medical degree program. Students entering Mercer University School of Medicine graduate from a school that utilizes a problem-based medical education program that provides early patient care experiences. Such an academic environment fosters the early development of clinical problem-solving and instills in each student an awareness of the place of the basic medical sciences in medical practice. In August 2008, an inaugural class of 30 students began study at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah at Mercer’s second full, four-year doctor of medicine program. The School also offers master’s degrees in public health, family therapy, family services and nurse anesthesia.

About Mercer University:
Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University has approximately 7,700 students; 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies; major campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah; three regional academic centers across the state; a university press; two teaching hospitals — Memorial University Medical Center and the Medical Center of Central Georgia; educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta; an engineering research center in Warner Robins; a performing arts center in Macon; and a NCAA Division I athletic program. For more information, visit www.mercer.edu.

— 30 —

Rick Cameron is senior associate athletic director for communications, overseeing athletic media relations, including management of mercerbears.com, the official website of Mercer Athletics, while also maintaining his broadcasting responsibilities as Voice of the Bears.