Ricardo Azziz, MD, MPH, MBA
An educator-scientist-physician-executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in higher education, research, and academic healthcare, Dr. Azziz served as Chief Officer of Academic Health and Hospital Affairs, State University of New York (SUNY) System Administration, the largest university system in the nation. In this role he provides support, strategic guidance, and advocacy for the educational, research and clinical programs within the SUNY academic health and health professions portfolio, representing nearly a $4 billion budget.
Previously, Dr. Azziz served as founding President of Georgia Regents University (GRU, now Augusta University), one of four comprehensive public research universities in Georgia, and founding CEO of the Georgia Regents Health System (GRHS, now Augusta University Health System). Dr. Azziz also served as president of the Georgia health Sciences University (GHSU) and was tasked then with creating the state's only public academic health center, now including GRHS. He was then tapped to lead the successful consolidation of GHSU and Augusta State University to create GRU.
Dr. Azziz is a long-term champion for faculty and leadership development, and enhanced diversity and inclusion, in academics and academic administration. Among other activities, while in Los Angeles he developed and directed the Young Investigator Academic Development Course. He subsequently oversaw the development and establishment of the Leadership Academy at Georgia Regents University, and most served as the founding director the SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute, appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
