David R. Buys, PhD, CPH, FACHE, FGSA

David R. Buys, PhD, CPH, FACHE, FGSA

Chair

Department:
SPH-Population Health Science

Email:
dbuys@umc.edu

Work Phone:
(601) 984-5560

Biography

David R. Buys, PhD, CPH, FACHE, FGSA, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His work focuses on improving population health through research, education, and community engagement.

Before joining UMMC, Dr. Buys served in leadership roles at Mississippi State University, including Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences, Interim Head of Campus for MSU-Meridian, and State Health Specialist with MSU Extension. Throughout his career, he has worked with community, academic, and government partners to advance public health initiatives, securing more than $22 million in federal funding to support those efforts.

His research interests include rural health and health care access, healthy aging, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, and obesity prevention. He has authored more than 65 peer-reviewed publications, presented at professional conferences, and collaborated on multiple Emmy Award-winning educational documentary films.

Dr. Buys is Certified in Public Health (CPH), a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), and Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Board of Public Health Examiners. He is also a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the Royal Society of Public Health and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Xi honor societies.

Education

Harvard University, Public Leadership Credential, Public Administration2025
University of Alabama at Birmingham, MSPH, Epidemiology2014
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Health Services and Outcomes Research2013
University of Alabama at Birmingham, PhD, Medical Sociology2011
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Graduate Certificate, Gerontology2009
Auburn University, MS, Sociology2007
Mississippi College, BS, Sociology2004

Specialty Certification Licensure

Certification, Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)06/2026 - Present
Certification, Certified in Public Health07/2015 - Present

Current Positions

Professor, School of Graduate School in the Health Sciences07/2026 - Present
Department Chair, School of Population Health, Department of Population Health Science07/2026 - Present
Professor, School of Population Health, Department of Population Health Science07/2026 - Present
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments

Professor, Mississippi State University07/2025 - 06/2026
Interim Head of Campus, Mississippi State University-Meridian08/2024 - 01/2026
Associate Vice Provost, Health Sciences, Mississippi State University06/2024 - 06/2026
Associate Professor, Mississippi State University07/2020 - 06/2025
Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University05/2014 - 06/2020
State Health Specialist, Mississippi State University Extension05/2014 - 05/2024

Publications

Randomized Controlled Trial

Seitz HH, Robertson MN, Steen J, Dulaney SG, Buys DR, Development and Pretesting of Prescription Opioid Misuse Prevention Messages: Results and Implications for Practice. Health communication, 2023 Dec;38(13):2865-28832023

Introductory Journal Article

Buys DR, Locher JL, What Does the Evidence Reveal Regarding Home- and Community-Based Nutrition Services for Older Adults? Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2015;34(2):81-42015

Comparative Study

Haas MC, Bodner EV, Brown CJ, Bryan D, Buys DR, Keita AD, Flagg LA, Goss A, Gower B, Hovater M, Hunter G, Ritchie CS, Roth DL, Wingo BC, Ard J, Locher JL, Calorie restriction in overweight seniors: response of older adults to a dieting study: the CROSSROADS randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2014;33(4):376-4002014

Journal Article

Nadorff DK, Anreddy S, Sergi K, Ahonle ZJ, Stouffer C, Hemphill T, Buys DR, Down the Digital Delta: Health Information Inequities Among Rural Mississippi Caregivers. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025 Sep 19;13(18)2025
Dubois C, Dissen A, Bowen M, Kurz R, Foster A, Buys D, Leadership tasks in public health: findings from the National Board of Public Health Examiners' job task analysis. Frontiers in public health, 2025;13:15833832025
Steen JS, Seitz HH, Robertson MN, Buys DR, Explanations for Failure to Detect Effects of a Prescription Medication Disposal Intervention for Rural Adults. Journal of health communication, 2025 Mar 28;30(sup1):68-692025
Davis W, Jones JW, Canales E, Kim A, Buys DR, Online grocery purchasing in Mississippi: associations with broadband, rurality, and household characteristics. Frontiers in nutrition, 2024;11:14726222024
Mills D, Robertson MN, Mills BE, Buys DR, A Proportionate Mortality Study of Mississippi's Agricultural Industry, 2017-2021. Southern medical journal, 2024 Jul;117(7):379-3822024
Driggers A, Kennedy RE, Williams BR, Brown CJ, Buys DR, Changes in Life-Space Mobility With Loss of Relatives and Friends Among Older Adults: Results From the UAB Study of Aging. The Gerontologist, 2024 Apr 1;64(4)2024
Robertson MN, Seitz HH, Downey LH, Hardman AM, Steen JS, Buys DR, Increasing Uptake of Prescription Drug Take-Back Boxes: Eliciting Preferences and Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Use. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 2024 Jun;51(3):400-4072024
Meadowcroft D, Robertson MN, Denny M, Rayner M, Stone A, Johnson J, Buys D, Perceptions of Opioid Misuse in Mississippi Agricultural Communities: Focus Group Findings. Journal of agricultural safety and health, 2023 Jan 20;29(1):47-562023
Buys DR, Robertson MN, Green JJ, The Aging Agricultural Workforce: Opportunities for Policy Development and Intervention. The Public policy and aging report, 2023;33(3):105-1102023
Halfacre K, Buys DR, Holmes ME, King E, Roach J, Barriers to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in the Mississippi Delta. Journal of healthy eating and active living, 2022;2(1):32-442022
Robertson MN, Downey LH, Seitz HH, Hardman AM, Buys DR, Rural adults' perceived role of family members in prescription opioid misuse prevention: Implications for family-based approaches. The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, 2022 Jan;38(1):100-1112022
Canales E, Fan L, Buys DR, Cantave MD, A Market Basket Assessment: Prices and Availability of Healthy Foods Across SNAP-Authorized Food Outlets in Counties With High Obesity Rates in Mississippi. Preventing chronic disease, 2021 Dec 2;18:E992021
Robertson MN, DeShong HL, Steen JS, Buys DR, Nadorff MR, Mental health first aid training for Extension agents in rural communities. Suicide & life-threatening behavior, 2021 Apr;51(2):301-3072021
Bolstad CJ, Moak R, Brown CJ, Kennedy RE, Buys DR, Neighborhood Disadvantage Is Associated with Depressive Symptoms but Not Depression Diagnosis in Older Adults. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2020 Aug 8;17(16)2020
Buys DR, Campbell AD, Godfryd A, Flood K, Kitchin E, Kilgore ML, Allocca S, Locher JL, Meals Enhancing Nutrition After Discharge: Findings from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2017 Apr;117(4):599-6082017
Ard JD, Gower B, Hunter G, Ritchie CS, Roth DL, Goss A, Wingo BC, Bodner EV, Brown CJ, Bryan D, Buys DR, Haas MC, Keita AD, Flagg LA, Williams CP, Locher JL, Effects of Calorie Restriction in Obese Older Adults: The CROSSROADS Randomized Controlled Trial. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2017 Dec 12;73(1):73-802017
Lo AX, Rundle AG, Buys D, Kennedy RE, Sawyer P, Allman RM, Brown CJ, Neighborhood Disadvantage and Life-Space Mobility Are Associated with Incident Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2016 Nov;64(11):2218-22252016
Dulin-Keita A, Hannon L, Buys D, Casazza K, Clay O, Surrounding community residents' expectations of HOPE VI for their community, health and physical activity. Journal of community practice, 2016;84(1):18-372016
Campbell AD, Godfryd A, Buys DR, Locher JL, Does Participation in Home-Delivered Meals Programs Improve Outcomes for Older Adults? Results of a Systematic Review. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2015;34(2):124-672015
Buys DR, Howard VJ, McClure LA, Buys KC, Sawyer P, Allman RM, Levitan EB, Association between neighborhood disadvantage and hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in older adults: results from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging. American journal of public health, 2015 Jun;105(6):1181-82015
Buys DJ, Stojak AR, Stiteler W, Baker TF, Ecological risk assessment for residual coal fly ash at Watts Bar Reservoir, Tennessee: Limited alteration of riverine-reservoir benthic invertebrate community following dredging of ash-contaminated sediment. Integrated environmental assessment and management, 2015 Jan;11(1):43-552015
Buys DR, Roth DL, Ritchie CS, Sawyer P, Allman RM, Funkhouser EM, Hovater M, Locher JL, Nutritional risk and body mass index predict hospitalization, nursing home admissions, and mortality in community-dwelling older adults: results from the UAB Study of Aging with 8.5 years of follow-up. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2014 Sep;69(9):1146-532014
Locher JL, Vickers KS, Buys DR, Ellis A, Lawrence JC, Newton LE, Roth DL, Ritchie CS, Bales CW, A randomized controlled trial of a theoretically-based behavioral nutrition intervention for community elders: lessons learned from the Behavioral Nutrition Intervention for Community Elders Study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2013 Dec;113(12):1675-822013
Dover SE, Buys DR, Allocca S, Locher JL, FIELD NOTES: PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, & POLICIES Farmers' Market Produce Delivery Program for Mitigating Nutritional Risk in Older Adults. Journal of hunger & environmental nutrition, 2013;8(1):1-102013
Buys DR, Flood KL, Real K, Chang M, Locher JL, Mealtime assistance for hospitalized older adults: a report on the SPOONS volunteer program. Journal of gerontological nursing, 2013 Sep;39(9):18-222013
Beckingham B, Buys D, Vandewalker H, Ghosh U, Observations of limited secondary effects to benthic invertebrates and macrophytes with activated carbon amendment in river sediments. Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 2013 Jul;32(7):1504-152013
Yang Y, Buys DR, Judd SE, Gower BA, Locher JL, Favorite foods of older adults living in the Black Belt Region of the United States. Influences of ethnicity, gender, and education. Appetite, 2013 Apr;63:18-232013
Buys DR, Borch C, Drentea P, LaGory ME, Sawyer P, Allman RM, Kennedy R, Locher JL, Physical impairment is associated with nursing home admission for older adults in disadvantaged but not other neighborhoods: results from the UAB study of aging. The Gerontologist, 2013 Aug;53(4):641-532013
Buys DR, Borch C, Kilgore M, Zizza CA, Locher JL, A state-level examination of the association between home and community-based services and rates of nursing home residency with special attention to nutrition programs. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2012;31(4):404-242012
Xu B, Houston DK, Locher JL, Ellison KJ, Gropper S, Buys DR, Zizza CA, Higher Healthy Eating Index-2005 scores are associated with better physical performance. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2012 Jan;67(1):93-92012
Locher JL, Bales CW, Ellis AC, Lawrence JC, Newton L, Ritchie CS, Roth DL, Buys DL, Vickers KS, A theoretically based Behavioral Nutrition Intervention for Community Elders at high risk: the B-NICE randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2011;30(4):384-4022011
Xu B, Locher J, Lee JS, Buys D, Zizza CA, Smoking modifies the association between food insecurity and physical performance. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2011;30(2):140-532011
Buys DR, Marler ML, Robinson CO, Hamlin CM, Locher JL, Recruitment of volunteers for a home-delivered meals programme serving homebound older adults: a theoretically derived programme among faith communities. Public health nutrition, 2011 Aug;14(8):1473-82011
Mays LC, Drummonds JW, Powers S, Buys DR, Watts PI, Identifying Geriatric Patients at Risk for Malnutrition: A Quality Improvement Project. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2019 Apr-Jun;38(2):115-129
Buys DR, Kennedy RE, Williams CP, Brown CJ, Locher JL, Social and Demographic Predictors of Nutritional Risk: Cross-sectional Analyses From the UAB Study of Aging II. Family & community health, 2018 Apr Jun;41 Suppl 2 Suppl, Food Insecurity and Obesity(Suppl 2 FOOD INSECURITY AND OBESITY):S33-S45

Historical Article

Buys DR, Rennekamp R, Cooperative Extension as a Force for Healthy, Rural Communities: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions. American journal of public health, 2020 Sep;110(9):1300-13032020

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

Alumni Award for Practice, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health2026
Inductee, Phi Kappa Phi2025
Diversity Educator of the Year, MS Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning2023
National Partnership Award-Innovative Programs & Projects, United States Department of Agriculture2022
Inductee, Sigma Xi2019

Professional Membership and Service

American College of Healthcare Executives, Fellow2024 - Present
American Public Health Association, Member2014 - Present
Gerontological Society of America, Fellow2008 - Present

Other Service

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South08/2018 - Present