1994: Conerly’s vice-chancellorship begins

Published on Monday, February 24, 2025

By: Gary Pettus, gpettus@umc.edu

During its 69-year history, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has made contributions to the state, and the world, in medicine, science and education. Each month, we’ll recognize at least one of these major accomplishments.

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Dr. Wallace A. Conerly, whose leadership helped move the Medical Center into the 21st century, became vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine on Aug. 2, 1994. He was appointed upon the retirement of his predecessor, Dr. Norman C. Nelson. As assistant vice chancellor under Nelson, Conerly had overseen building projects at UMMC during the largest-ever higher education expansion initiative in the state. A member of the Medical Center faculty since 1973, he was also a professor of medicine who had served as director of continuing education, director of respiratory care and medical director of the intensive care unit. He was a member of the Mississippi State Medical Association Council on Medical Education and became the first Mississippian to serve on the Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine.Gov. Ronnie Musgrove declared March 19, 2003, “Wally Conerly Day in Mississippi” and each legislative chamber adopted a resolution honoring him. In 2009, Gov. Haley Barbour awarded him a Medal of Service. Conerly died on Jan. 10, 2012; he was 76.