The University of Kentucky College of Public Health’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program has appointed Larry Gray, MHA, MDiv, as its first Executive-in-Residence.
“Larry will provide students with valuable coaching, networking, and career advice. He will supplement professional development activities and provide important insight for curriculum and competency validation,” said MHA Program Director Dr. Maureen Jones.
Gray will continue to co-teach the program’s Leadership, Governance, and Ethics course and support faculty in additional courses with his significant expertise. He also will join the program’s Board of Advisors.
Department Chair Dr. Julia Costich, noted, "We are delighted to have Larry as our inaugural Executive in Residence and honored that he is sharing his wealth of experience with our students.”
Gray has a long and distinguished history of building healthcare leaders. He retired as president of Baptist Health Louisville, a 519-bed hospital, in September 2023. He served on the executive team of Baptist Health Lexington and as president of Baptist Health Corbin before moving to Louisville in 2018.
“Throughout my career, I have taken time to mentor, coach, and teach aspiring leaders,” Gray said. “I have established internship opportunities and fellowships to give students and new graduates opportunities to explore their place in healthcare and to develop networks of support and learning for their future profession. This new role in retirement gives me the opportunity to focus that passion on supporting and helping to develop the future, and present, leadership in healthcare.”
Gray has served as adjunct faculty in the UK MHA program since 2002 and was appointed College of Public Health Community Associate Professor in 2021. In 2016, he was named Distinguished Alumnus by UK’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.
A native of Owensboro, Gray holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and an MHA from UK as well as a master of divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“The MHA program expresses heartfelt appreciation to Larry Gray for his commitment to student growth and development,” said Jones. “We are extremely lucky to have such a strong servant leader to support our students as they advance their skills in health sector knowledge, professionalism, strategic thinking, and so much more with his involvement.”
Learn more about the College of Public Health's MHA Program at https://cph.uky.edu/programs/master-health-administration.
