MSU’s Buys begins 2-year term as chair of National Board of Public Health Examiners
Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences David Buys is lending his expertise to a nationally renowned organization setting the standards for public health professionals in America.
In addition to his leadership roles including MSU-Meridian’s interim head of campus, Buys is serving a two-year term as the chair of the National Board of Public Health Examiners’ Board of Directors.
Established in 2005, the independent NBPHE issues certifications to professionals who demonstrate the required knowledge and skills relevant to the public health profession. Specifically, the organization has issued more than 14,000 Certified in Public Health credentials and is exploring additional certifications that bolster the public health workforce.
Member organizations include the American Public Health Association, Association of Prevention Teaching and Research, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Council on Education for Public Health, National Association of County and City Health Officials, and Public Health Accreditation Board.
As chair, Buys will work with the leaders of each of the member organizations and other at-large representatives to guide the organization in collaboration with board staff.
“It is a privilege to step into this role at a pivotal time for public health. NBPHE’s work to uphold rigorous standards through certification strengthens not only our profession, but also the health and security of the communities we serve,” Buys said. “As we continue to recover from the pandemic and confront ongoing workforce challenges, credentialing provides a foundation of trust, excellence and resilience our field urgently needs.”
Buys, a Mississippi native, was named to his current associate vice provost role and MSU-Meridian’s interim leader in 2024 after serving as MSU Extension’s state health specialist for more than a decade. He is a professor in the university’s Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion. His scholarly portfolio includes more than $22 million in federal funding and more than 65 articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Buys completed formal education in medical sociology, health services research and epidemiology at Hinds Community College, Mississippi College, Auburn University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds the NBPHE’s Certified in Public Health credential and is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the Royal Society of Public Health.
Home to the School of Nursing and School of Health Professions, MSU-Meridian offers a wide range of degrees and programs preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals, including the Magnolia State’s first Physician Assistant Studies Program and accelerated Master of Science in Nursing. For more information, www.meridian.msstate.edu.
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