Sherry McClain, MSU Information Office
Wednesday, April 2, 2014 6:35 pm

MURRAY, Ky. — The 2014 Harry Lee Waterfield Distinguished Lecture in Public Affairs will feature Dr. David Dunn, executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Louisville (U of L). One of Murray State University’s signature lecture series, the Waterfield Lecture will be held on Tuesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in the Curris Center Ballroom (third floor) on the MSU campus. Dunn will speak on “The Great American Health Care Event Horizon.”

Dunn assumed his current position in Louisville in 2011, also joining the faculty of the department of surgery and the department of microbiology and immunology as a tenured professor. Prior to joining U of L, Dunn held similar positions at the University at Buffalo/SUNY.

Before that, Dunn was the Jay Phillips Professor and chairman of surgery at the University of Minnesota. He was also the division chief of general surgery, head of surgical infectious diseases, director of graduate studies and residency program director of the department of surgery, and a full member of the faculty of the graduate programs in surgery and biomedical science.

Dunn has published more than 400 articles and book chapters in the areas of surgical infectious diseases and transplantation, and is considered both a national and international authority in those areas, and has edited texts. He received support from the Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for more than 20 years.

Postdoctoral fellows that he supervised consistently obtained NIH support and prestigious research awards from academic societies. Dunn conducted a number of large-scale, randomized prospective studies investigating the prophylaxis, treatment and pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients. He has held office in a number of surgical organizations, is a member of several academic societies and has supported charitable causes for the public good such as United Way and the American Heart Association.

In his current position, Dunn provides leadership for the university’s Health Sciences Center. The schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, and public health and information sciences, as well as 14 centers and institutes, fall under his oversight. He also has principal responsibility for external affairs including hospital relations and other affiliated entities.

The Harry Lee Waterfield Distinguished Lecture in Public Affairs is named in honor of the late Harry Lee Waterfield, a native of Calloway County and former lieutenant governor of Kentucky. The department of political science and sociology sponsors the annual event. Past speakers have included governors, U.S. senators, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and renowned academicians.

Everyone is invited to attend the free lecture. For additional information, call 270.809.2661.