Remembering Dr. Gary L. Davis, Longtime Faculty Member and Regional Duluth Campus Dean Emeritus
Remembering Gary L. Davis, Ph.D., LP |Â Longtime Faculty Member and Regional Duluth Campus Dean Emeritus
It is with great sadness that longtime faculty member and former Regional Duluth Campus Dean, Dr. Gary Davis has passed away, following a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Davis, a licensed clinical psychologist, and mental health expert joined the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus in 1974, and was promoted to chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences in 1984. Davis also served as the associate director of the Center for Rural Mental Health Studies and was a research faculty member in the Stress and Resilience Research Laboratories, directed by fellow department faculty member, Dr. Mustafa al'Absi. He was a pioneer in establishing telemedicine consultations for mental health in rural communities throughout Minnesota. Davis received numerous awards over the years, including being named Minnesota’s “Rural Health Hero” in 2006.
In January 2007, Davis was named the interim leader of the Duluth campus and accepted the position of regional dean later that year. It was a role he proudly served until 2014. “Gary had a great sense of humor and was a very balanced leader," said Dr. James Boulger, distinguished university teaching professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health. "At a time when we were diminishing in resources, he kept everyone’s best interests in mind and led us toward a successful path for the future.”
In addition to serving the medical school, Davis also operated a small practice in downtown Duluth, called University Associates P.A. for many years, and spent a lot of time working with residents as a preceptor at the Duluth Family Practice Center.
"Gary's dedication to the mission of our Duluth Campus has helped us serve our greater Minnesota and Native American communities with much success," said Regional Duluth Campus Dean, Dr. Paula Termuhlen, of her predecessor. "His loss will be grievously felt by many people."
Dr. Gary Davis will be sorely missed throughout our communities.