M. Roy Wilson, Wayne State University President

Dr. M. Roy Wilson, a Harvard-trained medical doctor, epidemiologist and health disparities researcher, is uniquely qualified to lead Detroit’s urban research university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilson has been appointed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities and Healthcare Advisory Group of the Michigan Economic Recovery Council.

Wilson, who was appointed as Wayne State University’s 12th president in August 2013, previously served as the deputy director for strategic scientific planning and program coordination at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Wilson served as chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Board of Directors in 2018, and is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the National Institutes of Health’s Director’s Award. Since his arrival in Detroit, he has redoubled the university’s commitment to combating medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, HIV and asthma, which affect Detroiters at a disproportionately higher rate than the rest of America.

President Wilson’s expertise includes:

• Minority health
• Health disparities
• Epidemiology

Selected media clips:

• CNN: Urgent push to address racial disparity in COVID-19 cases
• Detroit Free Press: Race disparities amid infectious diseases aren’t new. It’s time we took action (Opinion)
• WJR: President M. Roy Wilson speaks with Paul W. Smith about the coronavirus’ impact in the African American community
• Bridge: ‘We need help’: Coronavirus ‘devastating black cities in outstate Michigan
• dBusiness: Detroit’s WSU Physician Group purchases devices for on-site COVID-19 testing
• WDET: Racial health disparities exist, COVID-19 just makes it clearer
• WLNS: Universities team up to fight COVID-19
• WDIV: Flashpoint
• Crain's Detroit Business: Commentary: Michigan's research universities involved in COVID-19 fight
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Lessons from Detroit on racial disparity and St. Louis coronavirus deaths

To learn more about President Wilson, visit president.wayne.edu