If you’re looking for me on social media, please come over to @LinkedIn where I am more likely to see and respond to your posts, comments or DMs. Alternatively, reach me by email at david.buys@msstate.edu. Thank you! linkedin.com/in/buys

After over a decade as MSU Extension’s State Health Specialist, I am transitioning to a new role as Associate Vice Provost of Health Sciences here. This is an incredible opportunity to continue to impact the health and well-being of our beloved state on a different scale. I am profoundly grateful for the experiences and the amazing colleagues I’ve had during my time as a State Health Specialist. Together, we have: * navigated challenges like the COVID pandemic, including exploring Extension’s role in fighting the pandemic, * celebrated successes such as completing On the Farm, an Emmy Award-winning film that has been used around the nation to foster conversations about farm stress and how to prevent and treat it, and  * made strides in improving community health and obesity prevention with more than $16 million in extramural grant support for our work. The dedication and support from our Extension agents, staff working on our grants, faculty peers, administrators, and colleagues and partners outside MSU have been instrumental in my professional growth and shaping my passion for public health and health sciences. Our work together has been recognized with nearly 30 team awards at the national, state or university level, and these give me great pride. As I step into this new position, I aim to foster innovation, collaboration, and excellence in health sciences with a primary focus on our new and emerging programs at our Meridian location. I am eager to support and enhance our academic health sciences educational programs, advance research and scholarship, and promote outreach and engagement emanating from these programs. Together, we can build healthier, more resilient communities, and a more prosperous region and state. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along this journey. I look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead and am confident that great things are on the horizon!

What a great group of faculty with which to serve, and a student who made it so easy to support! @DDMackenstadt, you have a bright future, and I look forward to seeing you blossom. I hope that even after you’ve gone from MSU, we continue to see each other at @geronsociety for years to come. Now, enjoy your weekend and let’s work on some manuscripts soon 😅. You’ve got real contributions to make from this wonderful dissertation!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Couldn't be prouder to work with @Yolanda77038873 and all of our partners! #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #TakingCareOfWhatMatters @msstate

Help me congratulate @Yolanda77038873 for earning the Rural Health Fellow designation from the @mississippiRHA. The plaque maybe less than a pound, but there’s nothing light weight about the credential. Those who earn it complete a significant project and demonstrate proficiency in leading and supporting rural health initiatives. Congratulations, Yolanda 👏 This only confirms what we already knew— that you are the real deal when it comes to rural health work. I am thankful to be able to work in Mississippi alongside you. @MSUExtService @MSU_DAFVM

This #NRHD2023 is a great time to share a new story about how we in @MSU_DAFVM/ @MSUExtService/ @MSU_AG / @MSU_FSNHP / @MSU_Dept_of_LA are partnering with our #rural communities and harnessing the #powerofrural. We're grateful recipients of a @CDC_DNPAO #HOPforHealth grant, #AIMforCHangE that allows us to invest in our communities. This story covers one of those investments in one of our leading communities! #CollaborationCounts @Yolanda77038873 @petersummerlin @MSLibraryComm @LetsMoveLibrary @NoahLenstra @chanyasulkit extension.msstate.edu/extens…

I'm proud to support this group as we harness the #PowerofRural at @msstate

VP @DrKeIthHCoble shared at the @AgAutonomy grand opening why the @msstate Agricultural Autonomy Institute is important to maintaining our leadership internationally.

These leaders all have one thing in common: @msstate’s @MSU_FSNHP And they all embody #TakingCareOfWhatMatters. I’m grateful to be able to work with all of them! @MSUExtService @MSU_AG @MSU_DAFVM @Yolanda77038873

Great to work on this with Drs. @mn_robertson (@HumanSciences) and John Green (@so_dev_center)! The bottom line is that taking care of our farmers-- those who feed and clothe the world-- should be a priority for us!

MSU Meridian’s Dr. Terry Dale Cruse spoke to Starkville Rotarians today. He shared a history of the University’s only regional campus and vision for the future with a focus on healthcare and education. Dr. Cruse has served as Assoc. VP and Head of Campus in Meridian since 2015.

I am proud to be among this team of folks who gathered today at @USDA and am grateful for their support of our partnership with @MsstateTV to produce the film, onthefarm.life, which @DrKeIthHCoble introduced and we screened this evening. It was super to be joined on stage by @APA president Dr. Arthur Evans, MSU Alum @willgilmer40, and @FarmAid's Alexandria Ward for a panel moderated by @SamanthaHJoseph.

Did you know that the average age of #farmers is 57.5? I didn’t until a couple years ago, and that quickly began to foster concern about the future of our #foodsystem. After several conversations with folks at @geronsociety and local colleagues, @mn_robertson and @GreenJJ1, we got to work on a piece for #PublicPolicy and #Aging Report highlighting the aging #agriculturalworkforce and offering opportunities to consider how the #FarmBill might support this population more overtly. It was just published, in time for ongoing conversations about the Farm Bill renewal. I’m happy to share a link to the piece here. Please share your thoughts below about how we might both create opportunities for new ag professionals and support our current older farmers. academic.oup.com/ppar/advanc…

Take a look at the new crosswalk paintings in Belzoni, MS!! (Love the catfish!😍) ➡️This project has been made possible because of teamwork--partners from state agencies, local government and from a cross section of @msstate! #AIMforCHangE #TakingCareOfWhatMatters #MSUext