Jackson Free Press

University of Mississippi Medical Center professor Dr. Grayson Norquist's years of experience and leadership in the medical field has earned him a seat advising federal health-care reform.

This month, the U.S. Government Accountability Office selected Norquist and 18 other health-care professionals to the board of governors for the New Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 established the board to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers and policy makers in decision-making. Through research projects, board members will offer recommendations on how medical professionals can effectively treat and diagnose diseases and disorders.

"I'm excited about this opportunity to improve the quality of health care we deliver in the U.S.," Norquist said in a statement. "I'm especially interested in bringing the best prevention and treatment options to populations that are traditionally underserved in our current health care system."

Norquist, who is chairman of UMMC's Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, previously held leadership positions at the National Institute of Mental Health and was a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University. He earned his master's degree in public health at the University of California-Los Angeles School of Public Health and his medical doctorate at UMMC. His is currently researching the use of telemedicine to reduce disparities in mental-health treatment in the Delta.