TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Dr. William A. Curry, MD, FACP, dean of the College of Community Health Sciences at The University of Alabama, and associate dean for Tuscaloosa and Rural Programs, University of Alabama School of Medicine, recently received the Laureate Award from the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.

The Laureate Award honors those who have demonstrated by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research and in service to their community, their chapter and the ACP-ASIM.

Curry grew up in Pickens County, in rural West Central Alabama, and his interest in rural medicine has been life-long. After his medical training, Curry returned to his Alabama roots and combined private practice in Pickens County with part-time clinical teaching at UA. Curry joined the program full-time in 1997. His education and training has involved work at the University, Vanderbilt and Harvard.

Over the years Curry has been a leading figure in organized medicine in Alabama. His positions in the area include past president, Alabama Society of Internal Medicine; past president, Medical Association of the State of Alabama; and member of the State Board of Medical Examiners and the State Committee of Public Health.

Curry has worked in a number of rural projects, serving as founding chairman of the Rural Alabama Health Alliance. Through the state medical association he played a leading role in the reform of state law and regulations for nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants. At the University he has been involved in establishing both the Annual Alabama Conference on Rural Health and the University of Alabama Institute for Rural Health Research. His current interests include the appropriate role of technology in medical education and the relationship of community and economic development to rural health outcomes.