Peter Buckley, MD, chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has been recognized in the Memphis Business Journal’s list of the 100 most influential people in Mid-South business for the second time.
The Memphis Business Journal (MBJ) editorial team compiles the Power 100 list each year to profile outstanding leaders from sports, education, business, politics, health care, and community service. Dr. Buckley was first included in last year’s Power 100, a year after he joined UT Health Science Center.
“Serving UT Health Science Center and our community is an immense privilege. This recognition speaks to the impact of UT Health Science Center in our community,” Chancellor Buckley said.
Since he last received this honor, Chancellor Buckley has led UT Health Science Center through a transitional period with new leaders and impactful new initiatives. He brought to the university a new executive vice chancellor and chief operating and financial officer, new vice chancellors for Advancement and for Strategic Partnerships, and new deans of the College of Pharmacy and the College of Medicine. Under his leadership, UT Health Science Center also adopted and began implementing its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, opened a state-of-the-art building in Memphis to train future dentists, and strengthened vital partnerships across Tennessee to raise statewide visibility and impact. All these efforts contribute to the university’s vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.
“Memphis is our home; Tennessee is our campus. The work we do is through partnerships all across the state of Tennessee,” Chancellor Buckley said.
Dr. Buckley is an accomplished psychiatrist, international expert in schizophrenia, and academic leader. He was recently honored with a Leadership Award from the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry and received distinguished service membership from the Association of American Medical Colleges for his exemplary service to academic medicine.
This is the fifth time a UT Health Science Center leader has been named in the Power 100 list since it started in 2019. Former Executive Vice Chancellor Kennard Brown, JD, MPA, PhD, FACHE, made the list four times before he retired last year.
In introducing this year’s list, MBJ Editor-in-Chief Greg Akers wrote, “In just five years, there’s been a turnover of more than half of the people who MBJ at least has determined are the most powerful individuals in Mid-South business circles. That speaks to a considerable amount of change — of fresh blood, new visions, and sometimes mountains of capital driving the region’s economy. It speaks of immense activity and, especially, opportunity to make one’s own place at the table.”
Dr. Buckley and everyone on the Power 100 list were celebrated Thursday evening at a private event at the Orpheum Theatre. The Memphis Business Journal will also profile all the honorees in its February 16 edition.