Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.—For nearly 40 years, Dr. Mike Mabry has cared for fellow Bulldogs at Mississippi State. As he concludes his university medical practice at the John C. Longest Student Health Center this semester, the longtime physician and MSU alumnus is proud to leave his patients in good hands with his medical colleagues.
“It is hard to say goodbye to patients, but I couldn’t have more confidence in the medical care they will be receiving from the other doctors here,” said Mabry, a 1972 pre-medicine graduate from Liberty who is retiring May 1.
After earning his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mabry returned to MSU during the third year of his residency in family practice. He spent a month working under Dr. John C. Longest, the university’s longtime student health center director who ultimately offered him the job of university physician in 1978.
“One of the original attractions to this position was being able to have a more diversified practice,” he said. “Dr. Longest set it up where we could see a wider age group and treat faculty and staff in addition to students.”
Mabry said that along with Longest, who died in 1998, he has enjoyed working over the years with retired clinic director Dr. Robert K. “Bob” Collins and current clinic director Dr. Clifton “Cliff” Story, as well as many other colleagues.
“We have three family physicians and one internal medicine specialist, as well as three nurse practitioners,” Mabry said. “Everybody I have worked with has been very cooperative and helpful. I can’t say enough good things about the environment here.”
Mabry explained that some of his patients have been coming to the health center for most of his career. It is important to him to refer patients to other certified doctors who will continue providing the highest standard of care.
Building relationships has been the highlight of Mabry’s career. While he will miss interactions with patients and colleagues, he is looking forward to having more time to spend with family, which includes three generations of Bulldog alumni.
“When you work at Mississippi State, you get to work with professionals and students who are always trying to improve themselves,” Mabry said. “It will be hard to not have those relationships every day, but this university will always be special to me.”
For more information on MSU’s Longest Student Health Center or to schedule an appointment, call 662-325-7539 or visit www.health.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.