James Raphael Gavin III, MD, PhD has had a long and distinguished career in academic research, teaching and training, having served many senior academic roles, including Associate Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Senior Scientific Officer of the Howard Hughes Medical Research Institute (HHMI) where he was Director of the HHMI-NIH Medical Student Research Scholars Program. He was the founding director of the Minority Medical Education Program (MMEP) of the Robert Wood Johnson Program and is national program director emeritus of the Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program, having served as part of leadership for this program since its inception. He is also a faculty member for the PRIDE program.

Dr. Gavin was the first African American President of the American Diabetes Association (1993-1994) and is a past president of the Morehouse School of Medicine, one of three historically black medical Schools in the U. S. (2002-2005). He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences and has made significant contributions to endocrinology through his pioneering research in diabetes, his leadership, advocacy, and, most notably, his tireless dedication to advancing the careers of students, health profession trainees, and physician-scientists (both early career and established) through mentorship. He initially introduced the focus that inspired the partnership with the CoW Initiative during his valedictory address as National Program Director of the HAMFDP in 2013 following 20 years as Director. He continues to work actively with this program and with this important initiative.