Dr. Michael Williams

Dr. Michael Williams, cardiologist and president of Auburn Cardiovascular, P.C., has been a member of the College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Leadership Council since 1998. A graduate of The Ohio State University where he received a bachelor of science in zoology, Williams attended medical school at the University of Michigan College of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowships in clinical and interventional cardiology at the University of Cincinnati. Williams is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Cardiac Angiography and Intervention. He is also an associate of the American College of Physicians. Prior to moving to Auburn in 1992, Williams served as an assistant professor of medicine at East Carolina University in North Carolina.

He said that thus far in his career, he is most proud of, “having the ability to make a difference in the outcome of patients based on the education and training I have been able to attain.”

Williams plays an active role at Auburn University, where, in addition to participating in the COSAM Dean’s Leadership Council, he is on the board of the Auburn University Foundation. He is a strong advocate of COSAM’s pre-health programs, and he is often an invited speaker and provider of student shadowing and mentoring opportunities.

“Hopefully, I have the ability to inspire others to pursue their dreams by putting a real face on what can happen and where you can go with a career in sciences and mathematics, particularly for minority students,” said Williams.

In addition to his work with Auburn University, he is also actively engaged in the local community as a member of Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church and the advisory board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lee County.

Williams’ wife, Dr. Patricia Wade Williams, is also a physician, and she specializes in internal medicine. Williams said he and his wife decided to move to Auburn because of the “intellectual environment, entertainment, and academic and athletic events that enhance the quality of living.”

Since moving to Auburn, he and his wife have also been impressed with COSAM.

“COSAM has increased and retained its enrollment of African-American students. COSAM is not only dedicated to the enrollment numbers of minority students, but also to student excellence,” said Williams. “I am incredibly impressed with the quality of the students in COSAM and their academic excellence, as well as the quality of the faculty and the commitment of the dean and administration to make COSAM one of the best colleges in the country.”

COSAM’s ability to recruit, retain and produce excellent scholars is an attribute that reflects specific values the couple holds dear.

“My wife and I both believe in education and that education leads to personal happiness and satisfaction with life,” said Williams. “The whole concept of higher education is pretty central to what we think is important to everyone’s personal and collective development, and science and mathematics are two of the foundations of higher education. With that said, one of our goals is to help further education in the African-American community.”

In addition to offering job shadowing opportunities to COSAM students and serving on the COSAM Dean’s Leadership Council, Williams was the keynote speaker for the Summer Bridge Luncheon in 2011. The luncheon is the culmination of the Summer Bridge Program, a four-week, residential workshop that engages highly motivated incoming freshmen from groups traditionally underrepresented in sciences, mathematics and engineering in activities that facilitate a successful transition from high school to the Auburn University campus.

He and his wife also support COSAM with financial resources and are scholarship donors.

“By giving to COSAM, we are not only furthering our own goals, we are furthering the mission of the college to produce exceptional scholars. The pursuit of excellence is paramount in our minds,” said Williams.

Williams is active in numerous national, state and local professional organizations. He serves on the Research Advisory Board of East Alabama Medical Center, or EAMC, and on the Council of Governors of the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. His professional memberships include the National Medical Association, the American Federation of Clinical Research, and the Association of Black Cardiologists. Previously, he served on the Medical Executive Board and as the Chief of Cardiovascular Section, Department of Internal Medicine, at EAMC. He also served on the Governor’s Task Force for Cardiovascular Disease.

When he isn't practicing medicine, Williams said he enjoys reading anything from historical nonfiction to a good novel. He also plays golf, works in the yard, and for the last two-and-a-half years has been learning to play the tenor saxophone.

“I am also a die-hard sports fan, and I pretty much bleed orange and blue these days,” said Williams. “I even found myself rooting against Ohio State last football season when they played Michigan State, which resolved the issue of who would play in the national championship game.”

The Williams have three children. Their oldest child, Jessica, is a 2010 honor graduate of COSAM with a bachelor of science in biological sciences. Jessica is currently a fourth-year medical student at Emory University School of Medicine where she is also pursuing a master’s in public health. His middle child, Michael, is a senior at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta who is majoring in biology. Michael plans to pursue a career in public health as well. His youngest son, Patrick, is a sophomore at Auburn.