Michelle “Shelley” Nuss, MD, MACP
Dr. Michelle “Shelley” Nuss is the Dean of the University of Georgia School of Medicine (SOM). In her role, she serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the SOM, responsible for advancing its mission in teaching, research, and service. Nuss played an integral role in the founding of the School of Medicine, overseeing the accreditation process, curricular development and design, clinical affiliation expansion, research enterprise establishment, and integration with public service and outreach efforts.
Notably, Nuss is a national expert and thought leader on graduate medical education (GME) and has been instrumental in expanding GME across Georgia. Through her work with the University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ GME expansion program, she led the development of new residency programs across Georgia. By the time the project was completed in 2025, there were nine additional teaching hospitals participating in residency training, 35 new residency programs, and nearly 900 new resident positions across the state.
She has served as a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Resident Affairs and continues to serve as an advisor to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Nuss is also the Chair of the Medical Education Advisory Committee, which advises the Georgia Board for Health Care Workforce on various issues regarding Georgia’s medical education system.
Nuss still currently serves as Campus Dean of the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Designated Institutional Official. Those roles will conclude following the closure of the Medical Partnership.
Nuss received a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Purdue University and earned her MD from West Virginia University (WVU) where she completed her internal medicine and psychiatry residency and served as chief resident. Nuss is a professor of internal medicine and psychiatry and is the recipient of numerous leadership and teaching awards. Most recently, Nuss was elected to Mastership by the American College of Physicians, a designation reserved for highly accomplished individuals who demonstrate impact in practice, leadership, health policy, or medical research.