Dr. Billy Reid ’75 Receives 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award

At Greensboro Day School’s Graduation on May 26, 2023, Head of School Tracie Catlett presented the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award to Dr. Billy Reid ’75.

Dr. Reid was the first African American to graduate from Greensboro Day School as a member of the first, 12-person graduating class. He was a stellar three-sport athlete and at the top of his class academically. 

Following GDS, Dr. Reid attended Mercer University, where he studied biology and pharmacy and then received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1984. He went back to school in the mid-90s to receive his MBA from Kennesaw State University.

Dr. Reid is currently the Pharmacy Manager at WellStar Pharmacy Network at Acworth Health Park in Atlanta, Georgia. With almost 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Dr. Reid has worked in numerous areas, including more than 30 years of progressive management experience at three nonprofit hospitals in the Atlanta area. His working knowledge of operating budgets, improving physician relationships, staff relationships, accreditation processes and improvement of quality assurance initiatives for the system has given him the ability to be a strong and admired leader. 

His work experience includes leading the WellStar Health System, a nationally recognized suburban, nonprofit, health system located in the northern metropolitan Atlanta area; the WellStar Cobb Hospital; the Kennestone Hospital; and the Windy Hill Hospital. During his time at each, Dr. Reid oversaw extraordinary growth and performance. He has received numerous awards for innovation, program growth, performance, and delivery service.

While remaining busy with the day-to-day work schedule, Dr. Reid has been an active member of his community and has served in many volunteer roles, including Board Chairman at the MembersFirst Credit Union. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and spin classes with his wife.
 
Dr. Reid’s award nomination stated that, “When you inquire among his peers from GDS, you will get a strong sense of his character and personality and the impact he made on them in his few years at GDS. Since then, Billy has navigated a very successful career in the medical field with over thirty-five years of experience in healthcare, including thirty-plus of progressive management experience at three nonprofit community hospitals. His experiences and character make him an ideal choice for this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.”

The Greensboro Day School Alumni Association, in recognition of excellence on the part of our alumni, established the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1991. This award is presented annually to the alumnus/a who best exhibits either extraordinary service to the City of Greensboro, the state of North Carolina, or the nation; or extraordinary distinction in their field of specialization or extraordinary service to society and corresponding tangible benefit to fellow citizens.

We congratulate Dr. Reid on his many outstanding achievements in the healthcare industry, which have helped change the lives of so many. We are honored to recognize him with our 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award.