Program Name

The Larry Keith Advisory Colleges Program at the UNC School of Medicine honors the legacy of Larry Keith, a lifelong educator, administrator, and passionate advocate for students. Mr. Keith devoted his career to advancing opportunities for underrepresented and disadvantaged minority students, helping them pursue careers in medicine and dentistry. He served as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Associate Director of the Office of Educational Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). In his role as Director of Special Programs, Mr. Keith made continuous contributions to the health professions, guiding countless students toward achieving their academic and professional goals.

Mr. Keith’s educational journey began at N.C. A&T State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1975. He continued his studies with two Master of Science degrees—one in Biology from Virginia State University in 1976 and another in Anatomy from UNC in 1985. Over his 24 years at UNC, Mr. Keith held multiple leadership roles in the School of Medicine, including Assistant Dean for Admissions, Director of Recruitment, Director of Special Programs, and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences. His mission was clear: to increase the number of underrepresented and disadvantaged minorities entering healthcare professions.

Since 1992, Mr. Keith led the Medical Education Development Program (MED), which provides coursework and support services to prepare minority and disadvantaged students for medical and dental school. In 1998, he became the Director of the Research Apprenticeship Program, which connects minority or disadvantaged high school students with faculty mentors, helping them gain competence in laboratory research and explore biomedical careers. Through these initiatives, Mr. Keith built a vibrant, inclusive community within the medical school—one that nurtures, challenges, and supports students as they pursue their dreams.

Beyond his work at UNC, Mr. Keith partnered with numerous organizations to develop recruitment pipelines, ensuring that minority and disadvantaged students were prepared for and retained within healthcare careers. Collaborating with the North Carolina Health Careers Access Program, regional Area Health Education Centers, Carolina’s Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, the Student National Medical Association, and five historically minority universities in the UNC system, Mr. Keith established the UNC Health Careers Opportunity Program, a federally funded initiative that became a national model. His efforts also secured federal funding for the Center of Excellence for Minority Health in the UNC School of Medicine.

Mr. Keith’s outstanding contributions were widely recognized. In 2006, he received the University’s prestigious C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, and in the same year, the Mr. Keith D. Keith Loyalty Fund Scholarship was established in his honor. His work also earned him the NAMME Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medical Education and the AAMC GSA-MAS Special Recognition Award.

Larry Keith passed away on February 17, 2010, leaving behind an enduring legacy of inclusion, mentorship, and transformative leadership. His unwavering commitment to equity and student success continues to inspire the mission of the Larry Keith Advisory Colleges Program, fostering a new generation of healthcare professionals dedicated to making a difference.