Cross College

The Cross Advisory College is named in honor of Dr. Alan Cross, a dedicated member of the UNC School of Medicine faculty from 1978 until his passing in January 2012. Dr. Cross earned his medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and trained as a pediatrician, maintaining his role as a primary care clinician throughout his career. At the time of his death, he held multiple roles, including professor and vice chair of the Department of Social Medicine, professor of pediatrics, and clinical professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Over a span of ten years, Dr. Cross served as the co-director and then director of the UNC School of Medicine Preventive Medicine Residency Program, and for eleven years, he directed the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. He was the principal investigator for grants totaling over $12.5 million, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and the enhancement of medical school curricula in behavioral and social sciences. Dr. Cross was a pioneer in integrating the humanities into the UNC School of Medicine curriculum. His dedication extended beyond North Carolina, as he spent several years working with community clinics in Nairobi, Kenya, and served on the board of directors for Carolina for Kibera, a student-run initiative dedicated to alleviating poverty in Kibera. Dr. Cross's legacy lives on through his profound impact on medical education and his commitment to global health and social justice.