Gentry and Dean receive Medallion of Merit

President Nathan Hatch, Richard Dean

Life trustee Marvin D. Gentry (’57) and Dr. Richard H. Dean, president emeritus of Wake Forest University Health Sciences, received Wake Forest’s highest award for service, the Medallion of Merit, during Founders’ Day convocation on Feb. 26. The awards were presented by President Nathan O. Hatch.

Gentry, in addition to serving on the Wake Forest Board of Trustees, has served on the board of the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center since 1987, and is a former chairman of that board. He is the former president, chief executive officer and chair of the board of Fortis Homes, one of the region’s largest home builders.

Dean’s service to the University began more than 20 years ago. In 1986, he was named chair of the medical school’s department of surgery and chief of surgery for Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. He was named the University’s senior vice president for health affairs in 1997, and the first president and chief executive officer of Wake Forest University Health Sciences in 2001. He retired in 2007.