Faculty Spotlight: David Fulton, PhD

Recipient of the Outstanding Faculty for The Graduate School Award

For Australia native David Fulton, PhD, reputation is everything. After finishing his post-doctoral training at Yale, he was drawn to Augusta, Georgia, for both the Medical College of Georgia and the Vascular Biology Center, one of the first vascular biology centers and graduate programs in the country. 

“MCG has an amazing reputation for medical research and education, both in the state of Georgia and nationally,” he said. “Having a good reputation helps tremendously with recruiting faculty and trainees.” 

Fulton, the director of the Vascular Biology Center and a Regents Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, enjoys being able to help others, including faculty, trainees and students, a trait he’s been able to share with more than just those at the Medical College of Georgia as a professor in The Graduate School, too. 

“The Graduate School and, in particular, the biomedical program are invaluable to the long-term success of MCG,” Fulton said. “I am grateful to be able to contribute to the success of our graduate school. Being recognized (in a positive way) by your peers is one of the best feelings.” 

After 22 years at the Medical College of Georgia at AU, Fulton has seen the advantages to the research being done in Augusta but also knows what challenges still need to be overcome. 

“I would like to see greater investment in cardiovascular research, both locally and from the NIH,” he said. “Cardiovascular disease remains the nation’s leading cause of death, and there is much work to be done. We are very much in need of research space, including labs and vivarium. We are fortunate to have some outstanding clinician scientists but only one is under the age of 50.”