UNC has announced that Faculty Chair, and North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center Director, Dr. Bruce Cairns suffered a heart attack last Friday, September 18.

The university released a story on Wednesday saying Cairns was visiting the UNC Wellness Center at the time of the incident.

Cairns says in the release, “I am recovering well and am eternally grateful to the wonderful staff at the UNC Wellness Center, emergency room, cardiac cath, cardiac ICU and all at UNC Health Care for saving my life.”

Cairns was elected to serve as faculty chair in 2014.

Deputy secretary of the Faculty Council Anne Mitchell Whisnant says in the release that Cairns has temporarily cut back his participation in faculty governance activities to focus on his health and is unlikely to be at the Faculty Council meeting on Friday. A university spokesperson says Provost Jim Dean is expected to lead Friday’s meeting in Cairns’ place.

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