Morgan takes the place of Dr. Daniel Clapp who recently retired after nearly 40 years of working with the UMass health center.
Morgan has over 20 years of medical experience, including 14 years at UMass.
"I really like college students," said Morgan. "They have a unique curiosity intellectually and are always seeking and achieving."
Morgan will continue to work for the UMass due to the joint health care program that the College shares with the University. However, he says that he looks forward to his new role as one of the two doctors at the College.
"The change will be a new challenge, but enable me to spend time with and teach people," Morgan said. "Because of the enhanced resources and smaller size of the College, I will be able to spend more time treating and meeting students."
Acting Dean of Students Charri Boykin-East said that she thinks Morgan will be a valuable asset to the College.
"Dr. Morgan is an excellent physician and is genuinely concerned about students and their welfare," she said. "I am honored to have him as a colleague and I feel he will make a wonderful addition to the Amherst College community."
Boykin-East also touted Morgan's local experience. "He also brings familiarity with the UMass system and knowledge of the main area resources," she said.
Morgan hopes to use the extra time and resources he will have at Amherst to improve and enhance certain areas of health services. "I hope to fine tune ways Amherst collaborates with UMass, such as receiving and sending records in a timely fashion in case of an emergency," said Morgan.
Morgan also wants "to work on creating an easy and secure email system between the medical staff and students," he said. "This way students will be able to communicate with me and the rest of the staff without having to make an appointment."
According to Morgan, these improvements will help to better serve students' welfare, which he believes is his foremost duty as a health care provider.
"Treating college kids is extremely rewarding because they get better. Most college kids are not chronically ill and to help them and see them improve is a great thing," he said.
Morgan has two college age daughters which he said makes him more aware and familiar with the concerns of college students.
Originally from Springfield, Mass., Morgan attended Bates College for two years before transferring to UMass to complete his pre-med undergraduate degree. He attended medical school at the University of Vermont and served his residency at Pennsylvania State University.
Morgan also ran a private medical practice for five years before taking the position at UMass.