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Video from the Chancellor's forum (11/5/2009)

National search to begin for new WVU School of Medicine dean

11/5/2009

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University School of Medicine will conduct a national search for its new dean. WVU Chancellor for Health Sciences Christopher Colenda, M.D., made that announcement today at a forum for faculty and staff.

Dr. Colenda, in his fourth day on the job as chancellor, told a standing room only crowd that the search will begin soon for the next dean to lead the School of Medicine. The search effort will be chaired by the dean of the School of Pharmacy, Patricia Chase, Ph.D.

Jim Brick, M.D., has been serving as interim dean since the resignation of John Prescott, M.D., in April 2008. Colenda praised Brick for his service to the school.

Colenda held the forum to begin the dialogue about the academic health sciences center’s future and announced that a planning process will begin next week. He said he expects to have a “living document” by June of next year that creates a vision for 2015. The process will encourage free and expansive thinking and will seek to engage all faculty, staff and students, Colenda said.

“We will move forward as a team – a collective body for the citizens, students and patients we serve in this great state of West Virginia,” he said. “We will drive change, not react to it.”

Colenda also announced plans to create two new advisory committees – one composed of faculty members, the other of students.

-WVU-

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For More Information:
Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com
alj: 11-05-09

Chancellor's Forums

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009

Patteson Auditorium

(Also available by teleconference at Charleston and Eastern Divisions)

Please join Dr. Christopher Colenda, WVU's new chancellor for health sciences, at a forum for HSC faculty, staff and students.

Dr. Colenda will make several important announcements, discuss his initial impressions of issues facing the HSC, and listen to your suggestions, hopes, and expectations.

Please plan to attend one of the Nov. 5 sessions.

12 noon - 1 p.m.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Greetings

November 2, 2009

I am proud to be a Mountaineer, and to join the faculty of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.

At my core, I consider myself a physician who has had the privilege of taking care of patients, educating the next generation of physicians and health professionals, and contributing to scientific discovery.

West Virginia University is full of people who share the value of service, and put that value into action every day in our classrooms, our hospitals and clinics, our laboratories -- and in more than 500 locations across West Virginia where our students participate in health care.

The faculty, staff and students of the Health Sciences Center make this place great. No single person can lead without the support of many; this is a team and we will build organizational partnerships and trust, and I will do my very best to make us all proud.