First med school associate dean forum today despite no dean in place

The first forums for the Central Michigan University medical school’s associate dean of student affairs start this week.

Dr. Robert Satonik, associate director of residency at Synergy Medical Education Alliance in Saginaw, will be the first of three finalists to interview. His forum runs from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. today in the Bovee University Center Lake Huron Room.

The other finalists are Stephen Peterson, an associate professor of Community Health and assistant dean for student affairs and admissions at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and Mala R. Chinoy, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and professor of pediatrics, at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.

Peterson’s forum takes place at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the UC’s Lake Huron Room, and Chinoy’s takes place at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the UC’s Terrace Room C.

Bruce Roscoe, dean of students and chairman of the search committee for the medical school associate dean of student affairs, said the forums are open to the public and he hopes people come ready to both ask questions and answer some too.

“I hope it’s a give and take. Hopefully he has an opportunity to pose some questions as well,” Roscoe said.

Satonik also serves as an adjunct faculty member in CMU’s physician assistant program. He earned his medical degree from the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

Waiting for hire?

The forums will take place despite no medical school dean in place.

That position was offered to interim dean Cam Enarson, who declined because of family reasons in mid-January.

Roscoe said the reason the forums are starting before a dean is found is because the finalists for the associate dean of student affairs are decided.

“I can’t speak for others, but ours was so far under way,” he said of the search. “We had already identified the top people and extended invites.”

He said interim Provost Gary Shapiro will decide on a hire following the forums. Roscoe said even if a finalist is decided, they may wait until a dean of the school is found to hire the finalist for associate dean.

Tom Masterson, associate dean for the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions and chairman of the search committee for the medical school associate dean of medical education and faculty development, said his search is in the ending process of phone interviews.

He said the search is moving forward full-force.

“We haven’t slowed down a bit (since Enarson declined the dean position),” Masterson said.

It was previously reported the four associate dean positions for the medical school would not be filled until a founding dean was named.

“I suspect the top candidate wants to talk to who would be their boss,” Roscoe said. “(I’m) sensing they want to wait to meet with the dean before committing themselves.”