New College of Medicine associate deans prepare for curriculum development
Two new associate deans are anxious to have a hand in the College of Medicine’s development.
In May, Deborah Biggs was appointed associate dean of Administration and Finance, while Nehad El-Sawi was hired as associate dean of Medical Education and Faculty Development.
Meanwhile, their offices are being erected at the Health Professions Building, as construction is 7 percent complete.
“We are designing our curriculum amidst a time of major transformations in the landscape of medical education and the health care delivery system,” El-Sawi said. “This represents a unique leadership opportunity for CMU to play a role in shaping the future of medical education, while fulfilling our mission and responding to society needs.”
El-Sawi previously served as the president of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences’ Institute for Medical Education Innovation for two years. She was a founding associate dean for curriculum and faculty enrichment for the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona for two years and was the senior associate dean for academic affairs for KCU for 15 years.
She said she wanted the opportunity to be innovative and creative in paving the path for what medical education will look like in the future.
Biggs was an assistant dean at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine.
She said she applied for the associate dean position because she wanted the opportunity to be a part of the CMU team.
“I am originally from Michigan and was very excited by the mission of the new College of Medicine and the opportunity to be part of the team,” Biggs said.
In conjunction with the College of Medicine faculty and staff, El-Sawi said her goal is to develop an educational program preparing CMU physician graduates to advance health care in Mid and Northern Michigan, while serving those communities with the highest standards of patient care.
“We want these physicians to actually (be) in the primary care area and fill in the areas that Michigan has shortages in,” she said. “Basically, we want to fulfill the need that exists already in our community and in our society with top quality physicians that are homegrown.”
She said her initial goal as an associate dean is to work with the College of Medicine team to successfully complete the Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation process.
Building update
The College of Medicine building construction began on the northwest side of the Health Professions building in May.
Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said underground utilities have been installed, as well as foundations, the basement floor and walls. Structural steel also is being placed.
“The building will be substantially complete on Sept. 1, 2011,” he said in an e-mailed statement.
Lawrence said the building will be ready for occupancy by staff and faculty in early January 2012. He defined substantially complete as “when the owner is able to use the project for its intended purpose.”
