First of two finalists to replace El-Sawi visits campus, gives vision for College of Medicine
Dr. Joel Lanphear pitches his leadership style and vision as a potential associate dean of Medical Education and Faculty Development for the College of Medicine.
During the first of two open forums on Monday in the Health Professions Building, he said his vision is transformational and focused on his commitment to social accountability and to appropriate educational processes.
“To have two years of medical school and never see a patient is beyond my imagination,” Lanphear said. “It’s important that students have early exposure so they can properly understand the diagnostic process.”
Lanphear has been an administrator for Northern Ontario School of Medicine, the United Arab Emirates University and the School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, among others. He answered questions on his plans for the school Monday's forum.
One of the main problems that patients have with their physicians, Lanphear said, is that they are not good communicators.
Lanphear has experience leading schools to accreditation, and he said that accreditation is an ongoing process.
“I think he’s highly qualified," said Dr. Ahmad Hakemi, professor and director of the physician assistant program. "It’s very obvious that he has all the required skills. In Northern Ontario — a very difficult environment — he has opened up a medical school. I’ve worked in that area and I know what a difficult task he had, and I think we’ll be very lucky if he comes here.”
Lanphear said he is ardent about getting involved in the community and seeing what kind of health care is needed. The students must have a commitment to providing the best quality of health care regardless of where they practice, he said.
“We simply can’t put limits on what students can do," Lanphear said. "We need to start educating early and often."
The other finalist, Dr. Linda Perkowski, will speak on campus from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. on April 21 in HPB 2255. Thomas Masterson, associate dean of the College of Health Professions and search committee co-chair, said the candidate will be chosen in the first week of May; the salary for the position will be negotiated between the candidate and Provost Gary Shapiro.
Perkowski said in a previous interview with Central Michigan Life she has extensive experience in curriculum and faculty development as well as assessment and evaluation. She said her experience at other universities has given her a good understanding of the challenges facing medical schools.
“I’ve seen different strategies for curriculums,” she said, “and I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.”
Perkowski said it would be “exciting and challenging” to be at a new college of medicine strategically addressing the physician shortage. She said the emphasis on the local community is also appealing.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity,” she said. “This has a very focused mission I find to be an engaging challenge.”
Perkowski is the associate dean for Curriculum and Evaluation at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She also has held medical education management positions at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, the University of Southern California and the University of Texas Medical Branch.
