Dean Frank appoints interim leadership

Dean Robert Frank announced interim appointments in the departments of pharmacology and orthopaedic surgery to compensate for the absence of two chairs who will take temporary leaves to pursue professional interests.

Bonnie Sloane, Ph.D., WSU chair of pharmacology, has been invited by the National Cancer Institute to serve as a liaison for imaging and tumor microenvironment. Beginning Sept. 1, Arun Wakade, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology, will serve as acting chair.

"This is a great honor for both Dr. Sloane and the Wayne State University School of Medicine," Dean Frank said.

Dr. Wakade's research is primarily focused in understanding the peripheral autonomic nervous system and the control of neurosecretion, which plays a vital role in human diseases, such as Parkinson's Alzheimer's, mental depression and hypertension.

On the clinical side, Stephen DeSilva, M.D., chair of orthopaedic surgery and president of the WSU Physician Group, has decided to take a six-month leave of absence from his post as chair to devote more time to the Physician Group as it continues its investigation into the feasibility of becoming a single-group practice. During this time, Steven Petersen, M.D., WSU associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, will assume the role of acting chair.

Dr. Petersen is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in injuries and disorders of the shoulder, including sports-related and industrial injuries, rotator-cuff disorders, arthritis and fractures. He received his medical degree from Rush University, in Chicago, before completing an orthopaedic residency and research fellowship at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, where he also received a master's degree in orthopaedic sciences.